Monthly Film Festival

May 14, 2022 01:30pm PDT - 10:30pm PDT
Industry Delegates
Carlos Aguirre
Paramount Television
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Emily Kai Bock
Filmmaker
Sleena Wilson
Black Bear Pictures
Roberto Larios
Verve
Derek Martin
Bad Robot
Liang Wang
20th Television
Carolina Beltran
WME

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its May Monthly Film Festival and InFocus: Immigrant Stories program, featuring a program of short films about immigrant experience, along with a program highlighting recent work from the talented members of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective that give insight into the lives of undocumented communities in the the US.. The day’s programming also includes a selection of highlights from NFMLA’s spring program, as well as the LA premiere of Ice Mrozek’s debut feature film him & her, which explores the unfolding of an intimate relationship between strangers who meet by chance. 

The day begins with Undocumented Filmmakers Collective Spotlight, a collection of shorts showcasing recent work from NFMLA partner the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective. Building upon the media justice organizing of other undocumented leaders, the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective tackles the systemic inequities that undocumented immigrants face in the field of filmmaking, by centering the expertise of undocumented people not only as sources of stories but more importantly as creators, artists, and primary audiences.

Next,  InFocus: Immigrant Stories presents a collection of films that capture an array of  stories about immigrant experience and of immigrant communities. From both support and conflict within immigrant communities to the pain of being far away from loved ones to the challenges of starting over to a poignant lens on the trauma within refugee families, this program explores intimately the interiority of immigrant experience. 

The evening continues with the LA premiere of writer-director Ice Mrozek’s debut feature him & her, a dreamy and quirky 80’s-set romance based on a true story between two strangers who fall in love sight unseen. The film was made with a unique attention to authenticity and creates a viewing experience like no other. “As human beings, we seek to connect with others.  Ironically, at a time when we are more connected than ever in society, we are also the most disconnected,” says Mrozek.  

The night concludes with Spring Shorts, a selection of short narratives from  NFMLA’s ongoing programming, which includes a mix of genres from comedy to music video to thriller to drama. From enjoying the journey to falling in love to fighting the patriarchy and confronting history, this program offers something for everybody.

NFMLA showcases films by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year, across both our general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their projects for consideration for upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the schedule for InFocus programming, which celebrates diversity, inclusion and region by spotlighting  communities of filmmakers within our filmmaking community as part of our monthly program. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Schedule Details

Program #1 – Undocumented Filmmakers Collective Spotlight
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Pre-Reception
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Program
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM – Audience Q&A

Program #2 – InFocus: Immigrant Stories
3:45 PM – 4:15 PM – Pre-Reception
4:15 PM – 5:45 PM – Program
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM – Audience Q&A

Program #3 – Feature: him & her
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Pre-Reception
6:30 PM – 8:15 PM – Program
8:15 PM – 8:30 PM – Audience Q&A

Program #4 – Spring Shorts
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Pre-Reception
9:00 PM – 10:15 PM – Program
10:15 PM – 10:30 PM – Audience Q&A

Event Location

Event Entrance
1139 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles 90015
Directions


Parking (fee)
1133 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Directions

Undocumented Filmmakers Collective Spotlight
Mojosito and Me
Dir. Lidieth Arevalo, Writ. Lidieth Arevalo & Prod. Lidieth Arevalo
7 Mins | USA
What the Pier Gave Us Thumbnail
What the Pier Gave Us
Dir. Luna x Moya
7 Mins | USA
Oda a Los Frijoles Thumbnail
Oda a Los Frijoles
Dir. Karolina Esqueda
4 Mins | USA
I Know What Pandemic Means (Yo Se Que Es Pandemia) Thumbnail
I Know What Pandemic Means (Yo Se Que Es Pandemia)
Dir. Frisly Soberanis
16 Mins | USA
Ziola Thumbnail
Ziola
Dir. Marcos Nieves
3 Mins | USA
Thank You, Come Again
Dir. Nirav Bhakta, Writ. Nirav Bhakta & Prod. Kelsey Fordham, Keertana Sastry, Alexcina Figueroa
11 Mins | USA
35 Thumbnail
35
Dir. Rahi Hasan
6 Mins | Bangladesh, USA
COVER/AGE
Dir. Set Hernandez Rongkilyo
25 Mins | USA
InFocus: Immigrant Stories
Man Brows
Dir. Rohan Srinivasan, Writ. Rohan Srinivasan & Prod. Rohan Palla, Diya Correa, Rohan Srinivasan
9 Mins | USA
Honeybee Thumbnail
Honeybee
Dir. Emilio Vazquez Reyes, Writ. Emilio Vazquez Reyes & Prod. Emilio Vazquez Reyes
3 Mins | USA
Lift Thumbnail
Lift
Dir. Abraham Amkpa, Writ. Abraham Amkpa & Prod. Abraham Amkpa, Patrick Taylor, J. Mallory McCree
14 Mins | USA
AmeriGirl Thumbnail
AmeriGirl
Dir. Samina Saifee, Writ. Samina Saifee & Prod. Shubhi Shekhar
10 Mins | USA
Encaged Love
Dir. Carlos Alberto Mendez, Writ. Carlos Alberto Mendez & Prod. Carlos Alberto Mendez
10 Mins | USA
Last Day Thumbnail
Last Day
Dir. Polina Osen, Writ. Anna Damaskova & Prod. Anna Damaskova
16 Mins | USA
Seahorse Thumbnail
Seahorse
Dir. Nele Dehnenkamp, Writ. Christine Duttlinger & Prod. Nele Dehnenkamp, Christine Duttlinger
16 Mins |
Guero & Prieto Thumbnail
Guero & Prieto
Dir. Mario Garza, Writ. Mario Garza, Sarah Gamazo & Prod. Mario Garza, Carlos Beirrebeitzia
13 Mins | USA
Feature
him & her
Dir. Ice Mrozek, Writ. Ice Mrozek, Independence Hall & Prod. Independence Hall
97 Mins | USA
Spring Shorts
At Dawn Thumbnail
At Dawn
Dir. Fany de la Chica, Writ. Fany de la Chica & Prod. Miriam Arrebola
3 Mins | USA, Spain
Refrigerate After Opening Thumbnail
Refrigerate After Opening
Dir. Kevin Ung, Writ. Kevin Ung & Prod. Subhro Das
6 Mins | USA
Iron Head Thumbnail
Iron Head
Dir. Cameron Thuman, Writ. Zeke Cohen & Prod. Autumn Griffin
20 Mins | USA
How to do Sh!t with Guido Gagootz Thumbnail
How to do Sh!t with Guido Gagootz
Dir. Adriano Valentini, Writ. Adriano Valentini, Sandro Iocolano & Prod. Adriano Valentini, Aaron Colom
9 Mins | USA
Still Rolling
Dir. Liang-Chun Lin, Writ. Liang-Chun Lin & Prod. Maggie Tao
19 Mins | USA, Taiwan
Rebound Thumbnail
Rebound
Dir. Alexander Casimir, Writ. Alexander Casimir, Mato Standing Soldier & Prod. John Laverman
12 Mins | USA
Hiro’s Pizza Thumbnail
Hiro’s Pizza
Dir. Derek Aiello, Writ. Derek Aiello & Prod. Zach Zahorik
8 Mins | USA