Monthly Film Festival

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) is thrilled to host the InFocus: Puglia Cinema program, initiated by and produced in partnership with Silvia Bizio, as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. The initiative is presented in partnership with the Apulia Film Commission.

NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival multi-day programming begins on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 with InFocus: Puglia Cinema, a collection of new and exciting work by short film directors from the Italian region of Puglia that spans genres and highlights the diversity of locations available in Puglia. As the prolific independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara has said, “in Puglia anything is possible.”

The InFocus: Puglia Cinema screening will be free and open to the public at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles (Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Los Angeles). This special day of programming will feature authentic Southern Italian cuisine from LA Puglia Santa Monica, which was named Restaurant of the Year 2023 by the prestigious Gambero Rosso International and earned the Three Forks award in 2024 and 2025.

Organized with the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy – Los Angeles, this project is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).

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.

“Puglia Cinema in Hollywood” is a project created by The Apulia Film Commission Foundation, Puglia Region and PugliaPromozione using resources from the Puglia 2014/2020, Axis VI. Action 6.8.

To view additional NFMLA Monthly Film Festival programming, please visit this link.