Monthly Film Festival

August 23, 2025 03:00pm PDT - 11:00pm PDT

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA)’s August line-up celebrates emerging filmmakers both near and far, featuring InFocus: International Animation, a program of exciting animated work from all around the world, including a selection of highlights from the Legends Animated 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students, a selection of California-made short films and a collection of work made in the city of Los Angeles.

The day begins with shorts program InFocus: International Animation, a slate of animated films and stories from Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, France, Korea, Poland, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom by an array of international talent. The program encompasses a variety of animation styles that capture our imaginations and tell powerful stories. This block begins with a special presentation of the past ten years of finalists from the 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students run by Legends Animated, a 501(c)3 worker self-directed nonprofit animation company that promotes the awareness and appreciation of animation as a medium for all forms of storytelling. It does so by providing collaborative opportunities to create independent animation that is both engaging and impactful. 

The afternoon’s programming continues with Made In California, a selection of films shot throughout the versatile state of California, including San Francisco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Kern counties. The Californian stories in this block include horror, drama, complicated family dynamics, and perseverance. 

The night concludes with Made in Los Angeles, a closer look at the city of Los Angeles through a selection of short form storytelling that explores ambition, dissociation, interpersonal dynamics, growing up, grief, abuse, seeking justice and the rich history of LA’s communities. 

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 representation by spotlighting various communities of filmmakers as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The South Park Center is an ADA compliant venue and is wheelchair accessible. We request captioned films from all filmmakers participating at our Festival. For any accessibility needs, please send a request to info@nfmla.org at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Schedule Details

Program #1 – InFocus: International Animation
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Pre-Reception
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM – Program
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM – Audience Q&A

Program #2 – Made in California
5:45 PM – 6:15 PM – Pre-Reception
6:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Program
8:00 PM – 8:15 PM – Audience Q&A

Program #3 – Made in Los Angeles
8:15 PM – 8:45 PM – Pre-Reception
8:45 PM – 10:45 PM – Program
10:45 PM – 11:00 PM – Audience Q&A

Event Location

Event Entrance
1139 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Directions


Paid Parking
1133 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Directions

InFocus: International Animation
24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students Showcase Thumbnail
24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students Showcase
32 Mins | Click "Press Kit" for Details the Films in This Screening!
[S]
Dir. Mario Radev, Writ. Mario Radev & Prod. Mario Radev
13 Mins | United Kingdom, Poland, Bulgaria
Marvelous Gift
Dir. Danna Galeano, German Acuña, Writ. Danna Galenao & Prod. Monique Henry-Hudson, Sebastian Ruz, Azul Jordan, Valentina Valenzuela
5 Mins | Colombia
She And Her Good Vibrations
Dir. Olivia Griselda, Sarah Cheok, Writ. Olivia Griselda & Prod. Jerrold Chong, Olivia Griselda
11 Mins | Singapore
Gale
Dir. Sean Kim, Writ. Sean Kim & Prod. Chloe Di Salle
9 Mins | Canada
Flocky
Dir. Esther Casas Roura, Writ. Esther Casas Roura & Prod. Esther Casas Roura, Juan Carlos Concha
12 Mins | Spain
Ibuka, Justice
Dir. Justice Rutikara, Writ. Justice Rutikara & Prod. Yzanakio Doc Inc
23 Mins | Canada
There Is A Wolf Thumbnail
There Is A Wolf
Dir. Saerom Seo, Writ. Saerom Seo & Prod. Lang Lee
4 Mins | Korea
On the 8th Day
Dir. Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois, Writ. & Prod.
8 Mins | France
Made in California
Disfigura Thumbnail
Disfigura
Dir. Jake Bradbury, Toni Blando, Writ. Toni Blando & Prod. Nathaniel A Lipp
12 Mins | USA
Ocho De Oro Thumbnail
Ocho De Oro
Dir. Jonda Carollo, Writ. Jonda Carollo & Prod. Max Ptasznik
21 Mins | USA
Go
Dir. Dusan Brown, Writ. Dusan Brown & Prod. Joyce Kelly-Brown, Thomas Olsen, Executive Producer: Viola Davis
14 Mins | USA
Wight Thumbnail
Wight
Dir. Jonathan Chen, Writ. Jonathan Chen & Prod. Arya Govil, Jonathan Chen
18 Mins | USA
From A Son Thumbnail
From A Son
Dir. Gilbert Trejo, Writ. Gilbert Trejo & Prod. Patrick Durham
36 Mins | USA
Made in LA
Cast Members
Dir. Sarah Wilson Thacker, Writ. Sarah Wilson Thacker & Prod. Fiona Hardingham
6 Mins | USA
Only Twin – Give You Up
Dir. Josh Martin, Ryan McNeeley, Writ. Thomas Dutton, Josh Martin & Prod. Christopher Heinrich
4 Mins | USA
Big Yikes
Dir. Ibrahim Rana, Writ. Ibrahim Rana & Prod. Josh Genao, Bibi Hajra, Andrew McGowan, Or Keisar
17 Mins | USA
Finding Jamia’s Spirit
Dir. Candace Patrick, Writ. Candace Patrick & Prod. Candace Patrick, Musau Onwubiko
15 Mins | USA
The LAnd: A Documentary Series
Dir. Andrés Orlando Orellana, Brittany Anders Esparza, Writ. & Prod. Andrés Orlando Orellana, Brittany Anders Esparza, Evi Alonzo, Claudia Mejia
25 Mins | USA
Little Bird Thumbnail
Little Bird
Dir. Oanh-Nhi Nguyen, Writ. Oanh-Nhi Nguyen, Ysabeaux Ng & Prod. Eva Zheng
15 Mins | USA
Are You Fucking Kidding Me?!
Dir. Zen Pace, Writ. Zachary Solomon & Prod. Jinks Monsoon, Kristen Laffey, Rivkah Reyes, EmmoLei Sankofa
12 Mins | USA
Chasers
Dir. Erin Brown Thomas, Writ. Erin Brown Thomas, Ciarra Krohne & Prod. Elle Shaw, Olivia Haller, Erin Brown Thomas, Beth Napoli, Hayden Greiwe, Tara Hotchkis (EP), Ciarra Krohne (EP), Jake Thomas (EP)
30 Mins | USA