A young musician living in Hollywood experiences a bizarre mystery that leads him on a journey to the Los Angeles River. Conor Scheinberg writes and directs “Boris,” a grim slow burn drama set in a bleak rendition of L.A. We meet Boris in the front seat of his car. He does pick-ups and drop-offs ...

A woman practices a speech for her sister's wedding. Chester Vincent Toye directs “Francesca,” a slice-of-life vignette where a young woman’s efforts to workshop a speech snowballs into a self-reflective consideration of her own life. Late at night, Francesca walks around the moon-lit city in a d...

Thirteen year old Dani, and their mother, Anne, embark on an all-day odyssey to flip a stolen laptop. Kerry O'Neill directs “Walk Out Nice and Smooth,” a coming-of-age comedy-drama observing the dynamics and tensions between a swindling mother and her stressed-out child in Los Angeles. Anne, play...

After her bike is stolen, a young woman scours L.A. in hopes of reuniting with her one true love. Yvette Lu and Leanne Velednitsky direct “Bike Thief,” a lo-fi comedy that’s both an ode to bike ownership and a depiction of the heartaches that come with it. Having had her bike stolen several times...

After a day of shoveling hay, a spiritual dilettante tries to project his beliefs onto an uninterested co-worker. Andrew Theodore Balasia and Roman Koval direct “Holy Cannoli!”, a two hander character study about life’s purpose and fulfilling your potential, as interpreted by the half-baked musin...

A self-portrait about a young woman in L.A. moving between houses that don’t feel like home. Lauren Rothery directs “Matter,” a stylish autobiography that begins in sadness & confusion, and searches for a change of heart. A posh older gentleman narrates her inner thoughts — a melange of dislikes ...

A group of disillusioned L.A. couples compete in an obscure sport to obtain money and social status. “Hill Hikers,“ directed by Elizabeth Godar and Mitch deQuilettes, is a mockumentary about a hiking “race” started by a couple trying to keep their sexual chemistry alive. Vague as the competition ...

When two friends accept an invitation to see the new couch of an up-and-coming comedian/actor, it turns into an evening of heavy drinking and idiosyncratic self-expression. Kailee McGee directs “The Idea of a You,” a self-referential portrait of the lives and romantic inclinations of three L.A. a...

An L.A. actress invites her filmmaker friend to a Palm Springs getaway from quarantine, a supposedly restorative trip that turns frustrating. “Kate, Unhinged,” directed by Kailee McGee, is a meta deconstruction on acting and friendship which follows the maneuvering of a well-positioned creative t...

An aspiring pop star travels to Hollywood to meet a music producer she met over Instagram. Samantha Carroll directs and stars in “Love Liz,” a dryly comedic take on an evergreen tale — dreamer seeks fame. From Delaware, Liz has just flown into L.A. with the hopes of making it big. After a pit sto...

An entrepreneur pivots with the market. “Trash Scab,” directed by Philip Steiger, is a scarily plausible, bitingly funny vision of a dystopian nightmare. The circumstances have been exaggerated from our current reality but not by much: a pandemic rages on, a citywide curfew in place, police have ...

Playing a version of himself, director Whitmer (aka Whit) Thomas drifts through L.A., meeting up with a series of friends and alienating them in various ways. Both comedic and revealing, "Fast and Loose" is a casual hang but an incisive one. As a self-reflection of a particular sort of friend gro...

A would-be Hollywood mover and shaker meets up with an actress at a cafe to spur a collaboration. Written, directed and starring Gabriel Bernini. Co-directed and produced by Clara McHale-Ribot. Cast: Andrea Bambina, Alexandra Jade, and Lena Redford. Filmed by Andrew Gibson and Jeremiah Durian-Wil...

Some sort of hybrid throwback, hearkening back to 70's gambling movies, nostalgic for cool, talky 90's L.A. indies, the threat of knockoff is always there, but it isn't one. It brings plenty of its own to the table, authentic & of our time. Aldo is an independent hairdresser in Echo Park, L.A. He...

An eco-warrior gets out of jail and an old friend tries to pull him back into the fray. A mystifying film, a cheap production & awkward, unnatural interactions make it seem like maybe it's a ruse. Either way, it's intriguing & I recommend you watch at least twice. The film is basically one conver...

Hustling up quick cash and alienating her loved ones, a struggling Twitch streamer stops at nothing to make it to an influencer meetup at Buffalo Wild Wings. Bobby McCoy directs “xX_luv.kitten_Xx,” an uncomfortably current character study that captures a type of youthful desperation that amalgam...

Another lazy day in Los Angeles is undermined by strange occurrences. Eric Colonna directs “Ratking,” an enigmatic drama that observes a young couple in North East L.A. as they deal with an odd visitor. Under a greenish tungsten hue, we meet the woman as she recalls a disturbing dream. Later, a d...

A portrait of a young woman on the day of her Quinceñera in Los Angeles. Austin Spies directs “The 15,” a vérité style documentary that observes scenes and moments from a teenager's 15th birthday celebration. Sasha Sanchez sits in the chair of a beauty salon receiving touch ups for the big evenin...

Brie adapts a new practice, a lifestyle of loneliness to achieve her highest self. Written and directed by Ester Song Kim, “The Practice of Loneliness,” is a stylish anti-rom-com about seeking happiness in solitude. Shot on nostalgia-soaked 8mm film, and featuring actors dubbed into French (thoug...

New to Los Angeles, an aspiring music supervisor dreams of leaving his soul-sucking day job and establishing a new relationship. An easygoing comedy that tracks a couple days in the life of a well-meaning, self-described “idiot” during the holiday season in L.A. | Written and directed by Marcus J...

In Los Angeles, a young man working as a doumi - a host/hostess who entertains clients in private karaoke rooms - encounters a strange request. “Koreatown,” directed by Grant Hyun, is a stylish drama full of controlled tension and striking neon visuals. The handsome Kyeong sings to patrons who ha...

Sarah gave Ezra a soul crystal, and that may have been a mistake. “I Love to Wait,” directed by Harrison Atkins, is an imaginative, free-roaming vision of an on-and-off relationship in Los Angeles, a rare melding of the mundane and the mystical. In a world where couples communicate via crystals (...

On the streets of Los Angeles, a group of young hustlers spend a night partying and stealing. It's a visceral collection of scenes with a pulsating natural energy and soft-focus gaze on lost innocence. The film centers around Gabriel, a handsome young man, and a gender-fluid set of friends maneuv...

A city construction worker, played by Buddy Anthony Diaz, gets his girlfriend Taco Bell for their anniversary dinner. Ted Marsden directs “Amor to Love,” a Hi-8 character study of a guy who can’t seem to get things under his control. We meet Buddy working traffic management at a hectic constructi...