2023 DTLA Film Festival Unveils Short Film Lineup

46 Entries from Palestine to Poland and throughout the U.S. will compete
for awards at the Los Angeles event, Nov. 1-5

LOS ANGELES | Oct. 16, 2023 — DTLA Film Festival – a leading showcase for independent film in the historic center of the Film Capital of the World – announced today its lineup of short films that will premiere at its 15th annual edition, Nov.1-5t at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.

This year’s lineup is comprised of 46 short films within 11 short film programs with various themes, including “L.A. Stories,” “Queer It Up!,” “The Female Gaze,” “Funny Threads” and “Dystopia Now.” The festival’s focus on diversity is reflected in short films that tackle narratives often ignored by mainstream Hollywood.

“The festival’s goal is to provide a forum for voices from all over the world, no matter their race, religion, gender or sexuality. This year’s short film programming underscores that great stories can take many different shapes and forms,” says short films curator Wellington Almeida.

More than half of the short films screening this year are by women directors, with 24 female filmmakers’ work featured.

Notable short film titles at the festival include “Headprickles,” an 8-minute animated short from Poland directed by Katarzyna Miechowicz, which consists of over a dozen animated epigrams and follows the motif of life’s absurdities; “3 Dialogues About the Future,” a 14-minute science-fiction short from Romania directed by Alina Manolachel, which follows three A.I. robots as they attempt to interpret the world around them and attempt to adapt to human nature and thought processes, and “Palestine 87,” a 14-minute political short from Palestine directed by Bilal Alkhatib, which focuses on an elderly lady who hides a Palestinian soldier in her house from the Israeli army to prevent arrest and possible death.

The festival’s other branch of short-content programming – TV pilots and web series – will be announced later.

The complete short film lineup follows.

PROGRAM 1 A and B: LA STORIES
This program paints a cinematic portrait of Los Angeles, touching on themes of homecoming, womanhood, the artistry of dance and music, and the challenges faced by teachers amidst pressing social issues.
● Civic
● How To Deal With Fame

PROGRAM 1B: LA STORIES
● In The Shadows Of Palms
● When We Fight

PROGRAM 2: MIDNIGHT SESSIONS
Welcome to a thrilling blend of cult films, horror and NSFW dark comedy that explores the eerie world of midnight anxiety.
● Tabernacle
● Power Signal
● The Buyers
● Mia & The Skeletons’ Night From Hell
● What A Trip!
● 3 Dialogues About the Future

PROGRAM 3: QUEER IT UP!
A vibrant showcase of LGBTQ+ narratives filled with humor, wit and love, even amid the complexities of war and identity conflicts.
● It’s A Date
● That Dark Day
● Inglorious Liaisons
● Unnamed
● Cuxball
● How Not To Date While Trans

PROGRAM 4: DYSTOPIA NOW
In the films of this program, boundaries blur between humanity and nature, identities merge with artificial realities, and isolated souls find solace amidst haunting shadows of injustice.
● Stillness of Labor
● Wild Summon
● Visão do Paraíso
● Safe At Home
● Jill, Uncredited
● The Fourth

PROGRAM 5: LIFE, UNSCRIPTED
Through the lens of mental health and self-discovery, these short films delve into the intricate tapestry of the mind, exploring subjects such as disability, meditation, alienation, and the power of human connection.
● Aphonia
● Dust To Light
● Davey’s Lullaby
● Can’t Help Myself
● The Gift Of Color
● I Once Was Lost
● Let It Out

PROGRAM 6: FEMALE GAZE
Exploring the concept of the female gaze, these films navigate the realms of horror, social conflicts, black culture, and class, offering unique insights through the lens of both female and male directors.
● Black Girls Play: The Story Of Hand Games
● Neon Rage
● Palestine 87
● Lily’s Mirror
● Bear

PROGRAM 7: FUNNY THREADS
Where does humor draw its boundaries? Exploring taboo subjects like the Holocaust, the N-word, or simply reveling in absurdity, these films offer a fresh perspective on what society might deem off-limits for laughter.
● Proof of Concept
● The Favor
● Finding Filman
● Summer’s Last Swim
● Headprickles
● Heritage Day
● The Word

SPECIAL SHORTS PROGRAMS: LATIN/LATINX FILM SERIES
In this series, Latin/Latinx American filmmakers create work in many genres with stories encompassing the past, present, or the future. The filmmakers unite in a powerful artistry of portraying unique experiences.
● Confessions
● Razón de Ser: Luis C. Garza
● Vida
● Asi Es La Vida
● The Giant Killer

SPECIAL SHORTS PROGRAMS: NEW WESTERN CINEMA SERIES
In this series, new and seasoned filmmakers create powerful new works that span across comedy, drama, and documentary.
● The First Cowboy
● Oh Great, Riley’s Depressed Again
● The Locket
● Bad Hombrewood
● Padre

SPECIAL SHORTS PROGRAMS: NEW WESTERN CINEMA SERIES
● Livestream
● Variegate

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About DTLA Film Festival:
Founded in 2008 as a nonprofit (501)(c)(3) arts organization, DTLA Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing films by and about groups underrepresented by Hollywood in the historic center of the Creative Capital of the World. The festival also strives to reflect in its programming the unique cultural and ethnic diversity of the neighborhoods of downtown Los Angeles and its surrounding communities. For more information about the 2023 DTLA Film Festival, visit: https://dtlaff.com

Press Contact:
Kunga Sagar
kungasagar10@yahoo.com
310-804-2319