From June 1-9, the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF) showcased new American and international cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives, and provided the movie-loving public with events featuring critically acclaimed filmmakers and film industry professionals. LAFF is a key part of the exhibition arm of Film Independent, a non-profit arts organization that champions creative independence in visual storytelling and supports a community of artists. As part of our continuing outreach efforts aimed at independent filmmakers, for the 22nd consecutive year the DGA was a sponsor of the festival.
On June 3, the Guild hosted a luncheon for directors with films presented at LAFF. Speaking on behalf of the DGA, Director Fede Alvarez (Don't Breathe) explained how easy it is for independent filmmakers to work with the Guild and spoke about the advantages of working with an experienced directorial team to keep projects at— or under — budget. Also attending the luncheon were DGA Independent Directors Committee (IDC) Co-Chair Jonathan Dayton and IDC members Patricia Cardoso and Jason Reitman.
On June 5, the DGA also sponsored one of the festival’s most popular events, the annual LAFF Coffee Talk: Directors panel. This year’s panelists were Directors Tim Miller (Deadpool) and Patricia Riggen (Miracles from Heaven) who engaged in a conversation about their craft and the state of the industry. The panel was moderated by Director Kimberly Peirce (Carrie).
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