Many thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival. It was great to see so many filmmakers and film enthusiasts filling the screenings in support of both local and international indie films. The judges' votes have been counted and added to the audience's feedback. Huge congratulations to the filmmakers who screened with us, who all did themselves proud. All Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival winners will receive complimentary screenings at future Lift-Off Film Festivals. A special well done to the following films.
Photos from the event can be seen on the Los Angeles Lift-Off Facebook Page.
Festival Winners
Best Feature Live Action Narrative
(next screening with Lift-Off in Amsterdam)
Chien de Garde (Family First)
Dir. Sophie Dupuis
Synopsis: JP lives with his brother Vincent, his mother Joe and his girlfriend Mel in a small apartment of Verdun. Constantly walking a tightrope, JP tries to maintain a proper balance between the numerous needs of his family of which he feels responsible for, the collecting job he is doing with his brother and his involvements in his uncle’s drug cartel who he sees as a father figure.
Best Short Live Action Narrative
(next screening with Lift-Off in Paris)
The Noise of the Light
Dir. Valentin Petit
Synopsis: Pablo and Marius make a disturbing discovery about their childhood friend Lou: she appears to be able to synthesise into sound the light she is exposed to. But as she soon becomes an instrument of their musical experiences, her gift turns into a sort of curse…
Special Mentions
Special Mention
(next screening with Lift-Off in Amsterdam)
Salt Water
Dir. Soraya Simi
Synopsis: A woman explores her powerful relationship with the ocean in this visceral visual poem.
Special Mention
(next screening with Lift-Off in Amsterdam)
Night Cadet - Never Fall
Dir. Jonathan Stroh
Synopsis: Two musicians and a bear go on a road trip through the desert and beyond.
Special Mention
(next screening with Lift-Off in Sydney)
Always Amazing
Dir. Steve Byrne
Synopsis: "Always Amazing" is the story of The Amazing Johnathan's storied career as a comedian/magician, the unlikely friendship that was cemented after meeting a 12 year old boy while on tour in Australia and the unfortunate terminal diagnosis that brought them back together for one last run of shows.
Officially Selected Screenplays
Online Festival Winner
Winner
(next screening with Lift-Off in London)
Quarter
Dir. Navjyot Bandiwadekar
Synopsis: Ashwini a young middle-aged Indian woman comes home after being declared as an addict in the midst of Diwali celebrations, where Diwali is touted as celebration of triumph of good over evil. What is this addiction? Does she cope with it? The story unfolds to see if Ashwini is able to conquer her evil or if she falls prey to it.
Finalists
9862 dir. by Giles Greenwood | United Kingdom
A Good Brother dir. by Tom Ptasinski | United States
A Long Look At the Devil dir. by Tyson Whitney | United States
A Side of Fries dir. by Matt Van Tine | United States
Coda dir. by Andrew Levy | United States
Damned Peace dir. by Eoghan Hand | Ireland
Dru's Podcast for the End of the World dir. by Abigail Brosh, Dana Brawer | United States
Noose dir. by Danny Chandia | United States
Past Life dir. by Megan McGown | United States
Season Award Nominations
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event which celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films which have excelled in their respective category are nominated and invited to attend the prestigious Lift-Off Season Awards, culminating at the end of the Lift-Off season. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.
Chien de Garde (Family First)
Dir. Sophie Dupuis
Synopsis: JP lives with his brother Vincent, his mother Joe and his girlfriend Mel in a small apartement of Verdun. Constantly walking a tightrope, JP tries to maintain a proper balance between the numerous needs of his family of which he feels responsible for, the collecting job he is doing with his brother and his involvements in his uncle’s drug cartel who he sees as a father figure.
Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Best Acting Ensemble
Hot Girl
Dir. Erin Richards
Synopsis: Kara Quinn, a struggling actress, is desperate to be seen as anything other than a 'hot girl'.
Best Actor (Erin Richards)
The next festival on our 2018 calendar is the Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival where we will be screening some of the winners and special mentions from Los Angeles amongst a variety of fantastic independent films from The Netherlands and around the world. Click the link below to view the programme and get your tickets now!
