Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the 2024 Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival!
The festival platformed hundreds of films, each project worthy of recognition and celebration. We want to extend a giant thank you to everyone who took part and a special congratulations to all the incredible talent that went into making these projects.
The judges' scores have been combined with the audience's choices, and after careful scrutiny, it's our pleasure to announce the Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival winners!
Winners: Los Angeles Network Round Shorts
Going Home
Director/Writer/Producer: Alessandra Carlino
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Documentary, Short
Synopsis: Going Home is a story of transformation and courage, of personal challenges and strength.
It is the story of the resiliency of the human spirit told through the lens of our homelessness crisis.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Short Documentary
Barakah
Director/Writer/Producer: Biniyam Abreha
Country of Origin: Denmark
Genre: Short Narrative Film
Synopsis: Faced with a dire request from a mysterious woman, a distraught young man embarks on a transformative journey that unearths mystical forces that reach into a long forgotten past.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Art Direction
It's Nice! (When People Take The Time To Say Goodbye)
Director: Nicky Alloway
Writer: Alice Condon
Producer: Gareth Rees Rowlands
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Short Film
Synopsis: Three siblings return to their hometown for the funeral of their beloved Uncle Bernard. While paying their respects, they have one simple aim - to get through the day without any mention of their estranged mother and her betrayal of the family.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Acting Ensemble
Here With You
Director/Producer: Lauren Adler
Writer/Producer: Tyler Vincent
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short Film
Synopsis: Here With You, is a romantic thriller which follows Forest and Sadie in the remote woods of upstate New York. As they indulge in the excessive nature of their deepest desires, the two quickly learn that when it comes to love, they only have one person in mind.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Cinematography
The Burden of Care
Director/Writer: Sam T Ripley
Producers: Kim Gillingham, Erich Treml
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short Film
Synopsis: An aging man’s understanding of his world is challenged when a strangely remorseful gunman breaks into his apartment and threatens his life.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Director
LOCKED UP
Dir/Writer/Producer: Etienne Guichard
Producer: Johanna Lagarde
Country of Origin: France
Genre: Short Film
Synopsis: A car stuck in a traffic jam. Inside, Samuel, 8 years old, plays with his plastic robots while his father gets impatient. Suddenly, an angry biker appears, weaving between the cars. He wants to pass, at any cost…
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Short Live Action Narrative, Best Actor (Zachary Morali)
under the influence[r]
Director/Writer/Producer: Alberto Accettulli
Producers: Ludovico Avogadro, Fabrizio Accettulli, Robert Roszbeck, Giovanni Labadessa
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short Film
Synopsis: Two Gen Z men strive for social media fame, attempting a risky and unlawful stunt to go viral. The film is a sharp portrayal of modern society's imbalance, highlighting the stark contrast between the digital facade we curate and the reality we live in, questioning what we truly value.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best First-Time Filmmaker
LUKi and the Lights
Director/Writer: Toby Cochran
Writers: Sascha Groen, Janna Brouwer-Schouten, Anjo Snijders
Producer: Adrian Ochoa
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Animation, Short
Synopsis: LUKi, a charming and upbeat robot known for living life to the fullest, confronts a life-altering ALS diagnosis.
Through the lens of LUKi's unwavering resilience, the story of his battle against ALS transforms into a testament to the human (and robotic) spirit's ability to find light even in the darkest of times. With every choice he makes, every smile he shares, and every second he cherishes, LUKi paints a vivid portrait of what it means to truly live, even as the sands of time slip through his grasp.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Animation, Best Post-Production
Winners: Los Angeles Network Round Features
Climbing into Life
Director/Writer/Producer: Melissa J Davey
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Documentary, Feature
Synopsis: Dierdre Wolownick is the oldest woman to ascend El Capitan in Yosemite. Never an athlete, she excelled in languages, art, music and other intellectual pursuits. In her 60's she began running and climbing out of curiosity. Her son, Alex Honnold of the film Free Solo was her mentor. Dierdre proves that we are never too old to try something new.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Feature Documentary
The Free End Alone
Dir/Writer/Producer: Gonghee Lee
Country of Origin: Republic of Korea
Genre: Feature
Synopsis: Men and women from the city, whose life have turned into frustrations and impoverished lives due to COVID-19, come to beach.
A philosophy professor who predicts the resurrection of death, Hae-Rim who tries to escape her guilt from her lover who died, Ji-Hwang who dreams of Bitcoin price increasing, and Sang-Soo who wanders in an uncertain future. They go to a funeral in front of the sea to find new life.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Feature Live Action Narrative
15th Annual Lift-Off Season Awards
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event that celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films that have excelled in their respective category are short listed for a Season Awards Nomination. At the end of the year, once all the 12 city-based festival have taken place, the shortlisted nominated films are reviewed again by the jury and Official Nominations are designated. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.