(November 1, 2007) FILM INDEPENDENT ANNOUNCES DATES OF THE 2008 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
LOS ANGELES (November 1, 2007) – Film Independent announced today that the dates for the 14th Los Angeles Film Festival presented by the Los Angeles Times will be July 19-29, 2008. Film Independent is now accepting film submissions for the 2008 Festival. The final entry deadline for short films and music videos is February 8, while the final deadline for feature-length (50 minutes or more) narrative and documentary films is March 3. Discounted entry fees are available for submissions received by the early deadline of November 30 or the regular deadline of January 11. Submission forms and more information are available at LAFilmFest.com.

"More than 80,000 people attended the Festival this year, and the cross-cultural audiences have been growing steadily," said Festival Director, Rich Raddon. "The positive response to the diversity and range of programming has been extremely rewarding, and it is our privilege to continue our support and celebration of the best independent film has to offer."

"This year's festival proved to be our most successful yet, and the public's support for independent film has never been stronger," said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent. "We are proud to bring Los Angeles and the film community together, and are determined to make next year's festival an even bigger world-class event."

Held annually every summer in Westwood Village, the Los Angeles Film Festival showcases the best of American and international cinema. More than 100 feature films – narrative and documentary – are featured in the Festival, alongside gala premieres, panels and seminars, free outdoor screenings, live musical performances, and unique signature programs such as the Filmmakers Retreat, Family Day, and the Spirit of Independence Award ceremony. The Festival also screens short films created by high school students and has a special section devoted to music videos.

The Los Angeles Film Festival is a qualifying festival in all categories for Film Independent's Spirit Awards. The Festival is also a qualifying festival for the narrative short film and animated categories of the Academy Awards.
The Los Angeles Film Festival has grown to more than 80,000 attendees, unveiling such films as "Kabuley", "Severed Ways", "August Evening", "Deliver Us From Evil", "Rock School", "Mayor of the Sunset Strip", "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart", "Kissing Jessica Stein", "George Washington", and "The Cruise".

Recent films, which were acquired for theatrical distribution out of the 2007 Festival, include Stephen Walker's "Young @ Heart" (Fox Searchlight), Chris Eska's "August Evening" (Maya Entertainment), and "The Cool School" (Arthouse Films). Acquisitions in 2006 included Amy Berg's "Deliver Us From Evil" (Lionsgate Films), which went on to receive an Academy Award® nomination for Best Documentary; Stacy Title's "Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror" (Xenon Pictures); and Stanley Nelson's "Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple" (Seventh Art Releasing). Previous acquisitions included "Rock School" (Newmarket Films); "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" (First Look Media/Lakeshore Entertainment); and "Kissing Jessica Stein" (Fox Searchlight).

Winners from the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival included Chris Eska's "August Evening", winner of the Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative Feature; Jennifer Venditti's "Billy the Kid", winner of the Target Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature; Stephane Gauger's "Owl and the Sparrow", winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; Greg Whiteley's "Resolved", winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature; and Stephen Walker's "Young @ Heart", winner of the Audience Award for Best International Film. Clint Eastwood received the Spirit of Independence Award.

Other film highlights from the 2007 Festival were Kasi Lemmons' "Talk to Me", George Ratliff's "Joshua", Danny Boyle's "Sunshine", Michael Bay's "Transformers", Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson's "Arctic Tale", and the New Crowned Hope film series.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Held annually in June, Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival showcases the best of American and international cinema over the course of ten days. Drawing a diverse audience of over 80,000 people, more than 100 feature films – narrative and documentary – are screened at the Festival, alongside gala premieres, panels and seminars, free outdoor screenings, Family Day, and live musical performances.
The Festival also features unique signature programs including the exclusive Filmmaker Retreat and the Spirit of Independence Award ceremony and gala. Additionally, the Festival screens short films created by high school students and has a special section devoted to music videos.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Los Angeles Film Festival is widely recognized as a world-class event, providing the movie-loving public with access to some of the most critically-acclaimed filmmakers, scholars, critics, film industry professionals, and emerging talent around the world.

Approximately 110 features, 100 shorts, and 50 music videos representing more than 40 countries make up the main body of the Festival. Films submitted to the Festival are reviewed by Film Independent's programming department, which evaluates each film, looking for the best in new American and International cinema.

Awards are given out in the following categories at the conclusion of the Festival: Best Narrative Feature; Best Documentary Feature; Outstanding Performance in the Narrative Competition Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature; Audience Award for Best International Feature; Best Narrative Short Film; Best Documentary Short Film; Best Animated/Experimental Short Film; and the Audience Award for Best Short Film.

The Los Angeles Film Festival has unveiled such films as “The Cool School,” “August Evening,” “Severed Ways,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” “Rock School,” “The Cruise,” “Mayor of the Sunset Strip,” “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,” “Kissing Jessica Stein,” and “George Washington.”
For more information, visit LAFilmFest.com.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent is a non-profit membership organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds the audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, film industry leader, or a film lover.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent also offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally-diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.

Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards. For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2.2 million and 3.3 million on Sunday. The Los Angeles Times and its media businesses and affiliates – including latimes.com, The Envelope/theenvelope.com, Times Community Newspapers, Hoy, and California Community News – reach approximately 8.1 million or 62% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times, has been covering Southern California for over 125 years and is part of Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information about the Los Angeles Times is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.
Festival will take place July 19 – 29, 2008; call for entries also announced. 2007 Festival Acquisitions: Stephen Walker's “Young @ Heart,” Chris Eska's “August Evening,” Morgan Neville's “The Cool School”