FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alia Quart Khan, Film Independent
Tel: 310.432.1287 or aqkhan@filmindependent.org

Contact: Gina Pence, Ginsberg/Libby
Tel: 323.645.6800 or gina.pence@ginsberglibby.com

LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL AND FUNNY OR DIE ANNOUNCE
SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR MAKE ’EM LAFF TALENT CONTEST

LOS ANGELES (March 24, 2015) – The Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced today the launch of the second annual Funny Or Die Make ’em LAFF contest, an internet talent search to discover content creators of color and underrepresented voices who specialize in comedy. Last year’s winner Suzi Yoonessi’s Olive and Mocha: Fast Times at Sugar High was selected from over 300 submissions.

“We are so thrilled to work with Funny Or Die again,” said Stephanie Allain, Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival. “Our mission of discovering diverse talent gets amplified through their reach.”

Submissions are now open until May 8, 2015. This year’s jury will be comprised of Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell and comedians Jason Mantzoukas (Kroll Show, Parks and Recreation), Beth Stelling (@midnight, Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and Ron Funches (Kroll Show, Undateable)

The Los Angeles Film Festival and Funny Or Die invite content creators and comedians from underrepresented communities (i.e. artists of color, women and/or LGBT) to submit videos of under five minutes in length showcasing their diverse, unique and authentic comedic voices. Short films, webisodes, animation and music videos are welcome. Visit the Make ’em LAFF page on the Funny Or Die website for full competition details. The deadline for submissions is May 8, 2015.

10 short-listed videos will be announced and streamed on the Funny Or Die website on May 15, 2015. From those 10 short-listed films, Funny Or Die and Los Angeles Film Festival Curator Elvis Mitchell will select three finalists to screen their films in conjunction with a live comedy show during the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs June 10-18 at Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 in Downtown Los Angeles. The winner will be announced live at the Make ’em LAFF showcase at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The winner will also meet with a Funny Or Die producer where they’ll pitch ideas for their next comedy video and once Funny Or Die approves a concept, we will co-produce the video and have it distributed on Funny Or Die.

Passes to the Los Angeles Film Festival go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 21. The full line-up will be announced on Tuesday, May 5. Individual tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, May 19.

 

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

The Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent, showcases diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in new American and international cinema.  The Festival provides the movie-loving public with one-of-a-kind events featuring critically acclaimed filmmakers, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world. The Festival’s signature programs include the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film Nights at The GRAMMY Museum ®, Celebrating Women Filmmakers, Master Classes, Spirit of Independence Award, Coffee Talks, LA Muse and more. The Festival also screens short films created by high school students and a special section devoted to music videos. The Los Angeles Film Festival is presented in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times. The Official Host Venue is Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14. Platinum Sponsors include Jaeger Le-Coultre, American Airlines, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and EFILM. The University Sponsor is Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. Sauza 901 Tequila is the official spirit sponsor. The Los Angeles Athletic Club is the Official Host Hotel. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency. More information can be found at lafilmfest.com.

 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a non-profit arts 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 an audience for their projects and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional or a film lover.

Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

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’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. For more information or to become a member, visit filmindependent.org.

 

ABOUT FUNNY OR DIE

Funny Or Die launched in April 2007 and has become an award-wining top destination for comedy on the web. The site has over 19 million unique users per month, over 60 million video views per month, and has grown into a vertically integrated digital studio that produces high quality content over numerous platforms, operating a social media and marketing division with over 9.3 million Twitter followers approximately 11 million Facebook fans (#1 Comedy Brand on both Twitter and Facebook), and devoted followers on numerous social networking and sharing sites. Funny Or Die has become the “place to be seen” for comedic celebrities, and the obvious destination for a daily comedy fix.

 

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 1.5 million and 2.6 million on Sunday, more than 22 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly and a combined print and online local weekly audience of 4 million. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 132 years.

The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) businesses and affiliates also include The Envelope, Times Community News, and Hoy Los Angeles which, combined with the flagship Los Angeles Times, reach approximately 5.2 million or 38% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. LATMG also owns California Community News, LLC , operates Tribune Direct LA, and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country’s leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at http://latimes.com/aboutus.

 

ABOUT L.A. LIVE

L.A. LIVE is a 4 million square foot / $3 billion downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district adjacent to STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center featuring Club Nokia, a 2,300 capacity live music venue, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, a 7,100-seat live theatre, a 54-story, 1001-room convention “headquarters” destination (featuring The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE hotels and 224 luxury condominiums – The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE – all in a single tower) , the GRAMMY Museum, the 14-screen Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 theatre, broadcast facilities for ESPN along with entertainment, residential, restaurant and office space. Developed by Los Angeles-based AEG, L.A. LIVE, considered to be the nation’s most active ‘live content and event campus,’ also features 260,480 sf of conference center and ballroom facilities, a 100,000 sf special events deck, the famous Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, the celebrity owned Conga Room, a one-of-a-kind GRAMMY Museum, saluting the history of music and the genre’s best known awards show all centered around Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE, a 40,000 sf outdoor event space. L.A. LIVE showcases more events, award shows, sporting competitions, concerts and hospitality options than any other destination in the world. Visit L.A. LIVE today at http://www.lalive.com.

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