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

Contact: Gina Lang, Ginsberg/Libby
Tel: 323.645.6800 or gina.lang@ginsberglibby.com 

LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL AND FUNNY OR DIE LAUNCH
MAKE ’EM LAFF TALENT CONTEST

LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2014) – The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by Film Independent in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, in association with Funny Or Die announced today the launch of Make ’em LAFF, an internet talent search to discover content creators of color and underrepresented voices who specialize in comedy.

The winner of the Make ’em LAFF competition will be chosen by a jury comprised of Funny Or Die founder Chris Henchy, writer/producer/director Issa Rae (Awkward Black Girl) and comedians Hannibal Buress and Kumail Nanjiani. The winner will have their next video produced by Funny Or Die and receive a talent hold deal with a cash prize presented by FOX Audience Strategy. Under the deal, the winner will be presented across the Fox entertainment businesses.

“We know there are funny people out there who might not have access, so with the help of Funny Or Die, we’re trying to connect the dots. This is a chance to be seen and heard. So make us laugh,” says Stephanie Allain, Los Angeles Film Festival Director.

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 5 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 9, 2014.

25 short-listed videos will be announced and streamed on the Funny Or Die website on May 15, 2014. From those 25 short-listed films, Funny Or Die and Los Angeles Film Festival guest curator Elvis Mitchell will select 10 finalists to screen their films in conjunction with a live comedy show at the GRAMMY Museum during the 20^th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs June 11-19 at Regal Cinemas at L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 in Downtown Los Angeles. Jurors Chris Henchy, Issa Rae and Hannibal Buress will announce the winner at the Make ’em LAFF showcase at the festival.

Passes to the Los Angeles Film Festival go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, April 22. The full line-up will be announced on Tuesday, May 6.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

Now in its twentieth year, the Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by Film Independent, showcases diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in new American and international cinema, and 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, Poolside Chats, LA Muse and more. Over 200 features, shorts, and music videos, representing more than 30 countries, make up the main body of the Festival.  The Festival also screens short films created by high school students and a special section devoted to music videos. The Festival hosts juried cash awards for best narrative and documentary features, best narrative, documentary and animated short film, and a jury award for best performance in the narrative competition. Audience awards are presented to best documentary, narrative and international feature, short film and music video. 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. Special support is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Renwood Winery is the official wine provider. The Los Angeles Athletic Club is the Official Host Hotel. WireImage is the Official Photography Agency and PR Newswire is the Official Breaking News Service of Film Independent. 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 21st century digital studio that produces high quality content over numerous platforms, operating a social media and marketing division with over 7.9 million Twitter followers approximately 6.8 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 FOX AUDIENCE STRATEGY

FOX Audience Strategy works across the Fox entertainment businesses – including the Fox Networks Group, Fox Filmed Entertainment, Sports and Digital – to augment efforts which reflect diverse perspectives and are compelling and relevant to increasingly broad audiences.

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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