Looking to take the next step in your film and television career? The HALF Initiative is creating pathways for underrepresented storytellers through mentorship, education, and hands-on opportunities behind the camera. From Director Shadowing placements on Ryan Murphy productions to Production Assistant Intensives, these programs are designed to help emerging talent build meaningful industry connections and gain real-world experience. ✨ Learn more about the available programs and discover how HALF is helping shape a more inclusive future for entertainment. 🔗 halfinitiative.com/programs

🎉 Congratulations to NFMLA alum @naniswalker on the streaming release of Shakti! Set in Nepal, this award-winning supernatural drama has captivated audiences on the festival circuit and is NOW available to stream on Amazon. We're proud to celebrate Nani and this exciting milestone as @shaktifilmofficial reaches viewers worldwide. 🎬 Watch now: amazon.com/Shakti-Nani-Sahra…

🎞️ Come learn how authentic stories are developed! 📍 NFMLA Virtual Conversation | JuVee Productions VP Kaylon Hunt: Developing Authentic Stories 📆 Thursday, June 18th, 2026 at 6pm - 7:30 pm PST Led by Kaylon Hunt, a writer, filmmaker, actor, entertainment executive, and Vice President of JuVee Productions (@JuVeeProds), join us for a conversation on how LGBTQ and underserved storytellers are shaping today’s film and television landscape. Designed for emerging and independent filmmakers, the session offers both creative and practical insight into building meaningful industry relationships, positioning projects effectively, and navigating pathways to production. This conversation will also be moderated by our very own Danny De Lillo! Danny is an NFMLA Alumni that’s journey with the organization has spanned over a decade. Serving on the board of NFMLA is one of Danny’s greatest life passions. Supporting the organization’s mission to celebrate local and global storytellers and the dedication for all voices to be heard as well as building the NFMLA family worldwide. 🎟️ For tickets and more info, visit newfilmmakersla.com/events #Film #Entertainment #FilmIndustry #LGBTQ #Pride #AmplifyingVoices #VirtualEvent #NewFilmmakersLA #NFMLA

🎞️ Want to learn more about distributing your project? 📍 NFMLA Virtual Workshop | From Festival Wins to Distribution: Tracing Burt with Director Joe Burke Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 at 6pm - 7:30 pm PST Join us for a workshop with AFI alumnus and award-winning independent filmmaker Joe Burke (@joeburkefilm) on creative development of his film Burt, and then its distribution from film festivals to its digital release this month. From managing your own production, working the festival circuit, and understanding distributing your work; this session has you covered! This conversation will be moderated by Varda Bar-Kar (@varda_bar.kar) is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker whose work spans documentaries, scripted projects, and television. Her films have premiered on Netflix, PBS, and HBO/MAX, and screened at major festivals worldwide! 🎟️ For tickets and more info, visit newfilmmakersla.com/events #Film #Entertainment #FilmIndustry #FilmDistribution #VirtualEvent #NewFilmmakersLA #NFMLA

📺 What happens when the line between reality and imagination begins to disappear? So Many Fools Around (Esli Mozhno) joins the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the June Shorts | FIFA Edition program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: He's used to never leaving the house. He knows the world only through his TV screen. But one day, he realizes he's become so disconnected from reality that his apartment turned into a separate cosmos with its own life: a mix of television images and living household items. So Many Fools Around (Esli Mozhno) ✍️🎥 Writer, Director, and Producer: Anton Evdokimov 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🌸 Some places don’t just offer shelter—they reshape who you are. Blossoms is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program I – In Search of Welcome program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Just before moving away, Darnell becomes an unexpected mentor and home for a young queer person, Zavin, who’s come to Portland to escape the same small town they both grew up in. Blossoms 🎥 Director: Pearson Kunz ✍️ Co-Writers: Pearson Kunz and Ajai Terrazas Tripathi 🎥 Producers: James Dixon 🎬 Crew: James R. Dixon and Nathanial Owens 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🍸 Some nights change course with a single wrong turn. Rob Roy joins the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the June Shorts | FIFA Edition program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: In a grimy, after-hours bar, a nervous young thief attempts to quickly return stolen mob money but instead ignites a dangerous confrontation where the brutal price of every decision becomes impossible to escape. Rob Roy 🎥 Director: Enrique A. Mendoza ✍️ Writer: Ren Olivieri 🎥 Producers: Shannon Carl and Alastair Waithe 🎬 Crew: Laurent Sayer Koldin Dawsin Collie Salma Khalidi Lisa Mandel Derrick Rabethge 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

📣 Missed it the first time? Here's another chance. PBS SoCal's Community Storyteller Initiative is accepting submissions through July 31, 2026, seeking Southern California filmmakers to tell stories that explore LA's Olympic legacy and transformation ahead of the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Selected storytellers will receive up to $6,500 to create: 🎥 A 5–8 minute short documentary 📱 A 60-second vertical video for social media Projects will premiere on PBS SoCal's digital platforms leading up to the 2028 Games. ⏰ Deadline: July 31, 2026 Learn more and apply 👉 pbssocal.org/community-story…

🦌 Some moments mark the end of childhood. Be a Man joins the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the June Shorts | FIFA Edition program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Miguelito, an innocent seven-year-old boy, accompanies his father and grandfather on a hunt that will change him forever. Be a Man 🎥 Director: Lucas Parra ✍️ Co-Writers: Lucas Parra, Valèria Cuní 🎥 Producers: Jofre Farré, Ander Sagardoy Múgica, Eneko Sagardoy, Albert Soler, Alba Fortes 🎬 Cast: Raúl Prieto, Lucas Catalán, José Rasero, Nico Montoya, Judit Farrés 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

📣 Thrilled to share some exciting news from one of our alumni! 📣 @laramiedennis (Laramie Dennis)'s feature film, "WHERE IN THE HELL" (@whereinthemovie), which played at our April 2025 film festival, is now available to buy or rent on Amazon! Many congratulations to Laramie and this "sharp, offbeat buddy comedy," which you can check out now! 🔗 Watch it here: amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B…

🇮🇹✨ This week, we had the pleasure of visiting @NYFA’s Florence, Italy campus and connecting with Diana Santi, NYFA's Campus Director in Florence, Italy. As a valued supporter of emerging filmmakers, @NYFA continues to create opportunities for creatives around the world to learn, collaborate, and grow within an international artistic community. 🎬 Thank you to Diana and the @NYFA Florence team for welcoming us and sharing insight into the incredible work happening on campus. We’re excited to continue celebrating global storytelling together!

As a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing independent filmmakers in CA and around the world, NFMLA and our team take pride in supporting local and global storytellers, alongside our partner organizations who participated in California Day at the 2026 Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) including Film Santa Monica (@FilmSantaMonica), Marina Del Rey Tourism Board (@MarinaDelRey_CA), Chula Vista Entertainment Company, Film Liaisons in California (@FLICSCA), and the California Film Commission (@FilmCalifornia). This panel conversation, featuring California Film Commissioner Colleen Bell, San Francisco Film Commissioner and FLICS Board Member Manijeh Fata, and NFMLA's Co-Founder and Executive Director Larry Laboe, discusses ways in which California is seeking to provide more resources to the broader entertainment sector, including film, TV, and other creative mediums. This panel was moderated by VP, Feature Strategy at Indie Wire, Chris O'Falt (@cofalt). Thank you to the American Pavilion (@AmPavPrograms) for hosting us and providing a space for this important conversation! Kudos to Indie Wire (@IndieWire) and Wilson Chapman for publishing this recap.  Read more and watch the full article/panel at: indiewire.com/news/events/am…

🌈 Some stories become acts of courage. Open to It – Pride Special: “Open to Drag Queen Story Hour” is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program I – In Search of Welcome. 🎬✨ Synopsis: Budding queen Cam and his drag-family read for drag queen story hour – but uninvited guests aren't so excited about the idea. Open to It - Pride Special: "Open to Drag Queen Story Hour" 🎥 Directors: Frank Arthur Smith & Matt Hartman ✍️ Writer: Elizabeth Boone 🎥 Producers: Sarah Whitaker, Josslyn Glenn, Bryan Schaub, Afrika Jonée 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

🍔 Some traditions start as a joke… and turn into something much bigger. Dick’s-A-Thon is part of the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival, featured in the June Shorts | FIFA Edition program. 🎬✨ Synopsis: 26.3 Miles. 5 Dick’s. 5 Meals. 1 wild tradition to honor a friend, and give back to the outdoors. Learn about Seattle’s most unique marathon, and the touching story behind it. Dick's-A-Thon ✍️🎥 Writer & Director: Dylan Young 🎥 Producers: Sean Goodwin, Braden League, Dylan Young 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

⚖️ What happens when your identity is decided for you? Mistake joins the lineup for NFMLA’s June Monthly Film Festival as the festival’s Feature Narrative. 🎬✨ Raw, intimate, and deeply human, the film explores identity, expectation, and the lasting impact of choices made in a world that leaves little room for difference. ✨ Sometimes the hardest truth… is becoming who you were meant to be. Synopsis: In 1941, somewhere in the American South, a child is born between the sexes, intersex, and the family must choose boy or girl? Mistake ✍️🎥 Writer & Director: @honeygay 🎥 Producers: Brad Wyman, Davey Robertson, Erik Bakken 🎬 Crew: Honey Lauren Davey Robertson Dominic Bogart Jiji Hise Jamie Gallagher Matt Bogart Phillip Nathaniel Saunders Jacob Johnson Rachel Alig Livi Nichols Lori Wilson Jj Dunlap Ashley Law Shawn Caulin Young 🎟️ Learn more: newfilmmakersla.com/events/

A four-peat! ⭐ NFMLA is thrilled to announce that we've been named one of the best Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee by @moviemakermag for the FOURTH year in a row! 🤩 Thank you so much to MovieMaker for this honor and congratulations to all our fellow festivals: • Salute Your Shorts Film Festival • DOC NYC • Dances with Films • Chicago International Film Festival • Big Sky Documentary Film Festival • Austin Film Festival and more! 🔗 You can read the full article at: moviemaker.com/50-film-festi…

We're thrilled to support @LALIFF 2026, kicking off May 27th! 🎬 This year's festival features an incredible lineup spanning Female Directors, Immigration, Indigenous Latino, Human Rights, Horror, LGBTQ , Afro Latino, Documentary, and so much more. A huge congratulations to our alumni on their selections! Gabriela Ortega Fiorella Vescovi Vanessa Sandre Karina Lomelin Ripper Daniel Barosa Guillermo Casarin Marcos Nieves Kristian Mercado Alessandra Pasquino Anna Salinas William D. Caballero Grab your tickets here: laliff.org/festival-2026/tic…

NFMLA is proud to partner with @AWD_Directors on the 2025 BACK TO SET: Working Directors Intensive—a two-day in-person event focused on empowering directors to lead with clarity, confidence, and creative vision. Join us in Burbank on June 12 13 for workshops, panels, and community that will reignite your purpose behind the camera. 🎬 🎟️ Tickets available now at backtosetla.com #BackToSet2026 #AWDDirectors #WorkingDirectors #FilmmakingCommunity

🎬 Celebrate Pride and FIFA with NewFilmmakers LA! ⚽ Join us on June 20th for NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival, a powerful day dedicated to its celebration of its annual InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema program. ✨ The day kicks off with June Shorts | FIFA Edition, spotlighting short films made in and by filmmakers from FIFA World Cup 26™ participating countries including Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, USA, Uzbekistan, and more! #FIFAWorldCup Next, InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program I – In Search of Welcome, a collection of stories that tackle the vulnerability of seeking acceptance and understanding The celebration continues with the Los Angeles premiere of writer-director Honey Lauren’s first feature film, Mistake, a period piece about an intersex child growing up in the 1940’s that is unflinching, honest and told with so much love for its protagonist. The evening concludes with InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program II – Self-Expression, a selection that highlights self-expression through finding and choosing authenticity, feeling one’s feelings, navigating messiness, meeting with curiosity and embracing queer joy. ✨ A full day of films that push boundaries, spark conversation, and elevate new voices. 📅 Mark your calendars – June 20, 2026 12:00pm PDT - 10:15pm PDT Program #1 – June Shorts | FIFA Edition 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Pre-Reception 12:30 PM – 2:15 PM – Program 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM – Audience Q&A Program #2 – InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program I – In Search of Welcome 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Pre-Reception 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Program 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM – Audience Q&A Program #3 – Feature Narrative | Mistake 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Pre-Reception 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM – Program 7:30 PM – 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A Program #4 – InFocus: LGBTQ Cinema Shorts Program II – Self-Expression 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM – Pre-Reception 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM – Program 10:00 PM – 10:15 PM – Audience Q&A 🎟️ Learn more about our festivals and other programs at newfilmmakersla.com

Christopher Slager, President of Film at FIFTH SEASON, on bringing a "California story" to life.⁠ ⁠ California Day at the American Pavilion Presented by the California Film Commission (@filmca) with Marina del Rey Tourism Board, Film Santa Monica, Chula Vista Entertainment Company (CVEC), Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS) and NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (@NFMLA)