Various locations in L.A.
Screenings $21
Founded 30 years ago as a group of independent filmmakers’ response to Sundance, Slamdance Film Festival is heading to Los Angeles from Park City, Utah, beginning a new era of the fest. With a mantra of “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” Slamdance focuses on emerging artists and counts the Russo brothers, Christopher Nolan, Gina Prince-Bythewood, the Safdie brothers, Rian Johnson, Sean Baker and more of today’s most notable directors as alums. L.A. Times Studios’ environmental exposé Out of Plain Sight will open this year’s fest, premiering February 20 at the Egyptian Theatre, while a lineup of over 150 shorts, experimental films and narratives—including several made here in L.A.—will play all week at the Directors Guild of America (7920 W Sunset Blvd), the Landmark Sunset (8000 W Sunset Blvd) and Quixote by Sunset Studios (1011 N Fuller Ave). See the full lineup here.