News: THE TRIBE will open in Los Angeles on June 26th! Again, THE TRIBE will open in Los Angeles on June 26th!

the tribe
A Film by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy

Opening Theatrically in Los Angeles on ​Friday, ​June 26!

Sneak preview on June 25th ​

WINNER: 2014 Cannes Film Festival Critics Week Grand Prize
WINNER: 2014 Cannes Film Festival France 4 Visionary Award
WINNER: 2014 Cannes Film Festival Gan Foundation Support For Distribution Award
NOMINATED: 2014 Cannes Film Festival Golden Camera Award
​NOMINATED: 2014 European Film Awards - European Discovery Of The Year
WINNER: 2014 Fantastic Fest Next Wave Award - Best Director​

"Actions, emotions and desperate impulses speak far louder than words in "The Tribe” a formally audacious coup de cinema that marks a stunning writing-directing debut for Ukrainian filmmaker Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy."  
~ Justin Chang, Variety

"The use of sign language, deafness and silence itself adds several heady new ingredients to the base material, alchemically creating something rich, strange and very original."
~ Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

Winner of multiple 2014 Cannes Film Festival Awards (including the coveted Critics’ Week Grand Prix), Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy's The Tribe is an undeniably original and intense feature debut set in the insular world of a Ukranian high school for the deaf. The Tribe unfolds through the non-verbal acting and sign language from a cast of deaf, non-professional actors—with no need for subtitles or voice over––resulting in a unique, never-before-experienced cinematic event that engages the audience on a new sensory level.

Teenage Sergey (Grigoriy Fesenko), a new student at the boarding school, realizes immediately that he must prove himself worthy to be brought under the protective wing of the school gang's leader to survive unscathed. After an indoctrination of harmless initiation pranks and rites, Sergey's new-found clique soon introduces him to their common activities of robbery, bribery and prostitution. At first assimilating seamlessly into his new role in the tribe, he finds himself compromised as he begins to fall in love with his female classmate—and one of the gang's escorts—triggering a sequence of stunningly diabolical events.

THIS IS ONE MOVIE EVERY MOVIE BUFF SHOULD SEE!!!

News: Sundance hit "The Overnight" opens in theaters June 19th!

One of the most critically acclaimed films at Sundance this year will debut in theaters on June 19!


Alex, Emily, and their son, RJ, have recently moved to Los Angeles’ Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up.

Writer/director Patrick Brice’s second feature is a painfully funny take on thirty-something sexual frustration and parenthood. Featuring memorable lead performances by Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman, and Judith Godrèche, each actor nimbly balances the script’s sudden emotional turns from surprising honesty to complete embarrassment. Produced by Gettin' Rad and the Duplass Brothers, THE OVERNIGHT tells a complex story of universal inadequacies.

THE OVERNIGHT premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will be released by The Orchard on June 19, 2015.

Watch the trailer below...

News: Festival sensation "Eat With Me" on VOD now and on DVD on June 2!

Life-Affirming Family Comedy about Food, Love and Life debuts digitally on May 5 across all digital platforms including iTunes, Vimeo On Demand and WolfeOnDemand.com... 

DVD release on June 2!


The award-winning film EAT WITH ME is a poignant and life affirming comedy-drama about the bonds of family and the love of food, as seen through the eyes of a mother and her gay son who must learn to heal, connect and grow together to save the son's Chinese restaurant. Starring Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Aidan Bristow, Nicole Sullivan (TV's "Family Guy", "MADtv") and featuring a special appearance by George Takei ("Star Trek"). Wolfe Video releases the award-winning family food comedy EAT WITH ME on VOD May 5th and on DVD June 2nd. EAT WITH ME celebrates the unconditional love between mother and son and the strong cultural bonds of family, food and friendship.

Seen through the eyes of a mother and her gay son who must reconnect, heal, and grow together to save the son's Chinese restaurant, writer/director David Au has created a touching and personal tribute to his Chinese-American family, the healing power of food and love, and a transcendent tribute to motherhood.

Set in one of the glorious food capitals of the world, Los Angeles, this deliciously emotional and redemptive story features adept performances and a memorable cameo by iconic actor George Takei (Star Trek). Starring Sharon Omi, Teddy Chen Culver, Aidan Bristow, and Nicole Sullivan (TV's "Family Guy", "MADtv").

Watch the delightful trailer below...



XXX
Raymond Lo

LAFF 2015: "Band of Robbers", Official Zeitgeist Selection

Have you ever imagined Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn all grown up? This re-imagined, modern day fable will take you to through that journey as they continue to search for the hidden treasure that has eluded them since childhood.

BAND OF ROBBERS will make its world premiere at LAFF on Saturday, June 13th at 7:15 PM at Regal LA Live Cinemas.

It’s a modern riff on Mark Twain’s beloved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn starring Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, Dear White People, The Finest Hours), Adam Nee (Drunk History), Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds, 500 Days of Summer, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), Hannibal Buress (SNL Emmy-nominated writer, Broad City, Neighbors), Melissa Benoist (Glee, Supergirl), Daniel Mora (The Bridge), Eric Christian Olsen (NCIS: Los Angeles), and Stephen Lang (Avatar, Salem).

Directed by Aaron Nee & Adam Nee and produced by John Will, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner, Arun Kumar, this modern-day retelling of Mark Twain’s iconic books, Band of Robbers, is a comedic adventure that re-imagines the characters as grown men, and small-time crooks.  When Huck Finn is released from prison, he hopes to leave his criminal life behind, but his lifelong friend, and corrupt cop, Tom Sawyer, has other plans. Not ready to give up on his childhood fantasies, Tom forms the Band of Robbers, recruiting their misfit friends, Joe Harper and Ben Rogers, to join them for an elaborate plan to find a fabled treasure. But the plan soon unravels, thrusting the guys on a wild journey with dangerous consequences.

Visit the films official website: www.bandofrobbers.com for more details.

See you at the festival!

XXX
Raymond Lo

LAFF 2015: Official Festival Line-up Announced!


30 Films chosen for U.S. Fiction, Documentary and World Fiction Competitions!

18 World Premieres! 

On Tuesday, May 5th, the Los Angeles Film Festival, produced by Film Independent with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner L.A. LIVE, announced its official U.S. Fiction, Documentary and World Competition sections.

US Fiction Competition (10)
Original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers.
US Fiction Competition Finalist
·         3rd Street Blackout, dir. Negin Farsad, Jeremy Redleaf, USA, World Premiere
·         A Country Called Home, dir. Anna Axster, USA, World Premiere
·         Bastards Y Diablos, dir. A.D. Freese, USA/Colombia, World Premiere
·         The Girl in the Book, dir. Marya Cohn, USA, World Premiere
·         How He Fell in Love, dir. Marc Meyers, USA, World Premiere
·         It’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, dir. Emily Ting, USA, World Premiere
·         Mekko, dir. Sterlin Harjo, USA, World Premiere
·         Out of My Hand, dir. Takeshi Fukunaga, USA/Liberia, N. American Premiere
·         Puerto Ricans in Paris, dir. Ian Edelman, USA/France/Czech Republic, World Premiere
·         Too Late, dir. Dennis Hauck, USA, World Premiere

Documentary Competition (12) 
Documentary Competition Finalist
Sponsored by Netflix and Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television.
Compelling, character-driven non-fiction films from the U.S. and around the world.

·         A New High, dir. Samuel Miron, Stephen Scarpulla, USA, World Premiere
·         The Babuskhas of Chernobyl, dir. Holly Morris, USA/Ukraine, World Premiere
·         Be Here Now (The Andy Whitfield Story), dir. Lilibet Foster, USA/Australia, World Premiere
·         Catching the Sun, dir. Shalini Kantayya, USA, World Premiere
·         In a Perfect World, dir. Daphne McWilliams, USA, World Premiere
·         Incorruptible, dir. Chai Vasarhelyi, Senegal/USA, International Premiere
·         Love Between the Covers, dir. Laurie Kahn, USA, U.S. Premiere
·         Maiko: Dancing Child, dir. Åse Svenheim Drivenes, Japan/Norway, World Premiere
·         Missing People, dir. David Shapiro, USA, U.S. Premiere
·         My Love, Don’t Cross That River, dir. Mo-Young Jin, South Korea, U.S. Premiere
·         Oriented, dir. Jake Winternitz, UK/Palestine/Israel, International Premiere
·         Treasure; From Tragedy to Trans Justice, Mapping a Detroit Story, dir. dream hampton, USA, World Premiere

World Fiction Competition (8)
Unique fiction films from around the world from emerging and established filmmakers, especially curated for LA audiences.

A Midsummer’s Fantasia (Korea)
World Fiction Competition
·         Atomic Heart, dir. Ali Ahmadzadeh, Iran, North American Premiere
·         Ayanda and the Mechanic, dir. Sara Blecher, South Africa, World Premiere
·         Elvira, Te Daria Mi Vida Pero La Estoy Usando (Elvira, I’d Give You My Life But I’m Using It), dir. Manolo Caro, Mexico, International Premiere
·         Flocking (Flocken), dir. Baeta Gardeler, Sweden, North American Premiere
·         Las Malas Lenguas (Sweet and Vicious), dir. Juan Paolo Arias, Colombia, World Premiere
·         A Midsummer’s Fantasia, dir. Jang Kun-Jae, South Korea/Japan, U.S. Premiere
·         Sin Alas (Without Wings), dir. Ben Chace, Cuba, International Premiere
·         White Moss (Belyy Yagel), dir. Vladimir Tumaev, Russian Federation, International Premiere

Now in its 21st year, the Los Angeles Film Festival offers unparalleled access to creative voices through energetic film programming, Master Classes, live performances and conversations with the most compelling artists working today. The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival will screen a diverse slate of feature films, shorts, web series and music videos, along with signature programs such as the Filmmaker Retreat, Music in Film at The GRAMMY Museum® and Master Classes. The Los Angeles Film Festival runs from June 10 through June 18.

The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival, which returns to downtown Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE for a sixth year has announces a diverse slate of 74 feature films, 60 short films, and over 50 new media works representing 35 countries. New sections this year are the U.S. Fiction and World Fiction Competitions and Launch, as well as the previously announced Buzz, Nightfall and Zeitgeist programs.

Buzz (13)
Los Angeles premieres of celebrated favorites from around the world.

·         JUST ANNOUNCED: Brand: A Second Coming, dir. Ondi Timoner, UK/USA
·         Chuck Norris vs Communism, dir. Illinca Calugareanu, UK/Romania/Germany
·         The Dark Horse, dir. James Napier Robertson, New Zealand
·         Diary of a Teenage Girl, dir. Marielle Heller, USA
·         In Football We Trust, dir. Tony Vainuku, co-dir. Erika Cohn, USA
·         Infinitely Polar Bear, dir. Maya Forbes, USA
·         JUST ANNOUNCED: Jimmy’s Hall, dir. Ken Loach, UK/Ireland/France
·         Manson Family Vacation, dir. J. Davis, USA
·         The Overnight, dir. Patrick Brice, USA
·         People, Places, Things, dir. James C. Strouse, USA
·         JUST ANNOUNCED: The Vanished Elephant, dir. Javier Fuentes León, Peru/Colombia/Spain
·         Victoria, dir. Sebastian Schipper, Germany
·         Sweet Micky for President, dir. Ben Patterson, Haiti/USA

LA Muse (10)
A competitive section of world premieres of fiction and documentary films that are quintessentially L.A.

·      A Beautiful Now, dir. Daniela Amavia, USA, World Premiere
·      Aram, Aram, dir. Christopher Chambers, USA, World Premiere
·      Can You Dig This, dir. Delila Vallot, USA, World Premiere
·      Day Out of Days, dir. Zoe R. Cassavetes, USA, World Premiere
·      The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce, dir. Baron Davis, Chad Gordon, USA, World Premiere
·      The Escort, dir. Will Slocombe, USA, World Premiere
·      Flock of Dudes, dir. Bob Castrone, USA, World Premiere
·      French Dirty, dir. Wade Allain-Marcus & Jesse Allain-Marcus, USA, World Premiere
·      No Más Bebés (No More Babies), dir. Renee Tajima-Peña, USA, World Premiere
·      Weepah Way for Now, dir. Stephen Ringer, USA, World Premiere

Nightfall (8)
From the bizarre to the horrifying, these are films to watch after dark. Films premiering for the first time in the U.S. are nominated for the Nightfall Award.

·         Caught, dir. Maggie Kiley, USA, World Premiere
·         The Confines, dir. Eytan Rockaway, USA, World Premiere
·         Crumbs, dir. Miguel Llansó, Spain/Ethiopia/Finland, North American Premiere
·         Crush the Skull, dir. Viet Nguyen, USA, World Premiere
·         Dude Bro Party Massacre III, dir. Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet, Jon Salmon, USA, World Premiere
·         Plan Sexenal (Six Year Plan), dir. Santiago Cendejas, Mexico, North American Premiere
·         Ratter, dir. Branden Kramer, USA, LA Premiere
·         Shut In, dir. Adam Schindler, USA, World Premiere

Zeitgeist (6)
A competitive section of curated, World Premiere films that embody key trends in American independent filmmaking. 2015 captures hard knock, coming of age stories.

·         A Girl Like Grace, dir. Ty Hodges, USA, World Premiere
·         Band of Robbers, dir. Aaron Nee & Adam Nee, USA, World Premiere
·         In the Treetops, dir. Matthew Brown, USA, World Premiere
·         Manifest Destiny, dir. Michael Dwyer, Kaitlin McLaughlin, USA, World Premiere
·         Stealing Cars, dir. Bradley Kaplan, USA, World Premiere
·         What Lola Wants, dir. Rupert Glasson, USA, World Premiere

As previously announced, the Opening Night Film is Paul Weitz' "Grandma". There will be Gala Screenings of the first episode of the TV series Scream as well as the feature films Seoul Searching and The Final Girls. Two Pre-Festival Screenings will also be held: Dope will have its LA Premiere on June 8, Inside Out will screen on June 9 and be preceded by a special Master Class with writer/director Pete Docter. Previously announced, this year’s Guest Director is Rodrigo García, Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-Lecoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award and Lily Tomlin will receive the Spirit of Independence Award.

Passes are currently on sale to Film Independent Members and the general public. In addition to access to screenings and events (even after they sell out), Festival passes provide access to networking receptions and the Festival Lounge, where pass holders interact with Festival filmmakers and professionals in the film community. General admission tickets to individual films go on sale to Film Independent Members beginning Thursday, May 14 and to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 19. Contact the Ticket Office for passes, tickets and event information by calling 866.FILM.FEST (866.345.6337) or visit lafilmfest.com.

The Los Angeles Film Festival team is comprised of Festival Director Stephanie Allain, Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell, Associate Director of Programming Roya Rastegar, Senior Programmer Jennifer Cochis, Programmers Jenn Wilson and Drea Clark, Head Shorts Programmer Landon Zakheim, Festival Consultant Maggie Mackay, Manager of Industry Relations Mel Jones, Senior Director of Film Education María Raquel Bozzi, Director of Event Production Shawn Davis and Director of Event Operations Ralph Rivera.  In addition, the Festival’s Associate Feature Film Programmers include Julie Anderson, Christine Davila, Samuel Douek, Steven Jacobson, Lee Jameson, Mark Maynard, Lucy Mukerjee-Brown, Stephanie Owens, Ray Price and So Yun Um; Short Film Programmers Ernesto Foronda, Carlos Hatcher, Meghan McWilliams, Atsuko Okatsuka, Paul Sbrizzi, Cedar Sherber and Jacques Thelemaque and Programming Consultants Adella Ladjevardi, Jai Tiggett, and Josh Mandel.
See you at the festival!