Dances With Films: LA has officially announced the film lineup for next month’s return of Los Angeles’ largest indie film-focused festival, set to take place from June 19 to June 29 for its 28th edition.
This year’s festival will showcase a total of 254 films, which includes a diverse selection of 43 narrative features, 18 documentary features, 23 television and streaming pilots, and a plethora of 170 short films, comprising 102 narrative shorts and 19 documentaries, alongside 30 entries in the Kidz section and 19 in the Downbeat/Music category.
The packed schedule will open with the world premiere of Chris Hartwell’s drama Do No Harm, featuring Harry Shum Jr. and Ronny Chieng, while the festival’s closing night will present Aaron Sherry’s fantastical Captain Tsunami.
All screenings will take place at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre, located at 6925 Hollywood Blvd, promising an extraordinary festival experience enhanced by the venue’s superior sound and image quality.
DWF: LA’s founding duo, Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent, expressed excitement over this year’s theme, “FIND YOUR TRUTH,” emphasizing its relevance in today’s society. They challenged audiences to explore this theme throughout the festival, presenting unique and diverse voices that epitomize the spirit of DWF.
Opening Night on June 19 will feature the world premiere of Do No Harm, a poignant drama based on the award-winning short film The Way That I Take, which screened at DWF in 2020. The narrative follows a home health nurse who grapples with a mistake that leads to the death of a patient, forcing him to confront the pressures of the American healthcare system and the facade he builds to cover up the truth.
On the other hand, the festival will conclude on June 29 with the world premiere of Captain Tsunami, which revolves around a comic book store owner whose tranquil life is disrupted by a precocious twelve-year-old girl named Emma. As she arrives at his doorstep with cryptic messages regarding her mother’s disappearance, the story unfolds into a journey of unexpected discoveries and revelations.
Among the highlights in the narrative feature category, Daniel J. Clark’s American Comic promises to captivate audiences with its verité-style mockumentary about two stand-up comedians navigating their struggles in the industry while dealing with shared traits of egotism and self-destruction. Notable cameos by renowned comedians, including Patton Oswalt, further elevate the film.
Additionally, the thriller Still Smiling, directed by Jared Cohn and Bahar Bella Danesh, features an impressive ensemble including Shiva Negar and Peter Facinelli. It narrates a love story that spirals into a lethal confrontation as a mother escapes her violent ex, confronting the hired killer in a desperate standoff.
The festival lineup also boasts the world premiere of Stephen Portland’s Universal, where two academics’ romantic weekend at a secluded cabin is interrupted by a woman claiming to have made a significant discovery that requires their urgent assistance.
Another highlight, Rio Contrada’s thriller Splinter, stars a promising cast and explores the life of a graduate student leading a double life as she attempts to balance her responsibilities with her thrill-seeking nature.
Dances With Films is particularly known for its emphasis on promoting distinctive voices in the horror genre through its Midnight section. This year, notable titles such as Cameron A. Tubbs’ Acolyte will debut, depicting two estranged brothers in rural Appalachia beset by eerie occurrences, and Jake Myers’ Kombucha, which follows an individual becoming engulfed by a corporate cult.
World premieres in the documentary realm include Guilford Adams and Casey Pinkston’s American Clown, an exploration of the changing perception of clowns in American society, featuring candid interviews with renowned figures like John C. Reilly and Bill Irwin.
Moreover, Andrew Davies Gans’ Voices: The Danny Gans Story delves into a son’s quest to understand his father’s legendary stature in Las Vegas entertainment, while Janna GIacoppo’s One But Many investigates the perilous link between trophy hunting and policy decisions affecting communities and wildlife.
In the television and web series sector, DWF: LA will showcase a range of world premieres, among them Chris Leary’s Formerly Known As, which captures the behind-the-scenes chaos of an aging rockstar’s comeback.
Other premieres include Sarah Haskins’ Gumshoes, a narrative following two best friends who become involved in real-life crime investigation after being significantly influenced by procedural dramas.
Highlighting innovative short films, this year’s festival will feature world premieres such as Drake Wootton’s People Walk Dogs Late At Night in the Suburbs, starring Matthew Daddario, and Harrison Thomas’ Today Again, in which he stars alongside his father, Dave Thomas.
Furthermore, the first public screening on the West Coast of Tony Mucci’s Money Talk$ features a star-studded cast, adding to the festival’s promise of entertainment and creativity.
Dances With Films continues to assert itself as a vibrant platform for emerging filmmakers and diverse voices, engaging audiences in an exploration of creativity, innovation, and the essence of truth in cinema.
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