Submit Your Short Film to the Los Feliz Film Fest Early Bird Round

Short films under 15 minutes, with a special Los Feliz category
Early bird submissions close Tuesday, December 1

What is the Los Feliz Film Fest?

Vuk Mitrovic describes it simply: “The Los Feliz Film Fest is a festival for short films under 15 minutes.” He adds, “It's international, but we have a special Los Feliz category.” The other categories are drama, comedy, genre (horror, sci-fi, fantasy), documentary, emerging filmmaker and 60-second shorts, plus a Best of Fest grand prize.

The festival happens once a year, and Vuk says the neighborhood is behind it, from the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council and Barnsdall Gallery Theatre to Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martínez, Congresswoman Laura Friedman, Debra Matlock of the Los Feliz Improvement Association and presenting partner Breakwater Studios. “They've all been huge supporters,” he says.

How did it get started?

The idea came out of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council. “It's a challenging event, so someone had to take charge. I did,” Vuk says.

The first festival was in 2025, and 2027 will be its third year. Vuk moved to Los Feliz in 2010 from Chicago to join the master's directing program at the American Film Institute, and stayed. “Los Feliz is my home,” he says. “My plan is to be here forever.”

It's all about connection. Let's get together, let's have fun, watch amazing movies and meet creative people behind them.

Who is behind it?

Vuk runs the festival day to day, with a core group from the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council: Brian Morrison, Jon Deutsch and Celine Vacher. Around them are 15 independent filmmakers from the neighborhood and around LA, most of them AFI graduates and Vuk's former classmates. “That's the strongest part of the festival,” he says.

Rob Spera, a directing instructor at AFI for 25 years, is also involved, and neighborhood volunteers help a lot.

What happens on screening night?

The screening night is free to the public, thanks to CD4, CD13 and the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council, and the 2027 screening is set for May 15. It opens with a short introduction, then five to eight short films, the best in each category, followed by a panel or Q&A. Then comes the after-party at restaurants and bars near the venue. “Thats maybe the best part of the night,” Vuk says.

His favorite memory is Maggie Wheeler, who appeared in a film that won Best Los Feliz Short and earned an Outstanding Performance award herself. “She stayed all night chatting with people,” he recalls. What he hopes people take home is simple: “get together, watch movies, have fun, and make new friends.”

What is new for 2027?

On top of the screening night and awards, the festival is adding labs in directing, producing, screenwriting and cinematography. The first, on directing with Rob Spera, starts in January. Dates for the others are still being worked out.

Vuk is also exploring extra special screenings, possibly a Bruce Lee Day screening around May 17 and a 30th anniversary showing of David Lynch's Lost Highway. “Nothing is set yet,” he says.

How can filmmakers and neighbors take part?

Filmmakers can submit now. After the early bird round, the regular deadline is January 31, 2027 and the final deadline is March 16, 2027, but Vuk urges people to submit early: It's more efficient for everyone, the judges have more time to watch and judge your movie, and it's cheaper.

Neighbors can volunteer on screening night or become monthly supporters, which helps cover the website, Zoom license and printing. The festival is on social media at @losfelizfilm. This is your neighborhood's film festival, and every bit of help keeps it growing.

When and where is Los Feliz Film Fest - Early Bird Deadline?

Tuesday, December 1, 9:00 AM, at Los Feliz Film Fest - website & FilmFreeway. Every detail, a map and a button to add it to your calendar are on the Los Feliz Film Fest - Early Bird Deadline event page. For the latest from the organizers, see their site.

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