Discover Indie Film

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Otis Birdy jumped onto Zoom for interview about his directorial debut “Jiyan,” which screened at Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and and took home a Programmer’s Award.  Ever...

Otis Birdy brought his remarkable directorial debut “Jiyan” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and and took home a Programmer’s Award for his efforts.  Inspired by a true story that Otis personally experienced, “Jiyan (Life)” recounts the daily life of Nerol, a seventeen year old Syrian Kurd who arrives in Switzerland without his parents and must learn to live and adapt to a ne...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Nickolas Gilbert brought his film “Nailed” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and I was delighted when his film joined the  Discover Indie Film TV Series on Amazon Prime Video .  N...

Nickolas Gilbert brought his superbly absurdist film “Nailed” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and I knew the first time I saw his film that it would be wonderful to have it join the  Discover Indie Film TV Series on Amazon Prime Video .  I was delighted when “Nailed” joined season 4, but Nickolas is such a busy, productive filmmaker that it took us forever to manage to...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Rachel Thomas-Medwid took home the award for Best Screenplay (Unproduced) for “The Lost Opera” at the  Sherman Oaks Film Festivalin 2018.  But she didn’t stop there!  She retur...

Rachel Thomas-Medwid is a filmmaker who simply does not stop creating.  I first met her at Sherman Oaks Film Festival 2018 where she won Best Screenplay (Unproduced) for “The Lost Opera.”  Then she took the leap and returned with “The Squirrels in the Attic” at Film Invasion Los Angeles 2020, which took home the Audience Award for Short Film.  One year later she was back at...

Samuël L. Jodry brought his film “Bengale (ou avant que le bonheur frappe)” – in English, “Bengal (or before happiness strikes)” –  to Film Invasion Los Angeles is 2020 and received the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Director.  I find Samuël’s film so powerful and well-made that I was extra delighted when he said yes to it becoming a part of the Discover...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out At the 2021 Sherman Oaks Film Festival, Kathryne Isabelle Easton took home the Grand Jury Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role for her performance in “Borrelia Borealis.”  But we sh...

Kathryne Isabelle Easton wrote, directed and performed the lead role in “Borrelia Borealis,” taking home two Grand Jury Awards at the 2021 Sherman Oaks Film Festival.  This remarkable feature film was made in her during the depths of the Covid lockdown.  Unlike most films made under those conditions, “Borrelia Borealis” stays fresh, engaging and entertaining throughout.  An...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Collaborating with his wife, brother and sister during lockdown, Daniel Talbott made the wonderful film “Telling Time”and it became an official selection at both Film Invasion Los An...

Filmmaker Daniel Talbott brought his film “Telling Time” to both Film Invasion Los Angeles and Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021, taking home the Audience Award at FILA.  It was a great joy to me that Daniel brought the film to SOFF in 2021, because after having Daniel involved in two virtual festivals last November we finally got back into the theater.  “Telling Time” is...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Writer/Director Alan Wood brought his feature  film “Life’s A Bitch And Then One Kills You,” affectionately known as “LABATOKY,” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and...

Writer/Director Alan Wood brought his feature  film “Life’s A Bitch And Then One Kills You,” affectionately known as “LABATOKY,” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020 and his remarkably talented cast went home with the Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance by an Ensemble.  This smart, hilarious, and sexy film is one you should definitely see!  Just go to the Milepost 42 Film...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Ryan Alan Petti’s film “An American Childhood” that struck right into the heart of the audience at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021.  Like all filmmakers who sit down for...

Ryan Alan Petti wrote and directed the short film “An American Childhood” that struck right into the heart of the audience at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021.  As the programmer of the festival, I had to be sure to place Ryan’s film at the end of a block of shorts, because it would be completely unfair to any film to follow it.  And, sincerely, “An American Childhood...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Christopher McNeany wrote, produced, and is the lead actor in the short film “More Than He Knows” that came to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021.  “More Than He Knows&#822...

Christopher McNeany wrote, produced, and is the lead actor in the short film “More Than He Knows” that came to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021.  “More Than He Knows” holds the prize for “Sexiest Film of the Fest,” which is an unofficial award that I keep thinking about making official.  Aaaand… it’s official.  I just added that prize to the SO...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Ryan Beene wrote, produced, directed and edited his short film “Those People.”  We were honored to hold the theatrical premiere of this film at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021...

Ryan Beene brought his short film “Those People” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021 and took home a Programmers Prize award.  Thanks to Covid, that screening was also the theatrical premiere of “Those People.”  I was delighted to hear that Ryan was wrapping u his festival run and was happy for his film to join season 5 of the Discover Indie Film TV series.  Season 5...

What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Sarah Beth Goer & Kip Calendine brought their feature film “Three Roads” to Film Invasion Los Angeles in 2020.  Sarah wrote, produced and starred in the film while Kip wrote, pro...

Sarah Beth Goer & Kip Calendine collaborated on the feature film “Three Roads,” an indie feature near and dear to me.  It represents the kind of grass roots, from the heart filmmaking that keeps me excited about indie film.  Sarah wrote, produced and starred in the film while Kip wrote, produced and directed.  You can watch “Three Roads” right now on the  Three Roads Vi...

Eric DePriester (far right) with actors Colby Rummell & Emma Center at their SOFF 2021 Q&A What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Eric DePriester wrote, directed and produced the feature film “Treason,” which was...

Eric DePriester (center) at SOFF 2021 with his cast & crew Eric DePriester brought his debut feature film “Treason” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2021 for what turned out to be, after a year and half of virtual pandemic screenings, his film’s theatrical premiere!  And I’m happy to say that Eric took home the Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay! You can watch &#8...

Diliana considering her answers for the DIF 4Qs What are the 4Q’s? Name your favorite films of all time (limit 3) Name a film you think is underrated Name a film you think is overrated Name a lesser-known film that you think people should seek out Diliana Deltcheva wrote and directed the short film “Sweetheart,” a highlight of the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2019.  Good news!  ...

Diliana Deltcheva Zoomed in for her DIF interview Diliana Deltcheva brought her short film “Sweetheart” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2019 and her lead actor Gina Vitori took home the award for “Outstanding Lead Acting, Individual.”  I don’t have to tell you that an actor doesn’t take home an award if the writer/director didn’t do a great job.  &#82...