Monthly Film Festival | InFocus: Indigenous Cinema

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its November Monthly Film Festival, which features its annual InFocus: Indigenous Cinema program, which highlights the work of indigenous filmmakers in front of and behind the camera, African Giants, writer-director Omar S. Kamara’s award-winning -debut narrative feature, and November Shorts, an offering of highlights from NFMLA’s ongoing general program.

The line-up begins with shorts program “November Shorts,” an eclectic mix of short narratives highlighted this month that offer laughter, satire, connection, self-awareness, intrigue and fear. From an existential how-to to post-breakup body horror to the unearthing of a little-known historical figure to the birth of a vibrant resistance against the extraction of creative energy and everything in between, there is something for everyone in this block.

The day’s programming continues with InFocus: Indigenous Cinema, a selection of short films by indigenous storytellers from around the world. The program includes stories of profound interconnectedness with nature, the preservation of indigenous language, the battle against addiction in a family, and returning home to heal.

The evening concludes with African Giants, an honest, grounded and intimate look at the relationship between two first-generation Sierra Leonean American brothers as they navigate adulthood and their changing dynamic. The film is the first feature from writer-director Omar S. Kamara, and won the audience award at Slamdance earlier this year.

NFMLA showcases films by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year, across both our general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their projects for consideration for upcoming NFMLA Festivals, regardless of the schedule for InFocus programming, which celebrates diversity, inclusion and region by spotlighting communities of filmmakers within our filmmaking community as part of our monthly program.

The South Park Center is an ADA compliant venue and is wheelchair accessible. We request captioned films from all filmmakers participating at our Festival. For any accessibility needs, please send a request to info@nfmla.org at least 72 hours prior to the event.