Leslie Zemeckis. Mabel Stark was the world's first female tiger trainer. Born to abject poverty and abuse she would find love and a place in the world in the circus amongst her cats. With a career spanning 40 something years, Mabel doubled for Mae West among other actresses of the '30s and '40s for dangerous stunts with wild animals. There wasn't an inch of her body that wasn't scarred from her "stripes." She loved her tigers so much, she hand raised them, cleaned the cages themselves. She was a long time performer in Thousand Oaks at famed Jungleland. An icon, there was no one before her and no one since who had the star status and power she held in the steel arena.

World Premiere

POP CULTURE is the one hour documentary that examines & celebrates the evolving role and impact of fatherhood in America.

In his 2010 Father's Day speech, President Obama stated that "the time is now to help fathers realize that what makes a man is not the ability to have a child — it's the courage to raise one." While it's true that 1 THIRD of the children in this country do not have an active father in their life, it is also true that 51% of all family grocery shopping is now done by dads. So our definition of patriarchs has never been more pliable or prescient. POP CULTURE invites viewers into an intimate family chat with 16 of our most notable fathers, sons and daughters. It considers how fathers from all corridors of culture not only raise their children, but how they elevate our nation. The film features such cultural icons as - Russell Simmons, Danica & T.J. Patrick, Carl and Rob Reiner, Clive and Doug Davis, Bill Stephney, John Romita Sr. & Jr., Danny Trejo, Donny Deutsch, Fabien Cousteau, Laird Hamilton, Pierre Epstein, Peter Gordon

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4a

Blythe and Bobby and Penny and Michael have been best friends for twenty years. They were Best Man and Matron of Honor at each others respective weddings. For the last five years they have an annual Weekend Getaway. On this weekend however they discover a shocking new truth about their perfect friendship and now they all want to Getaway.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4a

Seasoned actor Glenn Morshower ('24', 'Tranformers', X-Men: First Class) delivers a deeply moving performance with emerging talented Whitney Palmer, in this slice of life about scotch, happiness and puppies.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4a

In an unlikely encounter in the desert, a cowboy chances upon a young Bengali bride and the two develop a dynamic where both come to realize that things should not be taken at face value. Cowboy and Indian marks the narrative directing debut of Sujata Day, who is known for her starring role as CeCe in Issa Rae's The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and HBO's Insecure. Cameron Fife gives a riveting performance as the congenial cowboy alongside Sujata Day's innocent Indian. Noel Maitland's gorgeous cinematography adds a sensual tone to this dramatic thriller where things are not as they seem.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4b

A short film based on a true story. A father and his daughter have a conversation about their relationship while making breakfast. Includes a brief biographical explanation, as well as the main narrative piece. A very personal memento from a father to his only child.

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4b

A young woman facing the future entirely alone comes back to the only place she's ever felt comfortable, only to find everything different.

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4b

Based on the lives of real sex workers, The Providers tells the story of Jo, a female pimp and former prostitute herself, who must juggle her role as mother as well as protector to the women she employs. When a client stiffs one of her girls she goes to extreme lengths to teach him a lesson.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4c

A short about bullying through the eyes of a bystander.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4c

On the day before his execution, Graham struggles with his destructive past. Starring Daniel Olson, Alex McArthur and Nicholas Nelson, Interview examines the issue of pornography in the digital age.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4c

A teenage girl goes out for a night with the kids she's idolized. After lying to her mom about where she's going, Camille is exposed to the culture of drugs and sex among her new "friends".

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4d

A grieving widow (Sarah Matzkin) plays a high stakes game of cat and mouse with her psychotherapist (Gena Rowlands). As the convoluted session unfolds, she tries to separate fact from fiction and uncover the truth of her patient’s past. Leaving you laughing out loud.

Starring Gena Rowlands and Sarah Matzkin, Unfortunate Circumstances is an intriguing, dark comedy directed by Troy Price.

LA Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4d

When a young, and obsessive bodybuilder gets challenged by his nagging wife while working out, so he must find a way to resolve the issue peacefully, ...but will he?

The Workout is a horrifying story of couple that will speak out and almost criticize the bitter truth about very important issue in our society "Domestic Violence".

A character "Alex Harris" played by "Devinair Mathis" and a character "Carly Harris" played by Devin McCarthy. Cinematography done by John DeFazio.

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4e

It's Helen's 30th birthday. Her regular bus doesn't arrive. The bus that picks her up instead has SPECIAL lit up on its destination board. The route the bus takes brings her back to her youth, to the time she turned her back on a boy she loved. Before the end of the ride, Helen must face her regret and choose the way forward.

Starring: Ahna O'Reilly (The Help, Jobs, Fruitvale Sation) Executive Producer: James Franco and his production company Elysium Bandini

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4e

"The Truth Lies, Where The Money Thrives"

Jack Murphy played by Taylor McCluskey, is a CIA agent undercover as a Rock N Roll musician in Hollywood. Jack is tracking the money trail of the most ruthless global terrorist cells and criminal enterprises. Things take a sharp turn for the worst when his Texan brother Dodge Murphy played by Jud Travis, makes an unexpected move to Southern California.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4e

A young girl, living on the streets, dreams that she and her true love will be King and Queen for just one night. Starring singer/songwriter Mina Tobias, daughter of actress Mädchen Amick. This is Mädchen Amick’s directorial debut. Director of photography: Shane Daly. Choreographed by: Ingrid Graham. Produced by: Jeremy Alter, Mädchen Amick, Shane Daly, and Mina Tobias.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4h

STAN LEE'S 'GOD WOKE' is a timeless tale of humanity's search for meaning … and a fresh tale of God’s own search for the same. Unique, disquieting, and thought-provoking, it nonetheless brims with action, suspense and even humor, with the kinds of characters only Fabian Nicieza (creator of DEADPOOL) can bring to life.

Written and narrated by Stan Lee, then adapted by Fabian Nicieza, this is Stan Lee's first foray into the new digital format called Cinematic Graphic Novels.

World Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4h

"Monday," winner of HBO Asian Pacific Islanders Visionaries contest, gave me an opportunity to express and address some of the racial nuances and relationships I’ve been encountering throughout my life. The characters, scenes, interactions, and themes were borne from influences, but the challenge was to make them relatable and entertaining. The culmination is a fast-paced, quick-witted, part-fiction, part-autobiography story about a young Asian-American hustler who struggles with the ethical and moral implications of his actions.

IFS Premiere

SHORTS BLOCK 4h

A comedy series of server vs diner. Fictional, stand alone episodes that bring to life the poetic justice wait staff dream about. Diners (some not all (a lot)) can be idiots— willfully ignorant or comically oblivious. One of our favorite things about this project is that each episode starts with a real, regular behavior we see in restaurant guests. Each experience enters a world seen from servers' eyes and explores what justice would look like without the inane expectation that customers are above reproach. Revolving cast includes names like Rome Green Jr. (Dormtainment, HBO's Insecure), Khalif Boyd (David So Comedy), Briana Kennedy (Ride with Me), Chef Rouha Sadighi (Chopped), Molly Hawkey (World’s Most Famous Bachelor Contestant), Pete Giovine (CBS's Scorpion) and many more!

West Coast Premiere

IFS SPECIAL EVENT

Come get your press and personal photos taken on the IFS Red Carpet before the IFS Awards Ceremony!

Show off those swanky threads! Show up early to take photos before the press rush!

All IFS festival filmmakers, cast, crew, and attendees are invited to our Red Carpet photo event!

IFS SPECIAL EVENT

The IFS Awards Ceremony is the largest and most talked about event of the IFS Film Festival!

The Independent Filmmakers Showcase membership honors what we feel were the best in independent filmmaking. Our annual IFS AWARDS for the best in new independent films are given out and surprise celebrities are known to stop by, alongside tomorrows superstars. Join us for the fun.

Make sure to get your tickets early as this event sells out quickly each year.

Buy your tickets online or at IFS Box Office prior to the day of event to insure you get a seat!

Ticket holders: please make sure to arrive by 6:40pm for seating.

Tickets can only be purchased online.

Tickets must be picked up at IFS Box Office at The Grove for entry.

Lonely and frazzled New York social worker Judy (Rosanna Arquette) constantly messes up her own life. Her son Marty (Jay Devore) in Los Angeles is trying to be creative in his advertising career and be a good boyfriend to Leslie (Keesha Sharp). When Marty's free-spirited Aussie pal Rawl (David Coussins) shows up, Marty hires Rawl to see Judy and "restore her to health" -- any way it takes. Director Max Heller's heartfelt, ensemble comedy is filled with wry, sly, funny and sexy connections reminiscent of Nora Ephron, Woody Allen and Rob Reiner’s romantic concoctions.

West Coast Premiere

In this psychological slasher with a paranormal twist, 6 female college best friends throw their own private graduation party when the stoner of the group orders in a psychedelic from her drug dealer, who sticks around to join in their fun. Drugged and disoriented, the girls’ special night quickly becomes a dark, foggy nightmare of blood and violence. Five years later, the girls gather together once again in hopes of rekindling that close friendship they once had, only to find themselves being haunted by who, or what, they do not know. This will keep you guessing until you reach the explosive shocking ending that no one has seen coming.

Southern California Premiere

IFS PARTY EVENT

Join us at our biggest and most exciting party event of the season: The Awards Night Gala After-Party.

Meet and greet with filmmakers and industry at our most special party event.

Tickets can only be purchased online.

Tickets must be picked up at IFS Box Office at The Grove for entry.

All Parties are 21 and up only!