Los Angeles Dance Shorts Film Festival is a festival featuring dance films that are under ten minutes. The 2nd annual festival is taking place on June, 23rd 2018 and features a night of dance film, networking and a filmmakers Q&A.

 Website: http://www.ladanceshortsfilmfest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladanceshortsfilmfest/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladanceshortsfilmfest/

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers? 

Nicole Manoochehri: Giving filmmakers and dancers the opportunity to share their films in front of an audience, making connections and having the chance to speak about their films and the genre of screendance. 

What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2018)? 

A relaxed environment where you can grab a hot beverage and pastry from the cafe, watch dance films in the adjacent screening room, hopefully have a great time, learn something and bond with other dance film lovers. 

3) What are the qualifications for the selected films? 

Simply, dance under ten minutes. 

4) Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Since becoming a festival director, I have realized that there are so many factors to take into account when considering a film for the festival’s program. We only have a limited amount of time available and we try our best to fit as many films in that slot as possible. I know how much goes into filmmaking and I really wish we could screen every single film that we receive. Especially with dance films, you are looking at art. Art is subjective. When it comes down to it, everything is just an opinion and as an artist myself you always have to remember to take nothing personal and just keep doing what you do best “Create”.   

5) What motivates you and your team to do this festival? 

When we start receiving submissions from around the world and I see these amazing films. I want to promote the films and the artist to the best of my ability and spread an awareness of dance films. It really can be a powerful and beautiful form of storytelling. 

6) How has your FilmFreeway submission process been? 

FilmFreeway is great! We use it exclusively for our festival. I like to have everything in one place. It is my submission site of preference when submitting as well so I’m a huge fan here! 

7) Where do you see the festival by 2023? 

Hopefully, still around! Seriously though, I hope that in five years we have grown as a festival but still have the same vibe as when we first started. The goal would to be able to create more opportunities for the filmmakers and dancers. I would love to have multiple screenings with a full house in every single one! 

8) What film have you seen the most times in your life? 

 “Amélie”. Love that film! 

9) In one sentence, what makes a great film? 

A film that is thought provoking. 

10) How is the film scene in your city? 

We are located in Los Angeles so the film scene is pretty popping! As far as the dance film scene goes, we are one of only four dance film festivals. Three (including us) have started in the last couple of years so I feel like the screendance scene is definitely growing here! 

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Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every single month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 3 times a month. Go to http://www.wildsoundfestival.com for more information and to submit your work to the festival.