History

  • A group of nine people standing on a stage in front of an audience, some holding microphones, with a blank white screen and a banner with a logo behind them.

    2017

    June 24 – The inaugural Los Angeles Dance Shorts Film Festival was founded by Nicole Spring and held at the Lyric Hyperion in Silver Lake.

  • Group of nine people standing together in front of a white background, smiling for the camera.

    2018

    June – The Los Angeles Dance Shorts Film Festival moved to Mimoda Studio in Mid-City for its second annual festival.

    October – In collaboration with the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica, LA Dance Shorts curated “Dance Films on the Lawn,” a free event showcasing films by local Los Angeles filmmakers.

  • Two women standing on stage addressing an audience during an event called 'LA Dance Shorts Festival,' with a large screen displaying the event name in the background.

    2019

    June – The festival held its annual event at Mimoda Studio for the second consecutive year. The following day, participating filmmakers joined the public for a free panel discussion at Radiant Space, an art gallery in Hollywood.

  • Two women in masks during covid-19 lockdowns, standing apart, touching a step-and-repeat banner with 'LA Shorts Film Festival' logos at an event.

    2020

    November – Due to COVID-19, the Los Angeles Dance Shorts Film Festival was postponed from June to November and transitioned online with two free programs. The virtual festival was highly successful, roughly quintupling its audience per screening. Additionally, the festival hosted two Zoom discussions with participating filmmakers, which were open to the public.

  • Audience watching a movie or presentation in a dark theater with a large screen displaying a scene involving people outdoors.

    2021

    November – LA Dance Shorts returned to an in-person format at Mimoda Studio, filling the theater to capacity. The festival also offered a virtual component and hosted a Zoom discussion with participating filmmakers.

    December – In collaboration with StandardVision, an excerpt from an award-winning film was screened on a large-scale media facade on the exterior of the Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

  • Group of diverse people standing together on stage, smiling for a photo, with a blank white background.

    2022

    The Los Angeles Dance Shorts Film Festival officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and adopted its new name: Los Angeles Dance Film Festival (LA Dance Film Fest). The festival was previously run by Betsy Uhler Colombo, Lex Roman, Maritza Navarro, and Felicia Guzman.

    September – “Dance Films on the Lawn”
    In partnership with the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica, the festival curated a free outdoor screening featuring films by local Los Angeles filmmakers.

    November – Annual Film Festival at Mimoda Studio
    The festival held its annual program both in person and virtually, including a Zoom panel discussion with participating filmmakers.

    December – Collaboration with StandardVision
    An excerpt from an award-winning film was showcased on a large-scale media facade on the exterior of the Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

  • Five people standing together in front of a white backdrop with a logo and text for the LA Dance Film Festival, smiling and posing for the camera.

    2023

    August – In collaboration with the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica, the festival curated “Dance Films on the Lawn,” a free event showcasing local Los Angeles filmmakers.

    November – LA Dance Film Fest held its annual festival at Mimoda Studio, alongside its first Dance Filmmaking Masterclass. The festival was also presented virtually and featured a Zoom talk/panel discussion with participating filmmakers.

    December – In collaboration with StandardVision, excerpts from award-winning films were screened on a large-scale media facade on the exterior of the Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

  • Five people posing together at the LA Film Festival. There are four women and one man, all smiling, standing in front of a white backdrop with "LA Dance Film Festival" written on it.

    2024

    Restructure – The Los Angeles Dance Film Festival took a year off from holding events to restructure as an organization.

    The festival was re-envisioned with guidance from the 2024 Board of Directors: Steven J. Butler, Lolly, Nicole Spring, Felicia Guzman, and Alyssa Thompson.

  • A large projection screen displaying the logo and program for the LA Dance Film Festival, established in 2017, with a QR code at the bottom right corner.

    2025

    August – LA Dance Film Festival’s 8th Annual Film Festival was held at The Eastwood Performing Arts Center in Hollywood!

    A filmmaker discussion was hosted virtually.

    September – In collaboration with StandardVision, excerpts from award-winning films were screened on a large-scale media facade on the exterior of the Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

Official Selections

Awards

Festival Jury Award Winner - Behind Closed Doors, Director Lisa Eaton

Audience Choice Award Winner - Behind Closed Doors, Director Lisa Eaton

StandardVision Showcase Award - Hong Kong Ballet - Tutu Academy, Directed by Dean Alexander

StandardVision Honorable Mention - WE, Directed by Sarah Elgart

StandardVision Honorable Mention - If I Were You, Directed by Margot Gelber

StandardVision Honorable Mention - A Night in Napoli, Directed by Lucía López

Award Judges: Josh S. Rose, Steven J. Butler, Lolly, Felicia Guzman & Nicole Spring & Caroline Haydon (StandardVision).

2025


2023

Festival Jury Award Winner - CORNERBOY, Director Kai Kurve

Audience Choice Award Winner - CANVAS, Director Sophia Stroller

StandardVision Showcase Award - Demons, Director Humbi Entress

StandardVision Honorable Mention - CANVAS, Director Sophia Stroller

StandardVision Honorable Mention - Thick Skin, Director Laura Steiner

Guest Award Judges: Josh Rose, Ali Kenner Brodsky, Andrew Margetson & The StandardVision Team.


2022

Festival Jury Award Winner - Going Down, Director Cailin Leigh Manning

Audience Choice Award Winner - 木ノ内 周 (Shu), Director Mike Schwartz

StandardVision Showcase Award - Ahead, Behind, Director Ben V Kadie

Guest Award Judges: Steven J. Butler, Kailee McMurran, Fu LE & The StandardVision Team.


2021

Festival Jury Award Winner - Through Glass, Director Marek Partyš & 420PEOPLE Dance Company

Audience Choice Award Winner - Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá, Director Nancy Fernanda Rivera Gomez

StandardVision Showcase Award - Amadeus, Director Ahong Cheung & Septime Webre

Guest Award Judges: Nadav Heyman, Olivia Mia Orozco, Nicole Spring & The StandardVision Team.


2020

Audience Choice Award Winner - WAKE, Director Katie Beard & Naomi Turner

Audience Choice Award Winner - Dreams of Waking, Director Aeric Meredith-Goujon


2019

Festival Jury Award Winner - ANIMA, Director Matthieu Belin

Festival Jury Award Winner - MASS, Director Fu LE

Guest Award Judge: Sarah Elgart.