Editor

Film Independent announced today that Senior Director Sean McManus and Director of Programming Rachel Rosen will serve as Interim Co-Directors for the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent.

“The Festival continues to grow every year in attendance, and it has become a ground-breaking opportunity for fresh and diverse filmmaking voices around the world,” said Dawn Hudson. “During this interim period, I am confident that Sean and Rachel will continue with Rich Raddon’s vision to evolve the festival and create an atmosphere that is diverse in content and culture, inviting, accessible and most importantly, fun.”
Sean McManus joined Film Independent in 1998 and is part of the team responsible for the overall management of the organization. He oversees the development and diversity departments, as well as contributed and earned revenue streams for the organization.
Rachel Rosen has over 14 years experience programming in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. She is credited with annually selecting a diverse line-up of American and international films, and has been a key figure in placing the Los Angeles Film Festival on the world map.
This summer, over the course of ten days from June 18 – 28 in Westwood Village, Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival will showcase the best of American and international independent cinema. With an expected audience of over 100,000 people, the festival will screen over 175 narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and music videos, alongside gala premieres, panels and seminars, free outdoor screenings, Family Day, and live musical performances.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Los Angeles Film Festival is widely recognized as a world-class event, providing the movie-loving public with access to some of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers, scholars, critics, film industry professionals, and emerging talent from around the world.
The Festival also features unique signature programs including the Filmmaker Retreat, the Spirit of Independence Award ceremony and gala, and Financing Conference. Additionally, the Festival screens short films created by high school students and has a special section devoted to music videos.
Approximately 110 features, 100 shorts, and 50 music videos, representing more than 40 countries, make up the main body of the Festival. Films submitted to the Festival are reviewed by Film Independent’s programming department, which evaluates each film, looking for the best in new American and international independent cinema.
Awards are given out in the following categories at the conclusion of the Festival: Best Narrative Feature; Best Documentary Feature; Outstanding Performance in the Narrative Competition; Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature; Audience Award for Best International Feature; Best Narrative Short Film; Best Documentary Short Film; Best Animated/Experimental Short Film; Audience Award for Best Music Video; and the Audience Award for Best Short Film.
For more information, please visit www.LAFilmFest.com.