The Slamdance Film Festival, renowned for its staunch support of independent filmmakers, is making a significant leap to Los Angeles. Starting in February 2025, the festival will be hosted in the epicenter of the film world, aiming to further its mission of nurturing truly independent artists. This move promises enhanced accessibility for attendees and participants alike.
Scheduled from February 20-26, 2025, the festival will be held at various iconic venues around Hollywood, including the Landmark Theatres and the DGA Theater Complex, with additional locations to be announced. With a commitment to keeping the festival affordable, in-person passes are priced starting at just $50, and many events will be free to the public.
The festival will continue to showcase its unique programs such as Polytechnic, Slamdance’s complimentary educational initiative; ‘6ixty’, a creative series of one-minute short films; Next Wave LA, highlighting new media work from local artists; and the innovative DIG (Digital, Interactive, Gaming) program.
Panasonic LUMIX steps up as the Official Sponsor for the 2025 festival, reinforcing a commitment to the fusion of high technology and independent film spirit. Key industry partnerships include the DGA, Landmark Theatres, and AGBO, adding substantial backing to the festival’s new chapter.
“Starting in February 2025, the festival will be hosted in the epicenter of the film world, aiming to further its mission of nurturing truly independent artists.”
Anthony and Joe Russo, filmmakers and co-founders of AGBO, celebrated their ongoing relationship with Slamdance, stating, “Our journey in the film industry began at Slamdance, and our commitment to the festival and the opportunities it offers filmmakers has remained unwavering.” They added, “Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with numerous filmmakers through our fellowship program and various initiatives at our studio. We look forward to witnessing Slamdance’s continued growth and impact in its new home.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed enthusiasm about the festival’s relocation. “We are thrilled to announce that the Slamdance Film Festival is moving to Los Angeles and will host its first event here beginning in February 2025. To know the history and landscape of independent storytelling is to know that Los Angeles has always been a home and a source of inspiration for artists, as the creative capital of the world. As we welcome filmmakers, artists, and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, the Slamdance Film Festival will serve as a dynamic hub for creativity, connection, and job opportunities for Angelenos.”
Peter Baxter, Slamdance President and Founder, remarked on the move: “Slamdance is coming to Los Angeles! Building upon our success in Utah, we will grow the festival with greater accessibility in Los Angeles and continue our work in launching new films, new careers, and new ideas in filmmaking.”
The festival, which originated in Park City, Utah, in 1995, has been a launching pad for notable filmmakers like The Russo Brothers, Christopher Nolan, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sean Baker, Rian Johnson, Bong Joon Ho, Merawi Gerima, Marie Jamora, and Steven Soderbergh. The 2024 lineup consisted of 113 films, 17 of which were World Premiere features. 2024 was Slamdance’s most diverse lineup, with 43% of the films by BIPOC creators and 43% by female or non-binary filmmakers. All films selected in the Narrative Features and Documentary Features competition categories are directorial debuts without U.S. distribution, with budgets of less than USD 1 million – a feature that has been unique to the festival since its founding in 1995. The features hailed from 20 different countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Palestine, Russia, and the UK (United Kingdom) among others.
Submissions for the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival will open on May 8, 2024. Meanwhile, fans can enjoy selections from Slamdance’s features, shorts, and episodics year-round on the Slamdance Channel.
