Official Selections: 34th LA Comedy Film Festivals
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film.
Also Named Jeff
TV Pilot
World Premiere
A man travels back in time to improve the life of his younger self, in hopes of changing his own life in the process.
Director: Sean Becker
Producer: Jeff Lewis, Sean Becker
Writer: Jeff Lewis
Cast: Jeff Lewis, Annie Sertich, Jake Regal, Quincy Cho, Winter Bassett. Izzy Diaz, Ithamar Enriquez, Robin Thorsen, Deborah Jan Gray, Jesse Mackey, Sean Thomas Simmons. Brandon Williams, Grace Ashley Wethor
Cinematographer: Will Barratt
Editors: Sean Becker, Jeff Lewis
Instagram: jeffylew
Twitter:@jeffylew
Facebook: Jeffrey Lewis
Beige
Web Series
West Coast Premiere
After being released from a mental wellness center, comedian Rob Soto faces the challenge of adjusting to a new family dynamic while navigating his identity as a beige man trying to be a black man in a white man's world.
Director: Edward Martin Soto
Producer: Rob Santos, Edward Soto, Kewan Harrison, Sam Kelly, Elisabeth Dufresne
Writer: Rob Santos (Creator)
Cast: Rob Santos, NBS Malay, Diane Smith, Sarai Mendez, Frank Wihbey. Will Thomas, Darrius Isaiah
Cinematographer: Rj LaRussa
Editor: Sam Kelly
Funded in part by the Free CNTR Independent Artists Fund
Website: https://freecenter.us/portfolio-items/beige/?portfolioCats=51%2C36%2C39%2C43%2C42%2C41%2C45%2C47%2C46%2C37%2C50%2C38%2C49%2C35%2C44%2C48
Instagram: @watchbeige
Blood Brothers
Short Film
After a robbery gone wrong, two incompetent brothers Luke & Donny are responsible for the murder of one of the most feared gangsters in town, Vincent Kane.Terrified Vincent's older brother is going to avenge him they enlist the help of Tito, a fast food loving fixer. But the problems keep coming. With limited time and patience for each other they need to get rid of the body if they want to survive the night.
Director: Riley Donavan
Producer: Riley Donavan, Owen Kneeland, Adam Aguirre
Writer: Owen Kneeland
Cast: Owen Kneeland, Isaac Stackonis, Miguel Rojas, D.T.Carney, Thomas Avona,
Cinematographer: Riley Anton Donavan
Editor: Riley Donavan
Website: rileydonavan.com
Instagram: @rileydonavan
Don't Forget
Short
Los Angeles Premiere
The story of a fella about to take his partner for a trip... That is if he can remember everything first.
Director: Jeremy S Thompson
Producer: Jeremy S Thompson
Writer: Jeremy S Thompson
Cast: Varun Saranga, Brooke Palsson, Marvin Kaye
Cinematographer: Martin Wojtunik
Editor: Aaron Dark
Website: jeremystuartthompson.com/dont_forget
Instagram: @jeremystuthompson
Ehrensache
Short Shorts
World Premiere
Ehrensache is a short comedy that follows the story of a handyman left alone in a house for just a few minutes. For someone as seasoned as he is, working unsupervised should be a matter of course. However, he takes advantage of the empty house to behave in ways that are far from honorable.
The film humorously downplays the common fear of leaving an unreliable handyman alone in one's home. Is it merely harmless voyeurism, or a justified concern?
The title Ehrensache, which translates to "matter of honor," is often something craftsmen pride themselves on—though in this case, it might not be so straightforward.
Director: David Rothe
Producer: David Rothe
Writer: David Rothe
Cast: Martin Luding, Felix Goette
Cinematographer: Kumaran Herold
Editor: David Rothe
Website: rothestreifen.com
Instagram: @rothestreifen
Arthur’s Whisky
Feature
USA Premiere
Three elderly ladies drink a whisky which makes them younger.
Director: Stephen Cookson
Producer: Peter Keegan, Stephen Cookson,
Writer: Alexis Zegerman
Cast: Diane Keaton, Patricia Hodge, Lulu, Boy George, Haley Mills
Cinematographer: David MacKie
Editor: William Webb
- Best Comedy, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress - National Film Awards (UK)
Website: ckfilmsltd.co.uk/about-3
Before We Get Started
Documentary
World Premiere
Nearly every comedian has attempted and failed at warm up comedy, an incredibly difficult and often disrespected career choice. Judd Apatow, John Oliver, Amy Schumer, Leslie Jones, Seth Myers, and many more give insight on the career crisis of established warm-up comedian, Ryan Reiss.
Directed by Joe Saunders and Gareth Upton
Produced by Ryan Reiss and Pete Demas
Written by Joe Saunders and Gareth Upton
Cast: Ryan Reiss, Leslie Jones, Billy Gardell, Judd Apatow, Ray Romano, John Oliver, Seth Myers, Amy Schumer, Neil Brennen, TJ Miller, Ramy Yousef, Rachel Ray, Jim Gaffigan, Howie Mandell, Bob Saget, Mark Summers, Colin Jost, and many more.
DP: Pete Demas
Editor: Jeff Cvitkovic
Instagram: @bwgsfilm @rrcomedy
Bibi's Dog is Dead
Short
Los Angeles Premiere
When Bibi's dog dies, there's only one shoulder she wants to cry on. It just belongs to her hot-tempered ex.
Director: Shervin Kermani
Producer: Angela Silcock, Bryn McAuley, Shervin Kermani
Writer: Bryn McAuley, Shervin Kermani
Cast: Bryn McAuley, Mishka Thébaud
Cinematographer: Shervin Kermani
Editor: Shervin Kermani
- Best Dramatic Short: Emerging Lens Film Festiva
- Nominee for Best Comedy Short: Palm Springs International Shortfest
- Nominee for Best Short Film & Best Director: Yorkton Film Festival
- Nominee for Best Acting Performance: Georgia Comedy Film Festival
- Nominee for Best Comedy Film: Houston Comedy Film Festival
Instagram: @bibisdogisdead @shervinkermani @brynmcauley
Twitter: @shervin_kermani
Behind the Scenes Link: vimeo.com/918149326
Bonjour Switzerland
Feature
Los Angeles Premiere
A crazy referendum throws Switzerland into a state of emergency. Bycthe acceptance of the initiative “No Bilangue” there should be fromcnow on only one national language: French. Many German-speaking Swisscare therefore having a crisis. Including fifty-six-year-old Walter Egli, who works for the Federal Police and must ensure that the transition to monolingualism is carried out properly. Although he hardly speaks any French himself, he is sent to Ticino with a French-speaking partner to uncover a Ticino resistance group that is fighting the new law by all means necessary.
Director: Peter Luisi
Producer: Peter Luisi & David Luisi
Writer: Peter Luisi & Beat Schlatter
Cast: Beat Schlatter, Vincent Kucholl, Catherine Pagani, Leonardo Nigro, Silvia Jost, Pascal Ulli
Cinematographer: Rafael Kistler
Editor: Peter Luisi
Don’t Bring Empanadas
Short Film
West Coast Premiere
Siblings Maria and Eddie confront a clueless college-bound teen who unknowingly triggered a chain reaction of events in this heartwarming tale of family, love, and overreactions.
Director: Salvatore Sutera
Producer: Loren Escandon
Writer: Salvatore Sutera
Cast: Lisann Valentin, Alec Ruiz, Patricia Mauceri, Troy Tripiccio, Sal Rendino
Cinematographer: Matthew Rivera
Editor: Isaiah Kim
Website: filaginaent.com
Instagram: @filagina_entertainment, @suteranyc
Breakfast In Bed
Short short
World Premiere
A man makes a romantic breakfast in bed for his girlfriend, but is surprised when he serves her breakfast before she is able to get to her morning makeup routine.
Director: Michael Churven
Producer: Michael Day, Jourdan Henderson, Michael Churven
Writer: Michael Churven and Patty Guggenheim
Cast: Michael Churven, Patty Guggenheim
Cinematographer: Dean Fisher
Editor: Kevin Kaufman