Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival (LACFF) focuses on Chinese-language cinema, filmmakers of Chinese heritage and stories that explore Chinese culture and diaspora experiences. Organised by the Los Angeles nonprofit Chinese in Entertainment, it supports independent and emerging filmmakers through screenings, filmmaker discussions, workshops and professional exchange. Its film competition encompasses narrative and documentary features and shorts, alongside experimental and animated work.
The latest confirmed in-person festival dates are 25–27 October 2019 in Los Angeles. The organisation’s online programming includes thematic showcases and a bilingual screenwriting competition with an Annual Summit; the 2021 Summit dates are 11–14 November on GatherTown.
Awards and prizes
The archived 2019 regulations list Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Experimental/Animation Film, the Up-and-Coming Award and the Independent Spirit Award. The committee reserves the right to revise award categories and prizes according to the participating films.
Festival rules
Archived 2019 film competition rules: eligible films use a Chinese language, include Chinese-heritage creatives, or focus on Chinese society, culture or lives. Entries must be completed after 1 January 2018 and submitted through FilmFreeway, with English subtitles for non-English dialogue. Each applicant may submit up to three films with separate applications and fees, each in one competition section. The English rules define features as 40–150 minutes and shorts as 40 minutes or less; experimental and animation entries have no length restriction. No world-premiere requirement applies, but California commercial distribution and full online availability during the festival are restricted. Applicants must hold all necessary rights. Selected films require screening copies, publicity materials and permission for at least one Los Angeles-area screening and promotional use. Accepted selections cannot withdraw; submission fees are nonrefundable and screening fees are normally not offered. These are historical regulations, not a current call for entries.
