Blog: Film festivals

Housed at the Edgemar Center for the Arts, nestled in the Frank Gehry designed complex on bustling Main Street in the beach town of Santa Monica, California, the Cinema at the Edge Independent Film Festival presents films of all genres that feature a distinct vision, a unique voice or a challenge to what is expected and accepted in the medium. Cinema at the edge gives new and recognized films and filmmakers the chance to ignite audience buzz, gain acclaimed exposure, and provide global distribution opportunities.

The Edgemar Center for the Arts is well known on the West Side of Los Angeles as a venue where up and coming talent share quality work, and Artistic Director Michelle Danner is thrilled to now invite the global independent film community to experience this vibrant beachside collective at the 3rd Annual Cinema at the Edge Independent Film Festival. Cinema at the Edge programs films with a unique voice and a clear vision, that blend genres or break conventions of the medium, with an added focus on life in the beachfront communities of Santa Monica and Venice and the talented group of independent filmmakers who make LA's West Side their home. The 2013 and 2014 festivals featured audience favorites from Sundance, SXSW and other major festivals, while maintaining a focus on world or regional premieres, challenging films that deserve a second look and showcasing local artists.

Previous iterations of the festival have welcomed Brett Ratner as an Honorary Chair, as well as a celebrity jury that included film veterans such as Susan Sarandon and John Singleton. The 1st and 2nd Annual Cinema at the Edge Independent Film Festival took place over four days in the spring of 2013, and was the natural expansion of these prior events. Narrative features, documentaries and programs of short films screened for packed theaters at the Edgemar Center, and festival-goers also enjoyed access to opening and closing night parties, an awards ceremony, a filmmaker bar crawl and and a series of panels focused on the various stages of the filmmaking process. Our panels were made up of prolific LA-based producers, development executives, entertainment attorneys and distribution professionals, joined by filmmakers screening their work at the festival. Awards were given out by the jury in the narrative, documentary and short film categories. Each screening at the festival is followed by a Q&A, even if it has to take place over Skype from countries away.