Official Selections: 36th 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.

Suzanne, a widowed mother of three still grieving for her husband, has turned to alcohol to ease her pain, but is having an increasingly tough time maintaining a functioning façade. Until an accident on the way to school changes everything! Social services give Suzanne no choice: if she wants to keep custody of her kids, she must go into rehab. The initial detox is brutal, but Suzanne starts to find strength in the people around her: the abrasive but endearing Alice, an orphan afraid of her origins; Diane, a washed-up actress whose daughter hates her; and Chantal who has lost everything and battles despair with wry humor. In charge of them is Denis, their sports coach and car workshop teacher, who has signed them up for a women’s car rally in Morocco. Missing her kids like crazy, Suzanne finally makes a choice and joins forces with the other women, as they slowly and sometimes painfully learn to adapt to life without booze. And as bonds of friendship and solidarity grow between them, the Hope Center women prepare for the race of a lifetime, a challenge that could ultimately bring back their self-respect and save them from themselves.

Director's Statement:

We came up with the idea for the film during the casting of another film. An actor came in and read for a role. Unfortunately, we didn't cast him, but I noticed under his special skills he listed that he was a professional clown. I said to my writing and producing partner that I had never met a professional clown. He said that he knew a guy who did it professionally and then asked me if I knew what was unusual about clowns. I said, "No what?" He said that there are no two that are alike. So I thought about that. Then, about a minute later, I said, "I've got our next project. We'll have a bunch of identically dressed clowns fight to the death for ultimate supremacy, because there can be only one! And we'll call it 'Clown-Lander.’"

This film was born over a year ago out of a silly, shared moment between Friction Makes Fire's creative duo, Shayley and Nick. Partners both creatively and personally, their real life and art can sometimes blur, often leading to crazy ideas and even crazier projects. For instance, in one particular special and beautiful moment, a top of a picturesque mountain in Big Sur, Shayley said to Nick "This would be a perfect place to propose", followed immediately after by "What if I killed you when you were proposing?" Nick responded, "Well, I would have the evidence because I hired a photographer." Two days later, the script for Cross My Heart was born. This film became a first passion project of sorts for them, as they challenged themselves to do things they never had before. It was their first crowdfunded project, the biggest crew they have ever worked with, Shayley's first solo producing credit, and first time working with real special effects. The entire process was an absolute blast, with the set and entire production process being the most wonderful experience they could have only dreamed of. They could not be more grateful for the tremendously talented and kind cast and crew they were lucky enough to have on their team, and they are so excited to finally be able to showcase all of their hard work with the world! They hope you enjoy their silly little bloody comedy, and can't wait for many more!