The 9th Annual Highland Park Independent Film Festival (HPIFF) makes what may be its last return to the beloved Highland Theater on October 7-8, 2022, following the announcement of the historic landmark going up for sale. The film festival continues celebrating the best of independent filmmaking with this year’s line-up presenting four feature-length documentaries and 43 shorts ranging from animation, live-action, documentary and student films.
“After eight successful years of bringing unique, independent cinema to Northeast L.A., the Highland Park Independent Film Festival is looking forward to our busiest and best year yet,” said HPIFF Co-Founder Mark Reitman.
Kicking off the celebration of the independent film scene, HPIFF’s Opening Night on October 7 will pay homage to the 30th anniversary of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs that was originally filmed locally throughout Highland Park. The red carpet to open the fest begins at 6 p.m. and the opening night program will follow with the free screening of the film itself preceded by a special presentation of the short film Abuelo, starring Pepe Serna (Scarface) and Izabella Alvarez (Euphoria).
Previously presented to notable actors like Danny Trejo, this year’s Highland Park Independent Film Festival Humanitarian Award will be presented to Executive Producer and life-long Activist, Dolores Huerta, preceding the screening of her work on Feature Documentary, Backstreet to the American Dream on closing day of October 8 at 4 p.m. Directed by award-winning filmmaker and journalist Patricia Nazario, the bilingual documentary explores the modern-day American Dream and takes a deep dive into the birthplace of the food truck revolution – Los Angeles – which juxtaposes the experiences of American entrepreneurs and Mexican immigrants in the industry.
For the first time in its history, HPIFF will showcase a block of short Horror films, Horror in the Hood, featuring three world premieres screening on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. following the screening of Reservoir Dogs.
An impressive line-up of short blocks including award-winning short films screens on Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. These films represent the best of independent cinema from across the country and the world with a focus on local, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ voices.
This year’s award categories include, Best Documentary Feature, Best Short Film, Best Performance, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Composition, Audience Awards and Honorable Mentions, among others.
The Highland Park Independent Film Festival program consists of the following films and screening times:
Opening Night Films, Friday October 7, 2022 at 7 PM, Theater 2
“ABUELO”
Directed by Kayvon Derak Shanian
Reservoir Dogs
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Horror In the Hood Friday, October 7 at 9:30 PM, Theater 2
“I’ll Be Back Tomorrow”
Directed by Summers Brothers Slabaugh
“Worm Food” – World Premiere
Directed by Joel & Shane O’Loughlin
“Something in the Garden”
Directed by Marcos Sánchez
“7 MINUTES IN HELL”
Directed by Jacob Rosenthal
“A Little Dead”
Directed by Ben Richardson
“Kickstart my Heart”
Directed by Kelsey Bollig
“Hell Hole”
Directed by Gregory Shultz
“Midnight Screams” – World Premiere
Directed by Sean Menendez
“Relax With Draco” – World Premiere
Directed by Julia Zanin de Paula
“Survivers”
Directed by Carlos Gómez-Trigo
SCI-FI ON FIG, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 12 PM, Theater 2
“Talk to Me”
Directed by Daren Dien
“See You On The Other Side”
Directed by Summers Brothers
“Empiricism”
Directed by Nate Hapke
“ZER0 0NE ZER0”
Directed by Graham High
“Sophie & Stephen” – World Premiere
Directed by Rob Perri
“Another Night Out” – World Premiere
Directed by Jamie Connors
“Twenty Four Heaven”
Directed by Anna Tes
“Keep/Delete”
Directed by Kryzz Gautier
ARROYO SECO Shorts, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 2:30 PM, Theater 2
“My Summer Vacation”
Directed by Kelly O’Sullivan
“The Great American Short Story”
Directed by Daniel Maggio
“Car Stealers”
Directed by Christopher Guerrero
“Uqi” – World Premiere
Directed by Peter Cameron
“Dog Lover” – World Premiere
Directed by Anne-Sophie Bine
“What a Harvest” – World Premiere
Directed by Austin Davison
“Return to Sender”
Directed by Russell Goldman
“Out and Back”
Directed by Chad Corhan
Los Filmmakers ’22, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 5 PM, Theater 2
“La Macana”
Directed by Maria Mealla
“CANCELED”
Directed by Christopher Guerrero
“Calabaza”
Directed by Stephanie Osuna-Hernandez
“No Soy Óscar”
Directed by Jon Ayon
“Borders”
Directed by Frank Velasquez
“Huella”
Directed by Gabriela Ortega
“Hey”
Directed by Felix Martiz
“Chico Virtual”
Directed by Olivia De Camps
“Lodo”
Directed by Alessandro Gentile
ROUTE 66 Shorts, Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 8 PM, Theater 2
“UNBOUND”
Directed by Sarah Moshman
“Frank & Emmet”
Directed by Carlos F.Puertolas
“The Lonely Store”
Directed by Amy Roy
“Hotter Up Close”
Directed by Leland Montgomery
“White Now Please”
Directed by Kyle Lau
“Madness Incarnate” – World Premiere
Directed by Olivia Wong
“Lead/Follow” – L.A. / California Premiere
Directed by Colby Day
“The Weight of It”
Directed by The Weight of It
“So Much More to Offer”
Directed by Sheila Sofian
“These Hands Were Made For Knockn’”
Directed by Laura Herring
Documentary Features, Screening in Order Saturday, October 8, 2022 in Theater 3 at 12, 1, 2:30 and 4 PM
Échale Ganas: The Villa’s Tacos Story
Directed by Shirley Yumeng He
UNIDAD: Gay & Lesbian Latinos Unidos
Directed by Gregorio Davila
Sound of The Surf
Directed by John Blair
Backstreet to the American Dream
Directed by Patricia Nazario