As we eagerly await word from our programming team on the full line-up of films we’ll be screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival—May 6 is the big announcement day—we’ve got plenty of other Festival news to get excited about. Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are All Right)has been named Guest Director of the 2014 Festival. That means the acclaimed filmmaker will join our special pre-Fest gathering in Palm Springs for the Festival’s feature filmmakers and other honored artists.

Festival Director Stephanie Allain shared a few of the reasons Cholodenko inspires:

“She makes movies that are personal AND entertaining.”

“She makes signature films about women. Real women.”

“She bounces between film and TV. Good TV.”

Other newly-announced events that are sure to be highlights of this year’s Festival, which happens June 11-19 in downtown Los Angeles:

As part of our Master Class series (supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), acclaimed film artists will share insights into their creative process. Launching the series is Academy-Award winning musician/producer/composer Atticus Ross (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network), who will perform an original electronic soundscape created just for the Festival and discuss the art of scoring films.

Women Who Call the Shots: Women Directors and Showrunners will highlight esteemed directors and showrunners, including Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said), Marta Kauffman(Friends) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball), who will share with Festival audiences their process and progress as women at the helm.

Pre-sale benefits for Film Independent Members start tomorrow April 9. For more info, go to lafilmfest.com. Passes go on sale to the general public on April 22.

Pamela Miller / Website & Grants Manager