The 12th Annual Highland Park Independent Film Festival returns from October 22 to October 26, 2025. Celebrating independent cinema, the festival was founded by a group of filmmakers whose express mission is to promote the art of film and authentic storytelling in their community. This year’s event will include screenings of features and short films. Guests will also enjoy red carpet events, industry mixers, and panel discussions with film professionals. HPIFF will take place in the historic Highland Theatre, located off of the Figueroa corridor of Historic Route 66 – a location that has remained its home since inception.
For more information about the Highland Park Independent Film Festival, including the full schedule and ticketing details, please visit: www.hpifilmfest.com
Highlights:
Wednesday, October 22nd Filmmaker Meet and Greet: A fun kick-off party for the filmmakers, sponsors, media and staff. The soiree is themed “Dreams of Electronic Cinema” and is headlined by “Circuitry & Poetry”, a collaborative experimental and interactive performance of circuit bending with dance, poetry and sign language.
Circuitry artist, Jeff Boynton, harnesses the black art of circuit bending to fabricate DIY (Do-It-Yourself) experimental electronic instruments and music, while Poetry artist, Mona Jean Cedar, composes spoken word poetry and choreographs dance with sign language, to create innovative and evocative live performances.
Showgoers are encouraged to have fun with Electronic Cinema attire on the red carpet!
Thursday, October 23rd: Feature Documentary “40 Watts from Nowhere” by Susan Carpenter. The film features vintage footage shot in 1998 that shows the pirate radio station KBLT operating 24/7 out of her apartment closet in Silver Lake. It soon took on a life of its own, drawing Mazzy Starr to headline a benefit concert and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play live in her living room.
Shorts program: Humanity in Focus, documentary shorts and the narrative short program of edgy dramas, “Handcrafted Independents”
Friday Oct. 23rd A Shorts program starting with animation shorts Hues of Animation, comedy shorts Highland Park Hijinks and ending with a Mini Horror Fest featuring the programs Hypnotic Filmscapes and Horror in the Hood.
Saturday the 24th features narrative short screenings “Harmonic Reflections” films about inspiring and thought-provoking stories, “Haciendo Cine” films by and about Latino filmmakers, “Herspective Cinema”, films directed by and about women, “Healing Reels” films about beautiful healing stories.
Sunday, October 26th the closing Feature Film is Kokoro: Heart of a City directed by Mauricio Medina Elizondo. The film is an anthology compiling stories of heartbreak, friendship, first love and self-love, involving modern and complex relationships in Mexico City. The director will be in attendance from Mexico City.
What:
The Highland Park Independent Film Festival
Heart & History on Paseo Figueroa
I2th Annual Celebration of Independent Cinema
When:
October 22nd-26th
Where:
The Garibaldina Society, 4533 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Schedule:
Wednesday, October 22, 2025: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday, October 23, 2025: 4:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, October 24, 2025: 1:30pm-9:00pm
Saturday, October 25, 2025: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Sunday, October 26, 2025: 2:00pm-7:00pm
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