Jim Jarmusch’s Movie to Open L.A. Independent Film Fest

With a new sponsor in the fold, the second edition of the five-day Los Angeles Independent Film Festival will begin Thursday at the Directors Guild with “Dead Man,” Jim Jarmusch’s droll and sure-to-be-controversial allegorical western starring Johnny Depp.

The Sundance Channel has signed on as a sponsor, joining the Filmmakers Foundation and founding backers Eastman Kodak and the Directors Guild of America. Also participating this year will be the Independent Feature Project West.

“Our program quality has certainly increased, and I’m happy about the positive interest that both filmmakers and the industry have taken in the festival,” said festival founder Robert Faust of the Filmmakers Foundation.

This year submissions have doubled to just more than 700, and the film programs have been increased from 16 to 21 over last year. Screenings will now be held on the Paramount lot as well as at Raleigh Studios. Clearly, the challenge in the future will be to keep the festival from getting too big.

(Faust promises to keep it at five days.) At least four films in last year’s festival found distributors, and a number went on to win top film awards.

In addition to its feature film and shorts presentations, the Los Angeles festival will present an array of seminars. ranging from the legal aspects of producing to how to make the most of the Internet. For program and ticket information call Theatix: (213) 466-1767. For further information: Filmmakers Foundation: (213) 937-9137.