Film fest a key stop on the shorts circuit

The Los Angeles International Short Film Festival kicks off its ninth edition Tuesday at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. The weeklong festival will screen more than 600 shorts selected from about 1,500 entries from around the world.

“It’s gone from 50 to 75 films at Barnsdall Park to now the largest short-film festival in the world,” says festival director Doug Summers, who also has a film in the festival, a black comedy entitled “It Can Always Get Worse.”

Last year, the festival drew 10,000 attendees; this year Summers believes it will attract upward of 15,000.

“It’s a pretty young crowd -- 18 to 35 is our base,” says Summers. “A lot of them are excited filmmakers. They bring friends and families.”

The shorts in the festival run the gamut, amateur efforts as well as professionally made films. “I think it’s a great time to be a filmmaker,” says Summers. “Student filmmakers have these Panasonic and Sony cameras and they are shooting stuff on video that looks like film now. They know how to light it and shoot it. So you have a lot of really savvy young filmmakers shooting with their digital cameras. With the editing bays you can get now, you can shoot a film and cut it in their house. We are trying to capture both sides of the spectrum.”

Among the films screening this year are the documentary “The Life of Kevin Carter,” by first-time filmmaker Dan Krauss, and the drama “Sugar Mountain,” the latest effort of Aaron Himelstein, who is in his late teens and has been writing and directing for several years.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also accredits the Shorts Fest. “The winners of best drama, best documentary and best animation can be submitted to the Academy Award nominations,” Summers says.

This year, Summers is attempting to get local moviemakers more involved. “One of our theaters is dedicated to L.A. filmmakers because we have so many great filmmakers in town,” he says.

Cinematographer-director Jan de Bont (“Speed,” “Twister”) is this year’s recipient of the Maverick Film Award. “Last year, it was given to Bryan Singer,” says Summers. “It is for a director who captures the spirit of indie filmmaking.”

Summers also is catering this year’s festival to the filmmaker. “Being a filmmaker myself, I wanted to take care of my fellow filmmakers,” he explains. Four free panels will be presented for moviemakers, including one on how to make short films for mobile phones.

For more information go to www.lashortsfest.com.

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-- Susan King