Los Angeles Film Festival 2015 highlights

Like many young twentysomethings, the Los Angeles Film Festival has experimented with its identity as it’s grown up, often screening scrappy indies, serious-minded documentaries and splashy studio pictures side by side.

For its 21st installment, which takes place Wednesday through June 18 and is sponsored by The Times, the festival is refocusing on world premieres, first-time filmmakers and diversity. Here’s a look at some of the programming sections and selected films.

Opening film: “Grandma,” Paul Weitz’s dramedy starring Lily Tomlin as an ornery seventysomething poet who helps her teenage granddaughter try to rustle up money for an abortion.

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Closing film: To be announced.

U.S. fiction competition: Narrative films by emerging and established American directors, such as Dennis Hauck’s thriller “Too Late,” starring John Hawkes as a troubled private investigator.

World fiction competition: Narrative films from across the globe, such as Sara Blecher’s South African coming-of-age tale “Ayanda and the Mechanic.”

Documentary competition: Nonfiction movies from the U.S. and abroad, including Daphne McWilliams’ “In a Perfect World,” about men who were raised by single mothers.

L.A. Muse: Los Angeles-centric narrative and documentary features, including Zoe R. Cassevetes’ drama “Day Out of Days,” about a 40-year-old actress (Alexia Landeau) trying to survive in cutthroat Hollywood.

Nightfall: A new section spotlighting horror movies, like Tomm Jacobsen, Michael Rousselet and Jon Salmon’s mock-slasher-sequel “Dude Bro Party Massacre III.”

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Event info

Venues: Primarily at L.A. Live; special events at LACMA and Union Station

Tickets: Individual tickets range from no cost to $25; passes from $350 to $2,500

Parking: $10 a day, West Parking Garage

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