Overview
The Louisiana International Film Festival (LIFF) is a regional film festival based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Founded in 2011, the festival was created to promote the Louisiana film industry's growth and its international reputation as an artistic and cultural force in the global market. The festival screened approximately 50 feature-length films and shorts across 4 screens at the Cinemark Perkins Rowe theater in Baton Rouge, with filmmaker Q&As, workshops, and guest speaker events.
LIFF was operated by the Louisiana Film Foundation (also abbreviated LIFF), a nonprofit organization that also maintained a year-round film society, pre-release screenings, and special events. The festival ran 7 editions before going on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of July 2026, the festival has not resumed operations. The organization's last confirmed edition was LIFF 2019, which took place at Cinemark Perkins Rowe with a collaboration with the Arts Council of Baton Rouge at the Ebb & Flow Festival.
Louisiana's film production context is critical to understanding LIFF's mission. Louisiana was one of the first US states to offer film tax incentives, beginning in 2002, and has been one of the most active production states outside of California, New York, and Georgia. The state's incentive program, cultural heritage (Cajun, Creole, zydeco, Mississippi River delta), and diverse locations from New Orleans to bayou country have attracted productions for over two decades.
Festival Details (Historical)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | On hiatus since 2019 (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| Venue | Cinemark Perkins Rowe, 10000 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA |
| Typical Format | 4 to 5 days, 4 screens |
| Film Volume | Approximately 50 feature-length films and shorts |
| Ticket Pricing (Historical) | $10 single screening, $20 student pass, $125 all-access pass, $150 VIP pass |
| Submission Address | Attn: Submissions, 7117 Florida Blvd. Suite 314, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 |
| Contact | info@lifilmfest.org, 225-330-6151 |
| Submission Platform | Previously Withoutabox/FilmFreeway |
Historical Submission Requirements
Based on the festival's published rules from its active years:
- Projects completed on or after January 1, 2012
- Films could be shot in any format
- All non-English films required English subtitles
- Works in progress were not accepted
- Promotional or commercial works were not accepted
- Filmmakers whose films were accepted had to sign a rights and clearances form
- Entry fees were required in US funds, non-refundable
- Selected filmmakers from Louisville's sister cities could receive fee waivers (legacy provision from a prior partnership)
Key Sections (Historical Programming)
- Feature Film Program - domestic, foreign, and regional feature films. Past selections included Oscar nominees like The Embrace of the Serpent, Cannes Palme d'Or winner Dheepan, and Werner Herzog's Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World.
- Documentary Program - nonfiction features, including Oscar-winner Barbara Kopple's Miss Sharon Jones! and Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.
- Short Film Competition - competitive short film programs across genres.
- Louisiana Film Showcase - films by Louisiana filmmakers and films with Louisiana themes, including Bogalusa Charm (a documentary about a charm school in Bogalusa, Louisiana).
- Workshops and Panels - over 30 workshops per edition, with guest speakers including actors Vincent D'Onofrio and Sally Kirkland, Oscar-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore, and director Bernard Rose.
- Year-Round Programming - pre-release screenings of awards contenders (e.g., Brooklyn, The Revenant in advance of Academy Awards ceremony).
Major Awards (Historical)
- Best Film - jury prize for top feature
- Best Louisiana Film - jury prize for Louisiana-connected production
- Audience Award - voted by festival attendees
- Best Short Film - jury prize for top short
What Filmmakers Should Know
Current Status: On Hiatus
As of July 2026, the Louisiana International Film Festival has not resumed operations since its 2019 edition. The festival went on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned. Filmmakers should not attempt to submit films until the festival officially announces a resumption. The organization's website (lifilmfest.org) and contact information remain registered, but no active programming has been confirmed.
Louisiana Film Tax Incentive Program
Louisiana operates one of the most established film tax incentive programs in the United States. For applications approved on or after July 1, 2025, under Act 44 (SB 232) of the 2025 Regular Session:
| Credit Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Base Investment Credit | 25% on qualified in-state production expenditures |
| Louisiana Screenplay Bonus | +10% (screenplay by Louisiana resident, expenditures $50K to $5M) |
| Out-of-NOLA Zone Bonus | +5% (production office and 60%+ of principal photography outside New Orleans MSA) |
| Louisiana Resident Payroll Credit | +15% on qualified Louisiana resident payroll (first $3M per resident) |
| VFX Credit | +5% on qualified VFX spend (50%+ of VFX budget in-state, or minimum $1M) |
| Total Maximum | Up to 40% |
Key program parameters:
- Annual credit issuance cap: $125 million per fiscal year (reduced from $150M by 2025 legislation)
- Minimum in-state expenditure: $300,000 for general productions, $50,000 for Louisiana screenplay productions
- Credits can be transferred back to the State for 90% of face value (88% net after 2% transfer fee)
- Act 44 removed per-project credit caps and per-person payroll caps that existed under prior law
- The program is open to production companies headquartered and domiciled in Louisiana producing nationally or internationally distributed motion pictures
Baton Rouge specifically benefits from the Out-of-NOLA Zone bonus, as it falls outside the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area. Productions basing their office in Baton Rouge and filming 60%+ of principal photography outside the New Orleans MSA qualify for the additional 5% credit.
Baton Rouge as a Production Hub
Baton Rouge is Louisiana's capital city and home to Louisiana State University (LSU). The city has served as a production base for films leveraging the state's tax incentive. Celtic Studios, a major production facility in Baton Rouge, has hosted numerous film and television productions. The city's proximity to New Orleans (approximately 80 miles) allows productions to access both markets while qualifying for the out-of-NOLA zone bonus.
No Film Market
LIFF did not operate a film market. The festival functioned as a community-focused exhibition event with filmmaker Q&As and educational workshops. It was not a market festival where distribution deals were brokered. The festival's industry value came from its guest speaker program and networking opportunities with visiting filmmakers and Louisiana-based industry professionals.
Alternative Louisiana Festivals
With LIFF on hiatus, Louisiana filmmakers seeking festival exhibition have several alternatives:
- New Orleans Film Festival - the state's largest active film festival, typically held in October/November
- Baton Rouge Irish Film Festival - accepting submissions through July 1, 2026, with no submission fee
- Louisiana Bayou Film Festival - first annual edition July 31 to August 1, 2026, in Louisiana, accepting short films (10 minutes or less) with a $150 submission fee and $5,000 in total cash prizes
Festival History
The Louisiana International Film Festival was founded in 2011 by the Louisiana Film Foundation. The inaugural juried festival was held April 18 to 21, 2013, at Cinemark Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge. The festival was created to promote the Louisiana film industry's growth and provide a platform for up-and-coming filmmakers in the state through a year-round film society, special events, and the annual festival.
The festival grew steadily through its first four editions. By 2015, attendance reached 6,000, with over 60 films screened including features, documentaries, shorts, and animation. The 2015 festival presented over 30 workshops and guest speakers including actors Vincent D'Onofrio and Sally Kirkland, Oscar-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore, and director Bernard Rose.
The 2016 edition (April 13 to 17) screened 39 domestic, foreign, and regional feature films, including Werner Herzog's Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World, Cannes Palme d'Or winner Dheepan, and the documentary Bogalusa Charm about a charm school in Bogalusa, Louisiana.
The 2019 edition collaborated with the Arts Council of Baton Rouge, presenting selected films at Art Flow, a component of the Ebb & Flow Festival in April. This was the last confirmed edition before the festival went on hiatus.
The Louisiana Film Foundation also maintained a year-round presence through free pre-release screenings for its film society members, including awards contenders like Brooklyn and The Revenant in advance of the Academy Awards.
See Also
For the New Orleans Film Festival, see New Orleans Film Festival. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For independent filmmaking approaches, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. For Louisiana production incentive details, visit the Louisiana Entertainment Motion Picture Production Program page. For historical festival information, visit lifilmfest.org.
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