Louisiana International Film Festival

Overview

The Louisiana International Film Festival is Louisiana's most important film festival outside New Orleans. Founded in 2006 and held annually in Baton Rouge -- Louisiana's capital and home of Louisiana State University -- the festival presents independent American and international cinema to the Pelican State's governmental and academic capital.

Louisiana's extraordinary cultural heritage -- Cajun and Creole traditions, zydeco music, Mardi Gras, extraordinary cuisine, and the Mississippi River delta landscape -- gives the state a cultural richness that has attracted filmmakers for decades. The state's film incentive program has made Louisiana one of America's most active production states, with films and television series shooting across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the bayou country.

The festival reflects this production activity alongside its programming of independent and international cinema, providing Baton Rouge with film culture beyond the New Orleans-centric Louisiana cinema world.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Program -- independent American and international features
• Louisiana Film Showcase -- films by Louisiana filmmakers
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Competition -- competitive short programs
• Bayou Stories -- films addressing Louisiana's distinctive culture

What Filmmakers Should Know

The festival accepts open submissions. For Louisiana filmmakers, the festival provides an important capital-city platform complementing the New Orleans Film Festival. The state's production activity creates industry connections for visiting filmmakers.

Major Awards

• Best Film -- jury prize
• Best Louisiana Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

The Louisiana International Film Festival was founded in 2006 and has operated as Baton Rouge's primary film cultural event.

See Also

For the New Orleans Film Festival, see New Orleans Film Festival. For Southern cinema, see Film Festival Strategy.