LACFF PROGRAMS

Inmates with Talent FEATURE FILM

If "laughter is the best medicine," can it help turn lives around in prison? In 2008, two comedians had a wild idea — so wild, it landed them in prison. Their mission was to bring a talent contest to the incarcerated, giving them a stage and a mic to express themselves. Filmed over 14 years, the documentary follows where participants are now, showing how attitudes, perceptions, and even the language around incarceration have evolved. This is the story of an improbable journey—and the unexpected impact of comedy, creativity, and second chances behind bars. Imagine Borat meets America's Got Talent behind bars, giving people a second chance at life. After receiving unprecedented prison access, the filmmakers produced an off-the-wall docu-comedy with actor and rapper Ice-T. Two comedians clown around inside a real prison with over 2,400 incarcerated men and earn their trust, prompting convicts to drop their guard and open up about their experiences. The high-energy adventure, shifting from comedy to drama to emulate prison life, ramps up to an epic talent showdown that’s both lit and inspiring, providing hope, confidence, and ultimately steering the men toward better paths—but will they stay there? Despite challenges such as COVID-19, the team reconnected with participants inside and outside of prison to complete the story. There’s a “method to the slapstick madness,” using comedy as a catalyst for positive change. The film doesn’t glamorize prison; it motivates convicts to live successful, law-abiding lives.

Finding Our Way SHORTS

A collection of heartfelt, surreal, and funny stories about people searching for connection, identity, and purpose in a changing world. From video game families and children’s authors to scouts, cult survivors, and quirky neighbors, these films remind us that every path has its own twists.

Films in this program include:

  • A Simple Life — A family of Sims must endure the return of their gamer “god” on stream.

  • Children’s Books — A beloved author tries to break free from her illustrator, only to uncover his dark secret.

  • Gramps — A make-out session goes horribly wrong when Carol meets the legend of Old Gramps.

  • Heavy Petting — A veterinary tech struggles to balance compassion with the demands of her job.

  • How to Be a Hot Guy — A bite-sized comedy about image, confidence, and being “that guy.”

  • Identity Crisis — While packing their childhood room, Kay confronts all the lives they might have lived.

  • In Jeff We Trust — Two girls regret joining a cult… but is it too late to escape?

  • Kaleb & Ms. Kelsey — A puppet comedy where a curious kid learns adult slang from his eccentric neighbor.

  • The Cradle — In a near future, babies are grown in machines — but what happens when the power goes out?

  • The Joy Scout — A genderqueer teen fights for a place in the Salmon Scouts.

  • The Last Vote — A young man votes far right and faces unexpected consequences.

The Joke’s on Us SHORTS

Shorts Program

Fast-paced, irreverent, and packed with laughs, this program features comedians, misfits, and everyday oddballs navigating absurd scenarios. From dating mishaps to over-the-top performances, each short proves comedy thrives in the unexpected.

Films in this program include:

  • Another Day in the West — A cowboy defends the honor of his love in this satirical Western.

  • Forked Tongue — A 20-something secretly creates male-voiced erotica while living with her mother.

  • Lazy Girls — Dancers at the club redefine “doing the least” in this hilarious satire.

  • Man on the Street — An aging content creator makes one last grasp at cultural relevance.

  • Nothing Bad Ever Happens — Best friends face hidden struggles when one pushes for a beach day.

  • Portrait of an Artist — A mockumentary series skewering contemporary art and artists.

  • Ring Ring — A best man’s blunder with wedding rings turns into a fight for survival.

  • SCOUT — A woman books a horse ride only to discover her mount is… different.

  • Severed — A woman stumbles upon a life-changing discovery.

  • The Whiskey Experience — A bartender transforms a night out into something unforgettable.

  • You Play Too Much — Narrated by Fred Armisen, this stop-motion series revisits childhood friendship, bullies, and playground “laws” of the 1980s.Close Encounters SHORTS

From eccentric families to cryptid hunters, this block blends quirky comedy with unexpected drama. These stories highlight the strange and surreal ways people search for meaning, connection, and sometimes just a good laugh.

Films in this program include:

  • Big Footprints — A Bigfoot hunter gets help from his half-brother as they search for the infamous cryptid in this comedic mockumentary.

  • Books (the Pilot) — An author inherits her father’s bookstore and must fight to keep it alive with her eccentric employees.

  • SEE YA: The Whole Story — A novice pilot, his girlfriend, and a mechanic fall into a love triangle with comic role reversals.

  • The Family Pickle — Family rivalries, a hallucinating grandfather, and a pickleball obsession collide in this gritty family comedy.

  • The Fugly Duckling — An irreverent, revenge-fueled spin on the Hans Christian Andersen classic.

  • Venuses — A dysfunctional family of five “professional” women and their gay pimp juggle drama and comedy in this bold series.