The 27th Annual ARPA International Film Festival (ARPA IFF) is set to take place from October 25 to 27, 2024, at the Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles. Recognized as one of the key independent film festivals in Southern California, ARPA IFF continues its mission to promote cultural understanding through international cinema.
The festival will feature an awards ceremony honoring outstanding contributions to the film industry. This year’s honorees include actor Danny Trejo, who will receive the Icon Award, and Emmy-nominated producer/director and Chairman of The California Arts Council, Roxanne Messina Captor, who will be presented with the Visionary Award. George Pennacchio, ABC7 Entertainment Reporter, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while actor and director Michael Goorjian will receive the Career Achievement Award. The Rising Star Award will go to director Gabriele Fabbro for The Grand Bolero. The awards presentation will be hosted by Diana Madison.
The festival is organized by the ARPA Foundation for Film, Music & Art (AFFMA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a platform for filmmakers, musicians, and artists exploring socially and culturally significant themes. Founded in 1995, AFFMA has championed diverse storytelling, and since the festival’s launch in 1997, ARPA IFF has become a vital forum for international cinema, bridging cultural divides.
Sylvia Minassian, founder of the ARPA International Film Festival, expressed her enthusiasm for this year’s honorees, stating, “Each of our award recipients has made significant contributions to the arts, embodying the spirit of cultural understanding and social impact that our festival champions. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the profound stories they share with the world.”
This year’s lineup includes the West Coast premiere of Here’s Yianni!, starring Eric Roberts, Colleen Camp, and Rosanna Arquette, on October 25 at 8:30 PM. The festival will also feature an exclusive Spotlight Screening of Die Like a Man on October 26 at 7:00 PM, followed by the world premiere of Wages of Sin starring Danny Trejo at 8:30 PM. The Sunday program will showcase The Unexpecteds, directed by Alejandro Montoya Marin, as well as the documentaries Missak & Mélinée Manouchian and Jewel of the Desert.
The festival will conclude with the Awards Ceremony on October 27 at 6:00 PM, featuring a red carpet and reception to celebrate the achievements of this year’s honorees.
For more information on the full schedule and tickets, visit www.arpafilmfestival.com/tickets.
