Welcome to

CITY OF STARS

About

Cinema is not only entertainment, but also an art form, a medium for bold ideas, emotions and new visions.

At the CITY OF STARS, we seek to discover a new wave of filmmakers who dare to dream big, challenge conventions and create stories that linger in the mind and heart.

We are looking for directors who carry the spirit of great creators such as Federico Fellini, whose poetic surrealism redefined the language of cinema, Ingmar Bergman, who revealed the complexities of the human soul, and Andrei Tarkovsky, whose meditative narrative transcended time itself. We're looking for bold creators like Gaspar Noé, who confronts us with the raw and visceral, György Palfi, who bends form and genre, or Davitt Lynch, who leads us into the strange and beautiful depths of the subconscious.

This festival is a celebration of risk takers, innovators and storytellers who refuse to settle for the ordinary. If your work reflects existential angst, emotional honesty, or vivid chaos, we want to see it.

The CITY OF STARS is not about playing it safe. Its goal is to elevate cinema as an art form, discover unpolished gems, and celebrate filmmakers who remind us why we fell in love with movies to begin with.

If you have a story burning inside you that challenges, inspires and captivates, this is your stage. We're here to support your vision and share it with audiences hungry for something real.

Let's find the next generation of cinematic stars together.

Live event will be held at Creative Space LA Film Studio at 11th of April, 2025

Awards

CITY OF STARS Awards

Grand Prize

For the festival's most outstanding film, a visionary work that embodies the spirit of auteur cinema and pushes the boundaries of storytelling.

Best Director

Awarded to a director whose bold direction and creative vision elevate cinema to an art form, following in the footsteps of icons such as Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky and Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Best Screenplay

For a screenplay that masterfully weaves together complex characters, compelling dialog and a story that stays with you.

Best Cinematography

Awarded to films with breathtaking visual effects, innovative cinematography and impeccable aesthetic execution

Best performance

Recognizing an actor who has played an unforgettable, transformative role that brings his or her character to life, giving it emotion and authenticity.

Best Animated Film

For the most visually imaginative and emotionally resonant animated film.

Best Experimental Film

Honors directors who dare to innovate and redefine cinema, following the avant-garde spirit of directors such as Andrzej Żulawski and Gaspar Noé.

Best Debut Film

Awarded to an emerging director whose film heralds the emergence of a bold new voice in cinema.

Best Feature Film

For a picture that holds the viewer's attention until the last frame, leaving a deep trace and surprising the power of expression.

Audience Award

This award is given to a film that has captured the hearts and minds of our audience, proving that great cinema appeals to everyone.

Best Documentary

For a documentary that captures the beauty, complexity, and harshness of reality with a self-awareness or humanism.

Best Short Film

Awarded to a short film that manages to tell a complete, powerful story in a short period of time, showcasing the genius of its creator in every frame.

Award winners