The 2nd annual Downtown Film Festival – Los Angeles runs this year from August 12th through the 22nd. At the advent of cinema in the early 20th century, downtown Los Angeles was the epicenter of the film industry. It boasted more “movie palaces” than anywhere in the world. Today, while many of these architecturally significant structures no longer serve their original function, it is indeed fortunate the majority have survived intact, and plans call for their total restoration.

It is in the spirit of downtown LA’s cinematic roots and its transformation as a new urban center that this festival was established. In Downtown Film Festival – LA’s first year, it presented more than 200 feature and short films, including studio, independent, classic, and experimental motion pictures. The festival was held in venues throughout downtown Los Angeles, notably the historic Los Angeles Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles Center Studio, Laemmle’s Downtown Grande four-plex, and SCI-Arc (the Southern Calif. Institute of Architecture). Check out this year’s schedule online.

Starting next week:

Indie Fest USA (August 24-27)