Film for the people.

The Highland Park Independent Film Festival (HPIFF) was founded by a group of filmmakers whose express mission is to promote the art of film in their community. HPIFF is the first film festival of its kind in Highland Park. We are a grassroots organization, dedicated to inviting filmmakers who are producing the most unique and captivating independent cinema today to share their work with the Highland Park community.

We believe in fostering emerging and established filmmakers by providing forums for screening projects, networking with industry professionals, and mentoring student filmmakers. To this end, our organization consists of three essential components: the Highland Park Independent Film Festival (HPIFF), which is an annual event held in October featuring the works of independent filmmakers from Highland Park and around the world; the HPIFilmFest Series, which consists of film programs and screenings designed to build community through film in Northeast Los Angeles; and the HPIFF Mentorship Program, which offers film education to schools throughout Northeast Los Angeles.

The first festival, which debuted in 2014, took place in the historic Highland Theatre, located off of the Figueroa corridor of Historic Route 66 and it has remained our home to date. In addition to screenings of features and short films, guests also enjoy red carpet events, industry mixers, and panel discussions with film professionals. Each year, we collaborate with local businesses and organizations in the area, and build community through a shared love of film and authentic storytelling. We are proud and thankful to announce the milestone 10th annual Highland Park Independent Film Festival in 2023, was the biggest and most successful to date! We look forward to continuing our mission of cultivating independent cinema in Highland Park and expanding our scope in the global art scene.

Meet the Team

  • Marita De La Torre

    Executive Director & Co-Founder

  • Mark Reitman

    Development Director & Co-Founder

  • April Ibarra

    Artistic Director

  • Max Solomon

    Programming Director

  • Kris Bicknell

    Brand Director