Picture this:  On a brisk August evening, a line of long, black limousines slowly pulls up to a historic movie palace on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.  A row of rotating klieg lights, piercing the nighttime sky, can be seen for miles.  Hundreds of enthusiastic movie fans crowd around the theater’s entrance, jostling for the best standing-room-only spots. Suddenly, the fans explode into applause and gasps of delight as the first stars step onto the red carpet.  The famous faces and their entourages are greeted by the bright white lights of television crews and the flashes of cameras from dozens of paparazzi, gathered here from around the world.

Lights, cameras, action!   Welcome to the Opening Night of the first annual Downtown Film Festival.

After decades of promise, Los Angeles’ Downtown has evolved into the city’s most exciting community.  The undisputed cultural center of America’s second largest metropolitan area, Downtown boasts such internationally known cultural landmarks as the Music Center, the Staples Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Japanese-American Museum and, of course, the new Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Center.  What’s more, a vibrant residential community is firmly now established, giving downtown what has eluded it for decades.

The Downtown Film Festival will enrich the cultural life of downtown by bringing the excitement of an international film festival into the heart of the world’s entertainment capital.  Set against the historic backdrop of City Center and surrounding adjacent neighborhoods, the Downtown Film Festival - L.A. will serve as a beacon for movie fans throughout Southern California. 

Equally important,  the Downtown Film Festival will be a financial catalyst for Downtown businesses.  The five-day event will generate millions of dollars in new dining, shopping and entertainment revenues and introduce the many charms of Downtown to a whole new consumer audience.