Join us for the World Culture Film Festival — four days of incredible films, visionary panels, immersive art, and global music. A celebration of cinema that uplifts and brings more positivity in society.
FESTIVAL Schedule
Thursday
June 26
Parking
Valet Parking – Front of Venue
Available at the main entrance
$25
General Parking – Main Event Lot
801 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
$20
Follow signage for WCFF Parking
4:00PM
VIP Experience and Filmmakers’ Red Carpet
6:00PM
Screening: Rule Breakers - Directed by Bill Guttentag
Followed by Q&A with cast Amber Afzali, Nina Hosseinzadeh, and Sara Malal Rowe
Presenter: Kawsar Nasir
In a nation where educating girls is rebellion, a visionary woman sparks hope and opposition. Their courage ignites a movement that could transform their nation forever.
8:15PM
Break
8:30PM
Opening Night Panel: “Entertainment That Uplifts – A Masterclass”
A global conversation on how filmmakers, producers, writers, and cultural curators use storytelling to reflect humanity, elevate underrepresented voices, and contribute to a better world.
Host: Anabelle D. Munro - WCFF Festival Director
Featured Speakers:
Stephen Galloway – Dean, Chapman University’s Dodge College; former Executive Editor, The Hollywood Reporter
Shruthi Mathur – Television writer (Disney); President, UNA-USA Los Angeles
Joseph Rosendo – Six-time Emmy Award–winning travel journalist, director, and host of Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out and Travelscope on PBS and CreateTV
Irina Szodruch – Dramaturg, creative producer, development consultant (CO International)
Cecilia “CC” W’Emedi – Senior Project Manager, International Programs at Women in Film (WIF)
FRIDAY
June 27
Parking
Street parking and paid parking lots are the main options; apps like LA Express Park, ParkMobile, and ParkWhiz can simplify the experience.
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Short Film Block 1*: “Living Landscapes – Global, Ancestral Planes”
Followed by a brief Q&A with filmmakers
Films:
Keepers of the Coastline – Directed by Jeremy Charles (13 min)
Chronicles the Tolowa Dee-ni’ people’s sovereignty over ancestral fisheries, blending marine science and indigenous stewardship.
Atharaka (Kenya) – Directed by Simon Mitambo (18 min)
Explores generational ties to land, sun, soil, and culture in the Tharaka region of Kenya.
The Kelp We Breathe – Directed by Tatum Kala Davis, Natalie Aymond, Jack Phillips & Taylor Ortiz (15 min)
An immersive journey into why kelp matters—to ecosystems, identity, and human connection.
Alwe – Directed by Marcelo Silva (13 min)
A funeral story that reveals the legacy and territorial struggles of the Huilliche Mapuche in Chile.
Seeds of Sovereignty– Directed by Stuart J. Tanner (50 min)
Investigates the damage of industrial farming and champions cultural and agricultural independence.
*Please be advised that the order of the films per block is not final and we kindly ask filmmakers to attend the entire screening
11:00 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 1:15 PM
Short Film Block 2*: “LIFT – Films That Leave You Lighter, Not Untouched”
Followed by a brief Q&A with filmmakers
Films:
Wild and Bound – Directed by Shane Hernandez (4 min)
Four boys, future musicians, relive the innocent joy of youth.
Liminal Roots – Directed by Aliyah Harfoot (4 min)
A poetic meditation on identity through the lens of a biracial girl’s memories.
Barakah – Directed by Biniyam Abreha (15 min)
A mystical journey of grief, hope, and ancestral awakening..
Where We Go From Here – Directed by Mikayah Lee (6 min)
A teen girl connects with her late mother on her 16th birthday.
Manch – Directed by Tanay Shah (12 min)
An aspiring Hindi poet-turned-waiter risks everything for a dream stage.
Changing Room – Directed by Ruchir Kulkarni (12 min)
A boy's fragile self-worth unravels during a routine shopping trip.
Lili – Directed by Yannie Tan & Cyprien Fasquelle (15 min)
A bold 1960s female composer clashes with her male rival.
American Daydream – Directed by Ziyu Luo (11 min)
A daughter’s independence tests a mother’s survival as an undocumented immigrant.
He – Directed by Yihui Hu (26 min)
A teen’s world collapses when her father introduces his secret son.
*Please be advised that the order of the films per block is not final and we kindly ask filmmakers to attend the entire screening
1:15 PM
Break
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Panel 1: “Crossover Creators – Where Cinema Meets Influence”
Crossover Creators brings together a dynamic panel of directors, producers, actors, and innovators who are deeply rooted in cinematic storytelling but have carved bold new paths across vertical media, music, culture, and digital platforms. They haven’t left film behind—they’re building new outlets to revive it, reimagine it, and keep it alive in an industry that's rapidly shifting.
Host: Anabelle D. Munro – WCFF Festival Director
Featured Speakers:
Shicong Zhu – Director, writer, Head of Studio at DramaBox
Blair Bai – Creative Producer at DramaBox
AmbiKa Sanjana – Supervising Producer, WCFF; global cultural strategist
Frederick Tabiyus Nah IV – Award-winning filmmaker, music artist, CEO of Swerve Entertainment
Kevin Hissink – Multi-platinum music producer, co-founder of BOONN
Susan Brazer – CEO of LionShare Media
Ashley BeLoat – Actress and lead in vertical TV series
2:30 PM
Break
2:45 PM
Feature Film: Laapataa Ladies – Directed by Kiran Rao (121 min)
A spirited comedy-drama following two young brides who accidentally get swapped on a train, revealing deeper truths about identity, freedom, and women's resilience in rural India.
4:45 PM
Break
5:00 PM
Special Screening
Films:
Boil that Cabbage Down – Directed by Candace Williamson (25 min)
How do we go back to the past and bring its music forward?
Against the Current – Music & Activism on the Hudson River – Directed by Ross Ferrier (60 min)
The re-emergence of the Hudson River is one of the great environmental stories of our time, and it could not have happened without folk music's accompanying emotional energy. Set alongside a canoe journey with musicians in late summer 2024, this is a story of music and a river.
Followed by Q&A and Live Concert
7:00 PM - 10 PM
Art Photo Show Opening
The View Beyond – Art From Above by Sahil Rohira
7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
Short + Feature Screening
Followed by a brief Q&A
Films:
Dream Door – Directed by Rishav Rajesh Raman (14 min)
A poor Indian boy sets out to buy a new door, seeking safety in a precarious world.
Paper Flowers – Directed by Mahesh Pailoor (100 min)
A powerful true story of Shalin Shah, whose terminal diagnosis led him to live, love, and inspire.
SATURDAY
June 28
Parking
Street parking and paid parking lots are the main options; apps like LA Express Park, ParkMobile, and ParkWhiz can simplify the experience.
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Short Film Block 3*: “The Wonder Within – Stories of Overcoming”
Followed by a brief Q&A with filmmakers
Films:
The "Perfect" Girl – Directed by Alivia Lace Levie (1 min)
“The “Perfect” Girl touches on the topics of mental health, getting in our own way, and feeling the external pressure from the media and those around us to play a specific role in society.
New Horizon – Directed by Moiz Kaihanfar (9 min)
An immigrant couple’s quiet triumph in pursuit of the American dream.
Minding Shadows – Directed by Jenn Lindsay (20 min)
A heartfelt journey of forgiveness in the wake of loss.
Legend Has It: The Remarkable Rise of Stephen McCain – Directed by Hisonni Mustafa (16 min)
An Olympic gymnast’s inspiring rise from adversity to excellence.
Women of Wonder / Meghan – Directed by Gina Roda and Stephen Laurence Harvey (26 min)
A tribute to resilience and inner strength.
Waiting on a Punch – Directed by Victoria Wilcox (5 min)
After beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Steven “WOP” Williams fights for a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team.
Tiger – Directed by Miles Butcher (15 min)
A reformed criminal must grapple the mistakes of his past when his son comes to stay.
Living UNDONE – Directed by Amanda Kasmira Cryer (26 min)
A powerful short film that transcends political divides: the stories of individuals and their families reveal the harsh realities of a criminal justice system that stigmatizes rather than rehabilitates, urging society to confront its complicity and advocate for a future where healing, understanding, and second chances are possible for all.
*Please be advised that the order of the films per block is not final and we kindly ask filmmakers to attend the entire screening
11:00 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Panel 2: “On the Pulse – Culture in Motion and Shaping the Next Generation”
These are the artists and mentors who don’t just talk about change—they make it happen. They teach, direct, produce, and launch original, purpose-driven films in real time, all while helping rising talent get funded, seen, and celebrated. From navigating industry shifts to decoding what’s next in storytelling, this is a conversation with the people who sit at the very source of new trends and new talent.
Host: Anabelle D. Munro - WCFF Festival Director
Featured Speakers:
Jenn Lindsay – Professor of Sociology at John Cabot University in Rome; founder of So Fare Films
Salvador Carrasco – Director of The Other Conquest; Head of the Film Program at Santa Monica College; member of the DGA
Catharine Dada – Filmmaker and professor at Loyola Marymount University and Santa Monica College
Carole Joyce – Vice-President and Director of From the Heart Productions and the Roy W. Dean Grant; Director and Producer of the Authentic Global Film Festival
Sandra de Castro Buffington – Producer and lecturer at Harvard’s Media, Medicine and Health Program
Crickett Rumley – Founder and Senior Director of the Film Festival Department at NYFA
Simone Bartesaghi – Filmmaker (RUN, Downstream), author of The Director’s Six Senses, and professor at Santa Monica College
12:30 PM
Break
12:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Short Film Block 4*: “Divine Intervention / Higher Forces – Director’s Choice”
Followed by a brief Q&A
Films:
Never Silly – Simone Bartesaghi (11 min)
Two students in crisis connect unexpectedly in a quiet classroom, reshaping each other’s outlook.
Dede is Dead – Directed by Philippe Kastner (8 min)
A boy navigates the grief of losing his beloved dog, Dede, and learns that love lingers even in absence.
It’s Easy to Forget – Yamile Abuid (9 min)
A flawed but loving father fights to give his daughter one last day before separation.
Emit – Yiwei Xie (10 min)
Three creatives risk everything on the brink of a live broadcast redemption.
Ura – Abrielle Kung-En Kuo (15 min)
Two lovers seek escape and identity in a judgmental world.
La Cumbia / Soma – Carlos Carlos Jr. (15 min)
A Muxe woman and a trans-masc documentarian discover intimacy amid activism.
Doori - Sparsh Banerjee (19 mins)
A grieving father and his estranged son must face the ghosts of their past to mend the wounds that keep them apart.
Fear and Tremble– Alci Rengifo (11 min)
CIA interrogation of a Salvadoran poet exposes idealism, loyalty, and betrayal.
Baraye – Daniella Raphaël (5 min)
An Iranian woman dreams of dancing freely to an anthem of protest.
Courage – Eric Michael Hernandez (11 min)
A Native American boy finds his identity through the sacred art of Hoop Dance.
*Please be advised that the order of the films per block is not final and we kindly ask filmmakers to attend the entire screening
3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Art Show Finissage & Transition to the Art of Living Dome
Evening Program at the Art of Living Dome
Parking
Valet Parking – Front of Venue
Available at the main entrance
$25
General Parking – Main Event Lot
801 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
$20
Follow signage for WCFF Parking
4:00 PM
Red Carpet + Food & Refreshments
5:45 PM
Panel 3: “Parables on Screen – The Sacred Mission of Storytelling”
In this profound conversation between two globally recognized spiritual and humanitarian voices, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation and a leading figure in global peacebuilding, joins Chet Lowe, missionary, author of Living Parable, and filmmaker, to explore the sacred role of storytelling in a divided world.Drawing from Lowe’s latest film and his work in over 60 nations, and from Gurudev’s decades of service across conflict zones and cultural boundaries, this dialogue reflects on how narrative can transcend geography, ideology, and trauma to awaken shared humanity.Presented as part of the World Culture Film Festival, inspired in part by Gurudev’s vision of unity in diversity, this panel offers a rare opportunity to hear from two peacemakers who live their message—and who believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for global transformation.
Host: Anabelle D. Munro - WCFF Festival Director
Featured Speakers:
Pastor Chet Lowe - Senior Pastor at Calvary LIFE
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Global humanitarian, spiritual leader, and peace envoy
Followed by Q&A.
7:00 PM
Feature Film: The Performance - Directed by Shira Piven (112 min)
A gifted Jewish tap dancer is recruited to perform in 1930s Berlin. Based on Arthur Miller’s short story, the film is a haunting reflection on art, oppression, and resistance.
Please note: "The Performance" is Rated R for language, thematic content, and brief sexual references. Viewer discretion is advised.
SUNDAY
June 29
Parking
Valet Parking – Front of Venue
Available at the main entrance
$25
General Parking – Main Event Lot
801 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
$20
Follow signage for WCFF Parking
5:00 PM
Red Carpet Opens
7:00 PM
WCFF Award Ceremony & Show
10:00 PM
VIP After Show Party
