La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival to return in July

The 13th annual La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival is gearing up for another year of impressive fashion films. This prestigious festival features talented artists from around the world and is the first fashion film festival founded in North America. Through the lens of the filmmakers, this event will give you a glimpse of what is trending in fashion and the world’s top fashion houses.

This year has another amazing lineup of filmmakers. One artist to look for is Mariel Gomsrud who is an award-winning Norwegian director, screenwriter, and producer. Gomsrud’s film, “La Petite Mort,” brings an Ecosexual Movement to the forefront to combat climate change – thinking of the earth as our lover will be a step forward in combating climate change. Gomsrud along with most of the cast and crew will be attending the festival.

Steeven Kodjia is a professional dancer and founder of the Brand French Deal. Incorporating street fashion in his vision, Kodjia created the film “The Power is Yours.” This was Kodjia’s way of paying homage to the Black Panther Party. The film demonstrates the commitment to freedom for the black community in the United States of America. This revolutionary movement was the inspiration for this film. Look for his KODJIA Beret’s throughout the film.

Bayou Bennett and Daniel Lir are a husband and wife filmmaker duo. Their female-empowered short film, “Time is Eternal,” features writer/actress Berite LaBelle. She plays Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and May Wollstonecraft, an English writer who was an advocate of women’s rights. The message of the film is that there are unlimited possibilities for all of us.

“The Girl From 7th Avenue” is brought to the festival by LJFFF veteran Antonio Contreras. The film is an illustrated documentary about the first black supermodel Pat Cleveland, containing more than 2,000 hand-painted watercolors by Contreras. Cleveland tells her story about the Runway Revolution beginning with the battle of Versailles in 1973 and ending with the multi-ethnic models on the cover of magazines and on the runways of major fashion houses. Cleveland will be attending the festival to introduce the film and present one of the IFFA awards on the red carpet.

This year, the festival will be at The Lot from July 29-30. The opening night reception will include art installations, networking, and press interviews.

I asked Fred Sweet, producer of the LJFFF, what was new this year and he said they have added a Jumbo Screen to enhance viewing. Saturday will present live performances, red carpet appearances, and the announcement and presentations of the (IFFAS) International Fashion Film Awards. If you would like to attend this Cannes of the fashion film world, visit ljfff.com/.

Upcoming Events

July 13 – Fashion Week San Diego presents Knobbe Martens Workshop on Intellectual Property Law Issues. This in-person or virtual free event begins at 6:30 p.m. at 3579 Valley Centre Drive. RSVP at [email protected].

July 29-30 – 13th La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival at The Lot La Jolla. World’s largest gathering of fashion filmmakers. For tickets, visit bit.ly/3meqGO5.

July 29-31, 5-10 p.m. – San Diego Swim Week (SDSW). A two-day fashion show and shopping experience. Fashion show Friday on runway 1, and Saturday on runway 2 at 6 p.m. Red carpet at 10 p.m. Located on LUCE on Kettner on 2310 Kettner Blvd. For tickets, visit sandiegoswimweek.com.

April 8-Oct. 2 – “Fold, Twist, Tie” – This is a Paper Bag Hat exhibit by moses at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays-Wednesdays, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays-Fridays. In conjunction, there will be a lecture by Diana Cavagnaro on Hats at Coffee and Conversation, which will be on June 24 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Frances Hamilton White Art Library.

Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned Couture Milliner based in the San Diego area. Learn more about our hat designer, teacher and blogger at DianaCavagnaro.com.