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One of comedy’s most singular voices is stepping behind the camera and kicking off a festival in the process.
John Early (Search Party, Eternity) makes his directorial debut with Maddie’s Secret, the opening-night film of the Los Angeles Festival of Movies, making its U.S. premiere April 9 at Vidiots. Early also stars in the film, about a food influencer whose carefully curated life begins to fracture as fame triggers an unresolved adolescent eating disorder. Afterward, cast members Kate Berlant, Vanessa Bayer, Pat Regan and Claudia O'Doherty all stick around for a Q&A.
RECOMMENDED: We talked to comedian John Early about Showgasm. XXL
The rest of the lineup leans just as eclectic. On Sunday, April 12, the festival hosts the West Coast premiere of a new 4K restoration of Macho Dancer at 2220 Arts + Archives. Directed by Lino Brocka, the long out-of-print cult classic follows an 18-year-old gigolo navigating the queer nightlife of Manila.
Elsewhere, the fest spotlights homegrown talent with the debut of the Presidium Overactive shorts block on Saturday, April 11. Curated by L.A.-based filmmaker Creston Brown, the program brings together premieres from local directors exploring everything from seductive cults to existential unraveling, with a focus on unconventional storytelling and emotional volatility.
The closing night film will be the April 12 U.S. premiere of Sophy Romvari's Blue Heron, an intimate coming-of-age drama that previously played the Locarno and Toronto film fests.
April 11 and 12 will see three panels and discussions: Artists: On Moviegoing, featuring Josephine Decker and Lisa Hanawalt in conversation, moderated by Kiva Reardon; Writers: On Moviegoing, featuring Melissa Anderson and William E. Jones and moderated by Adam Piron; and Parenthood & Filmmaking, featuring Lauren Melinda (Simbelle Productions), Alexa Coblentz (cineCamp), Christine Haroutounian (Filmmaker, After Dreaming), Josh Locy (Potato, Potato) and moderated by Sarah Winshall (LAFM)
Taken together, the lineup suggests a festival more interested in tone and voice than convention—equal parts camp, queerness and creative risk.
Festival passes are sold out, but tickets ot individual screenings and events are available. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.