The 22nd annual LA Femme International Film Festival will open with the West Coast premiere of Jesus Land, written and directed by Saila Kariat and starring Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear, Yellowjackets) and Ella Anderson (Song Sung Blue, Conviction).
Based on Julia Scheeres’ acclaimed New York Times bestselling memoir, Jesus Land follows a young girl and her adopted brother as they confront religious extremism, racism and abuse in 1980s rural Indiana and at a brutal reform school in the Dominican Republic. Amid isolation and trauma, their bond becomes a lifeline as they struggle to hold onto hope.
Alongside Lewis and Anderson, the film stars Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black, The Recruit), Kelly Sullivan (The Young & the Restless, General Hospital), Xavier Jones (Chicago P.D., Extraction), Bryce Johnson (Pretty Little Liars, Popular) and Nikki Roumel (Ginny & Georgia).
Running October 22–25, 2026 at Regal Cinemas at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, this year’s festival will showcase 110 films, including narrative features, documentary features and shorts, music videos.
Mena Suvari will receive the Humanitarian Award in recognition of her advocacy for global health, environmental conservation and animal welfare, including her work as an ambassador for the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF). Writer and director Rachel Feldman will receive the Visionary Award for her body of work and longstanding commitment to expanding opportunities for women in Hollywood.
Six panels will explore key issues shaping the film and television industries, from diversity, equity, and inclusion to vertical filmmaking, launching a career through short films, pitching projects, getting writers’ work onto the screen, and film financing and distribution in the age of AI.
Additional festival highlights include a special screening of Here’s Yianni!, followed by a Q&A. Written and directed by Christina Eliopoulos, the film stars Julia Ormond, Joe Cortese, Kevin Pollak, Rosanna Arquette, and Sofia Vassilieva. Producers include Valerie McCaffrey, Colleen Camp, Nick Vallelonga, and Cortese.
On Sunday, the festival will present a special fundraiser screening of We Are Animals. Produced by Lady Freethinker founder and president Nina Jackel and directed by Kirk Murray and Nicholas Tana, the documentary examines the history of animal cruelty, the industries that perpetuate it, and emerging efforts to break the cycle of abuse. Interviews with scientists, celebrities and leading animal advocates—including Moby, Nikki Glaser, Allison Pill, Peter Egan, Elaine Hendrix, Peter Singer and Milo Runkle—explore how everyday choices can help create a more compassionate world.
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