Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, has revealed three short films directed by fellows selected to participate in its Global Media Makers (GMM) spring 2022 Los Angeles residency. Produced in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, GMM is a mentoring initiative and cultural exchange program that fosters relationships between filmmakers and industry professionals in the U.S. and abroad. The shorts are a result of a collaborative workshop where GMM Fellows were paired with local Film Independent Fellows to create a short impressionistic film, shot on iPhones, encompassing their personal views of Los Angeles.
The short films include Anup Poudel‘s “Birds in L.A.” (Nepal), where, while exploring Los Angeles, a paper swan meets others of different colors and sizes, embracing the friendship and freedom the city has to offer; Archana Borhade‘s “Inner Camera” (India), where, Borhade, a cinematographer, self-reflects on visiting one of the beauty capitals of the world, turns the camera towards herself and finds self-acceptance; and Sriram Raja‘s “To L.A. with Love” (India), where Raja travels to locations where “La La Land” was filmed and reflects on how nostalgic the city feels in his still 35mm photographs, yet modern when captured on his iPhone.
The next residency will take place in October when GMM will host another iPhone collaborative workshop.