‘Dances With Films’ is here again   

Los Angeles, CA (News4usonline) – Dances With Films: LA 2026 is different. Let’s start with the titles of some of the movies being showcased at the nearly two-week film festival. 

Jump Scare, Into the Static, Four Itchy Boys, The Bones Exist, and Tame, gives you an alternative state of mind or something to think about. The film festival is  a lot like a combo bowl of soup. It has a little of everything for everyone. A little bit of this. A little bit of that. 

Comedy, drama, documentaries,  and horror are some of the flicks being presented at the festival. You name the category and chances are that Dances With Films: 2026 has something to appease the fans. 

Even a dash of romance can be found radiating its glow in some of the feature films. The theme of this year’s version of Dances With Films: LA 2026 can be pretty much summed up with one word: variety. With 254 films, the festival has plenty of creative offerings for moviegoers. 

This includes 170 short films, 18 documentaries and 43 narrative features.  

“This year’s theme, ‘Find Your Truth,’ couldn’t be more relevant in today’s world,” states Dances With Films’ founders, Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent, “and we challenge our Los Angeles audience to find their truth throughout the 28th edition of our film festival. Unique and clearly diverse voices, as well as that ever-present spark of imagination that DWF is known for, all culminate into an extraordinary festival experience for both filmmakers and festival goers alike. As always, we couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce them all in the best way – at the TCL Chinese Theatres known for being the best in sound and image on the screen, introducing these artists to audiences and industry in the heart of Hollywood.” 

Dances With Festival: LA 2026 began its 10-day run with opening night being held at the revered TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The diverse array of films showcases many unknown and little known faces and names. However, there were a few exceptions. 

Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, who starred in the “Green Book” and has had superlative roles in films such as “Jurassic World: Rebirth” and “Moonlight,” has his moment in the spotlight in “Taste the Revolution.”

The 2020 pandemic and the need for more creative voices has led to a large crop of new filmmakers looking to add their voices to the theatrical pie.

For writer Jesse Montagna, it’s a big deal for independent filmmakers such as himself to have the opportunity to display their work at the Dances With Films: LA 2026 festival. His 11-minute comedy action short film “Physical Touch” was added to the festival’s movie slate, which he is grateful for. 

“Dances has such a phenomenal programming team and what they do…it’s just very humbling to be part of this great organization. To walk the orange carpet with all the other filmmakers is a big honor,” Montagna said. 

Chris Angelis, one of the stars and director of the horror film, “Into the Static,” is thankful that his film got the green light to be shown at the festival. He and his partner, Anthony Notarile, basically put their short movie together on the fly with a shoestring budget just months ago. 

Angelis is happy to be called an alum of the festival now. 

“It means a whole lot, I’ll tell you that,” Angelis remarked. “Dances With Films is nothing but the best…We were praying to God we were going to get into this. We shot this in January for fifteen hundred dollars in our own house. We had no set. We built it all from scratch. We’re just grateful to be here.”