The genre industry has been overflowing with compelling documentaries and biopics, and this year’s Slamdance Film Festival in Los Angeles is no exception. With a packed lineup of documentaries, we want to assure all the filmmakers who’ve reached out—we haven’t forgotten about you. Some of the best films we saw over the summer festival season were documentaries, and with the ongoing fascination with true crime and real-life stories, the demand for these films is stronger than ever.
It’s no surprise, then, that Slamdance LA is kicking off its inaugural edition with the documentary Out of Plain Sight, directed by Roxanna Xia and Daniel Straub. The film exposes the shocking, untold story of over half a million barrels of toxic waste dumped off the Southern California coast after World War II—a crisis hidden beneath the waves for decades.
Beyond the films, Slamdance LA is introducing Market Monday, a series of industry panels designed to explore the future of distribution, theatrical exhibition, and collaborative filmmaking. One of the most anticipated discussions, “Hollywood, You’re Late,” will be live-streamed on the homepage of the Los Angeles Times. This panel will tackle accessibility in production, authentic casting, and the importance of prioritizing inclusion to reshape the industry for the better.
With so much happening at Slamdance 2025, we’ll be there in person to bring you all the coverage. The Slamdance Film Festival runs from February 20-26, so stay tuned for updates, reviews, and exclusive insights!
Slamdance Film Festival today announced that Rosanna Xia & Daniel Straub’s Out of Plain Sight will premiere as the opening night selection for their 31st edition. The opening night reception will take place on February 20th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and will be presented by Gray Whale Gin. Slamdance will take place in-person February 20-26, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA and virtually from February 24 to March 7, 2025 on the Slamdance Channel.
From Academy Award-winning L.A. Times Studios, Out of Plain Sight is a cinematic exposé that uncovers an environmental disaster off the Southern California coast – the quiet dumping of half a million barrels of toxic waste after World War II. With journalist Rosanna Xia and scientist David Valentine, the film unravels a historic cover-up still haunting the world today.
“To have Slamdance champion an environmental documentary as its opening act truly speaks to the spirit of the said director, producer, and Los Angeles Times environmental reporter Rosanna Xia. “It is so meaningful to kick off the festival’s first year here in Los Angeles with a story that has haunted me for years – and that unravels so many interconnected layers within Southern California and beyond.”
Through Slamdance’s partnership with L.A.Times Studios, a panel titled HOLLYWOOD, YOU’RE LATE: Demystifying Disability & The Accessibility Wake-Up Call will be live-streaming to the homepage of the Los Angeles Times during the festival. The panel will discuss how accessibility makes film productions smoother rather than harder, why casting authentically leads to stronger films and better performances, and how prioritizing inclusion will break new ground and reshape the industry for the better. The panel will be moderated by Jim LeBrecht with featured panelists including Marissa Bode, Ariel Simms, Natasha Ofili, Juliet Romeo, and Kaitlyn Yang.
Slamdance also announced multiple initiatives organized by Polytechnic, Slamdance’s free-to-attend education program. Slamdance Polytechnic provides an accessible educational platform, merging technology and craft for emerging filmmakers guided by industry professionals, media partnerships, and alumni. Polytechnic is supported by a number of local community partners including AGBO, ARRAY Learning & Education, Compton Unified School District, Harvard-Westlake School, Occidental College, and the University of Southern California.
A feature of Polytechnic this year will be Market Monday. Given the recent turbulence in our city and Industry, Market Monday seeks to bring the LA film community together, involving a day of panels focused on renewal, refreshing distribution, promoting theatrical exhibition as well as fostering collaboration, not competition. Panels include “Past to Present Context,” “What is Working Now,” “Recent Filmmaker Experience” and “Accessibility, the Write Way.” Market Monday is formed by industry professionals and programmed by Filmmakers Distribution Collective founders Annalisa Shoemaker, Albert Berger, and Barbara Twist.
Slamdance Polytechnic also announced Cine/Vation, a networking mixer that will act as an educational initiative for film schools across California. The inaugural symposium, hosted by Diana Keeler, will see cinema clubs from different universities coming together in a collaborative effort to strengthen and educate the community of young up-and-coming filmmakers. Participating schools include Pepperdine University, Occidental College, University of Southern California (USC), The Los Angeles Film School, Ghetto Film School, New York Film Academy, Loyola Marymount University, and Mt. San Antonio College.
Slamdance 2025’s Polytechnic programming also features the Teens Tell Stories program which provides aspiring storytellers with the skills, guidance, and opportunities to bring their creative ideas to life. Held during the festival’s opening weekend, Award-winning writer Beverly Neufeld will lead the workshops and be accompanied by alumni and industry professionals.
Passes are now sold out for the anticipated festival but individual tickets for films and programming are still available and can be purchased through the Slamdance Film Festival 2025 app. Registration for Slamdance Polytechnic programming is free and available to the public.
“We are proud of our LA roots and honored to work with amazing partners to lift and support the LA filmmaking community as well as emerging artists from schools across LA county during these tumultuous times,” stated festival founder Peter Baxter. “Through collaboration, our extensive Polytechnic programming offers accessible events that will make a direct impact on LA’s vibrant film scene.”
Educational programming presented at Slamdance 2025 is made geographically and physically accessible by support from Easterseals Community and Disability Services.
Additionally, Slamdance has announced the launch of its First Feature Podcast on February 18th which explores how to make, premiere, and distribute a first feature film through intimate interviews with today’s great filmmakers. With an aim to give back and support independent filmmakers, Slamdance’s First Feature Podcast demystifies the process and the first feature film. Hosted by fellow Slamdance alumni filmmakers and festival programmers Michael Gallagher and Jana Gallagher (Funny Story), the podcast will feature interviews with Slamdance alumni Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou (Take Out), The Russo Brothers (Pieces), Azazel Jacobs (Nobody Needs to Know), Dana Nachman (Witch Hunt) and many more. A live recording of the First Feature Podcast will be held during the festival.
Additional programming includes musical guests at Slamdance with performances by Spaghetti Cumbia as well as a celebration of visual art with the Uhaul Gallery art show - highlighting a group of local Los Angeles artists.
Presenting sponsors for the 31st annual Slamdance Film Festival are L.A. Times Studios, Lumix, and Quixote. Slamdance’s disability inclusion partner is Easterseals. Additional sponsors include Cast & Crew, Directors Guild of America, Eventive, First Entertainment Credit Union, Oklahoma Film Office, Pessah Law Group, and NBC Universal Launch.
Tickets for the 31st annual Slamdance Film Festival and its programs can be found online at https://www.slamdance.com and through the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival app available wherever you download apps.
Online access to the festival and its film program can be found at https://www.slamdancechannel.com.
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