A gathering of gamers, jailhouse catharsis, and an immigrant struggling to connect were among the subjects of the New Filmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) InFocus: Veteran Cinema program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The October NFMLA event also featured the world premiere of writer-director Stephen Takashima\u2019s feature narrative Don\u2019t Kill My Vibe.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The day began with October Shorts, <\/em>an eclectic mix of comedy and drama, animation and live action that included meditations on belonging, self-expression, family, office politics, and dreaming big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n it continued with the Veteran Cinema Shorts, <\/em>which spotlighted the talent of military veterans in front of and behind the camera. The screenings included stories of mental health, support, and community.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The night concluded with Don\u2019t Kill My Vibe<\/em>, Takashima’s feature directorial, about a raucous road trip for two old friends who find themselves in a treacherous situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n NFMLA showcases films<\/a> by filmmakers of all backgrounds throughout the year, across both general and InFocus programming. All filmmakers are welcome and encouraged to submit their projects for consideration for upcoming NFMLA Festivals<\/a>, regardless of the schedule for InFocus programming, which celebrates representation by spotlighting various communities of filmmakers as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. This project is made possible in part by grant support from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe League Of Warriors,\u201d directed by Daniel Jordan Montenegro<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n About Daniel: <\/strong>Daniel Montenegro\u2019s passion for cinema ignited at an early age, fueled by the grandeur of the big screen. He spent his childhood in Phoenix during the 1990s, a time and place where resources for aspiring filmmakers were scarce and industry connections hard to come by. With limited opportunities available, he ultimately enlisted in the United States Army. He believes his military service profoundly enriched his life: He met people from diverse backgrounds and forged lasting friendships. Daniel finds joy in every facet of filmmaking, particularly the collaborative synergy of each department that brings a film to life. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Film Production with a concentration from The Los Angeles Film School, and later pursued a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production at Full Sail University. His ambition is to grow continually as a director, crafting narrative films that resonate with audiences worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n About \u201cThe League Of Warriors\u201d<\/strong>: Sixteen of the world’s top gamers battle over two intense days in Palm Springs, California’s prestigious League of Warriors for fame, honor and glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch the NFMLA interview with Daniel Montenegro, the director of \u201cThe League Of Warriors\u201d: <\/p>\n\n\n\n