The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival has set its 2027 run for February 12 to March 10, 2027, close to four weeks of independent features, documentaries, and shorts based at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The film program and tickets are listed as coming soon.
HRIFF, as it is known, got its start at the New Beverly Cinema and now calls itself the longest-running festival event held at L.A. Live. Its FilmFreeway listing counts 28 years running. Here is what the festival has posted as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, February 12, through Wednesday, March 10, 2027 |
| Where | L.A. Live, 800 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015, plus additional screenings at other Los Angeles cinemas |
| Program | Independent features, documentaries, shorts, and more. Film program coming soon |
| Tickets | Coming soon |
| Scale | FilmFreeway lists attendance of 30,000 and about 200 projects selected |
| Official site | hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com |
What’s screening
The 2027 lineup has not been announced. The festival’s final submission deadline is January 8, 2027, and filmmakers are notified January 20, about three weeks before opening. Its submission categories cover U.S. and world cinema features and shorts across drama, comedy, documentary, animation, horror, sci-fi, thriller and action, LGBTQ, experimental, and student work, along with web series, VR projects, podcasts, and a screenplay contest.
HRIFF describes its mission as screening new feature films, documentaries, shorts, and videos by filmmakers working outside the studio system.
Past winners worth knowing
The festival points to a run of Best Picture winners that went on to Oscar nominations:
- 2014: The Act of Killing
- 2015: Force Majeure
- 2016: Trumbo
It also lists the Oscar winners The Lady in Number 6 and Mr. Hublot among its alumni, and has presented Award of Excellence honors to names including Peter O’Toole, Warren Beatty, Vanessa Redgrave, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Elaine May, and Harry Dean Stanton.
Stargazing, with a grain of salt
HRIFF leans hard on its guest list. The festival names past guests and attendees including Pierce Brosnan, Sharon Stone, Jamie Foxx, Hilary Duff, Joe Mantegna, Laura Prepon, and Lin Shaye. Those are past editions, though. No 2027 guests have been announced, so do not plan your trip around a celebrity sighting until the festival says who is coming.
Passes and tickets
Tickets and the film program are both marked “coming soon” on the festival’s homepage.
Venues
- L.A. Live, 800 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015. The festival calls it its host venue.
- Additional venues: the festival mentions screenings at historic cinemas across Los Angeles, and its FilmFreeway page lists four additional venues. Names have not been posted for 2027.
How to plan
- It is a long festival. At nearly four weeks, you do not need to block out a vacation. Pick the programs that interest you once the schedule is out.
- Watch the calendar in late January. Selected filmmakers are notified January 20, so check back for the schedule after that.
- Sign up for the mailing list on the festival’s homepage for screening news.
Still to come
The film program, schedule, ticket prices, the additional venues, 2027 guests, and parking, transit, and accessibility details have not been announced. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are released.
Sources
- Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, official site (2027 dates, history, past winners and guests)
- Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival on FilmFreeway (venue, years running, key stats, deadlines, categories)
Featured photo: SWF Photography via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
