Michele StuevenJustine Bateman’s No-AI Credo23 Film Festival returns on Friday, March 27, through Sunday, March 29, celebrating bold independent cinema created without the use of artificial intelligence
Opening night kicks off with a red-carpet champagne reception followed by screenings. Noah Wiley, Sean Baker, and Matthew Weiner are attending. Founded by filmmaker Justine Bateman, the three-day festival features new films from the U.S., Australia, Hong Kong, and Canada, including multiple world premieres.
This year introduces a Filmmaker Forum with award-winning guests, including Sean Baker, Matthew Weiner, and Cassian Elwes. The festival will feature screenings, filmmaker discussions, and opportunities for audiences to engage directly with the creative community. All net festival proceeds are granted to the accepted filmmakers.
“There’s a 40% decrease in film work overall, 60% reduction in Los Angeles itself since normal pre-2020 levels,” Bateman tells LA Weekly. Experienced department heads are leaving the business, greatly affecting the apprentice-based structure of the business. In other words, new people in the business are not learning from the experienced ones now, because so many of them are being forced to leave the business.”
“The studios capitulated our foundational financial structure years ago and joined the tech companies in their focus on churning out as much ‘content’ as possible,” she says. “They lost their focus on making great films and series, in favor of joining the ‘content conveyor belt.’ That shift in focus has caused them to reach for the implementation of AI in films, because generative AI allows them to automate the churning out of “content.
Crystal Cross (Courtesy Credo23 Film Festival)
“In the meantime, there are many of us filmmakers focused on making great films and moving the creative ball down the field, ” says Bateman. “We will continue. Regardless of what happens with those who are using AI, we real filmmakers aren’t just suddenly going to stop making films. We are in the film business. These others are in the “AI Video Prompting Business.” They are two entirely different things. “
For more information and tickets, visit here.
VinylCon! is returning to Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22 at the California Market Center, following last summer’s debut that drew more than 2,500 collectors, DJs, producers, and music enthusiasts through the door.
The second edition is shaping up to be even bigger, with close to 100 dealers from across the U.S. and abroad, including several international sellers traveling specifically for the event. It will also feature a full weekend soundtrack of vinyl DJ sets curated by Skeme Richards, special activations, food, and bar programming.
Courtesy VinylCon!
The inaugural LA edition welcomed more than 2,500 people, featured 80+ dealers from across the country and abroad (including international sellers from Japan and Holland), and was widely praised by collectors, DJs, and music lovers alike, referring to it as “the largest record fair in California that anyone can remember.” In addition to vendors, the show will once again feature a full lineup of vinyl DJs curated by DJ and collector Richards.
The Venice Fest returns with its annual Venice Love Fest, taking place for the first time at Venice Beach directly beneath the legendary Venice sign on Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. What began as a grassroots community gathering has grown into a city-supported movement uniting the community through music, wellness, food, art, and local business activation.
Highlights include:
- Four immersive stages of live programming and more than 20 emerging local artists, plus surprise guest performances sponsored by BeachLife, as well as:
- • A Fitness & Wellness Stage
- • A Main Stage at Windward Plaza• A Kid & Family Stage
- • A DJ VIP Garden Stage
- • 300+ locally made brands and artists
- • Experiential brand activations and interactive installations
- • LA’s top food trucks and neighborhood restaurant partnerships
- • Full street closures surrounding Windward Circle and the Venice sign
Courtesy VinylCon!