The PennZone

LOS ANGELES - PennZone -- LA's Rich & Successful Film Festival (RSFF) closed its fourth edition this past weekend, September 10–13, with sold-out screenings, spirited panels, and a slate that highlighted several of the most exciting voices in contemporary independent cinema.

Founded in 2021 by filmmakers and friends Nir Liebenthal, Jeremy Roth-Rose, Dylan Trupiano, and Noah Morse, RSFF has grown into one of Los Angeles' premier platforms for emerging talent. The leadership team has since expanded to include film/TV executive Page Brady, solidifying the festival's five directors. The latest iteration of RSFF featured celebrated works from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Davis and acclaimed music video director RJ Sanchez. Rising star Michael Gandolfini (Warfare, The Many Saints of Newark) stole the show in Emma Weinswig's Ben's Sister, and Gotham TV Award winner Zine Tseng (3 Body Problem) captivated audiences in Jean Liu's Learning English.

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Director Valentina Garrett, whose film Madonna Mia screened at RSFF4 after being banned in the Vatican for its bold political commentary, praised the festival for both its curatorial excellence and its passionate community: "RSFF is one of the best festivals I have ever been a part of. They are able to make an intimate and friendly space in a massive city that sometimes divides us through comparison and competition. Being a part of this festival has given me some more fuel to keep going."

In collaboration with the American Cinematheque, this year's festival drew sold-out crowds across such iconic venues as the Egyptian Theatre and Los Feliz 3, with partners such as Shotdeck, Kodak, and Seed&Spark hosting sponsor-led workshops. Guests included executives and creatives from A24, Netflix, Fox Searchlight, UTA, WME, and beyond. The program also included the Los Angeles premiere of award-winning documentary American Theater (dir. Nicholas Clark and Dylan Frederick), which opened the festival to much fanfare and acclaim.

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"We were thrilled by not only the quality of films we had the privilege of screening this year, but the enthusiastic turnout," says Head of Growth Jeremy Roth-Rose. "Audience members ranged from established industry executives to local medical students just in the market for some Saturday night entertainment. It further cements our belief that there is not only a current appetite for independent films, but there's also a viable future for them, too."

Stay tuned to @rsffla on Instagram for more information on future iterations of the Rich & Successful Film Festival.

About RSFF
RSFF is an artist-centered, community-driven film festival based in Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2021, the festival has helped springboard the careers of filmmakers including Oscar-nominated director Sean Wang (Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó) and music video director Jackie! Zhou (Chappell Roan's "Hot To Go!"). Through curated programming, year-round support and events, RSFF is reimagining what it means to be "rich and successful" in independent film.