It’s the month of May in the mountains, and it’s all about pristine views, sensational weather, and five days of quirky mostly independent films pulled from all over the world.
Okay, so Mammoth isn’t usually known for its film culture, but the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is one of the biggest festivals of its kind in the country. For a whole week, guests come to ponder peculiar indie projects, see special premiers of soon-to-be classics, and enjoy the presence of some of the leading filmmakers today. Our Mammoth townhome rentals make it easy to be right near the action.
When is the Festival?
The film festival begins on May 23rd and continues to May 27th. This marks 2019’s Memorial Day holiday weekend. This is also the 5th year for the festival, which hopes to continue its streak of earning MovieMaker’s “Top 50 Film Festival’s Worth Your Entry Fee” for the fourth year in a row.
What is it Like?
The Mammoth Lakes Film Festival, or MLFF, contributes to the lively film community as a whole by showcasing films and shorts in a myriad number of genres and styles. The film festival specializes in displaying work from emerging and established filmmakers, often inviting filmmakers for discussions and events following the showing of their film. They can engage with the audience directly, allowing visitors a look into their method and thoughts on filmmaking.
The festival also allows for some interesting industry developments. Industry leaders attend the event to find new films for a studio, provide mentorship, and get enthusiastic filmmakers an opportunity to excel in the industry.
Ultimately, the film festival is a showcase for serious talent. Visitors can see special premiers of some dazzling new independent films before they hit a wider release. There’s also a jury, handpicked from the industry, to review top films and award prizes valued at over $40,000.
What Films are Showing?
The film schedule is extensive, featuring about 60 different films in total. The genres vary tremendously, giving all visitors a chance to handpick their top selections while also stepping outside their comfort zone.
The Mammoth Film Festival typically divides all films into one of three main categories: narrative, documentary, and short. Awards are given for the top film in each category. But from there, the styles vary widely, including buzzworthy titles from top independent studios and even films without any distribution or publishing. Previous highlights included the dazzling indie darling, Damsel, starring Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska’s highly-acclaimed Love, Gilda.
You can see as many films as you desire, always returning back to the local Mammoth mountain townhomes in a short time. Our townhomes are right, well, in town.
What Else is at the Festival?
Aside from the highlight of the film festival, the films, you can also get a window into the community and culture of independent film. The filmmaker lounge is open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and it allows attendees to interact with filmmakers, writers, and everyone in between in a casual setting.
There are also numerous after-screening parties- four in total. There’s an Opening Night Gala on May 23rd, a Filmmakers Happy Hour May 24th, a Filmmakers Bash May 26th, and the Closing Night party on May 27th. All events can be attended independently, with tickets available at the door or online.
How Much is It?
Movie passes are available for $99 per person. This includes the special opening and closing night screening. The movie pass price includes 10 total screenings. There is also a VIP Pass available. This gives you access to all four party events, as well as entrance to the filmmaker lounge.
Where Can You Stay?
Many visitors travel from Los Angeles, just five hours away, to see the top films of the year, while others come from across the world. Either way, you need a place to stay.
You can stay at one of our Mammoth mountain vacation rentals. Winter visitors use our deluxe condos for skiing, but warm weather visitors are looking for something a bit different. Film, art, and culture are all big parts of what makes Mammoth so special all year round.
Come to Mammoth for the Mammoth Film Festival. Stay for the radiant views and top-quality lodging in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
