The newish festival, co-founded by Micah Gottlieb and Sarah Winshall in 2024, is set to take place April 9-12. It will open with John Early’s directorial debut, Maddie’s Secret, and close with Sophy Romvari’s Blue Heron. Co-presented by Kino Film Collection and Mezzanine, Lafm will roll out a program of more than 25 films, including two world premieres, three U.S. premieres and six West Coast premieres along with featured artist talks that are still being finalized.
Magnolia Pictures’ Maddie’s Secret, which will screen at Vidiots’ Eagle Theatre on April 9, stars Early opposite Kate Berlant, Vanessa Bayer and Conner O’Malley. Early, who wrote and directed, also stars as the title character, Maddie Ralph, a food influencer who is secretly struggling with the return of an adolescent eating disorder. The Lafm showing follows a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.