Festivals
Los Angeles Film School Alumni are Among the Many Celebrated at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes
The Los Angeles Film School celebrates alumni achievements with seven graduates credited in five Golden Globe-winning projects, showcasing their industry’s integral education and talent across various film and television genres.
Talented graduates make significant marks across television and film in another breakthrough year
LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ — The Los Angeles Film School kicks off the year celebrating extraordinary alumni achievements with seven alumni credited on five Golden Globe-winning projects, which won a total of nine awards.
“These accolades are a phenomenal celebration of our alumni’s diverse talent and individual contributions to the industry,” said Jackie Otero, alumni relations manager for the L.A. Film School. “Our alumni continue to prove that the hands-on, industry-integrated curriculum we’ve developed provides students with the precise skills, network, and practical experience needed to transform their creative passion into professional success.”
The impressive roster of nominated projects spans multiple genres and mediums, including “The Bear,” “Wicked,” “Shogun,” “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” “Inside Out 2,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune Part Two,” “Moana 2,” “Hacks,” “Twisters,” and more. In total, L.A. Film School alumni garnered 43 nominations, with 19 individuals credited on 17 projects for this year’s Golden Globes. This achievement alone underscores the school’s comprehensive approach to entertainment education across film, television, animation, and sound production.
Alumni featured on works that received awards during yesterday’s ceremony include:
- John Creed (recording arts, 2012) served as a dialogue editor on “Shogun,” which won the four awards it was nominated for, including best television series – drama.
- Brice Bradley (film, 2008), gaffer, Yermin (Randy) Garcia (film, 2011), key grip, and Jamiel VanOver (film, 2010), first assistant camera, all served on “Hacks,” which took home two awards, including best television series – musical or comedy.
- Mikaela Padilla (audio production, 2022) worked as a foley mixer on “Wicked,” which won for cinematic and box office achievement.
- Devon Rush (film, 2016) was a matte painter on “The Bear,” which won an award for its lead actor performance.
- Bernard Lipscomb (film, 2011) was credited as second assistant camera on “True Detective: Night Country,” which won an award for its lead actress performance.
This year’s class of winners for the 82nd Annual Golden Globes proves the Los Angeles Film School continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing creative talent that makes meaningful contributions to the global entertainment landscape.
For more information on The Los Angeles Film School or The Los Angeles Recording School, visit lafilm.edu.
About The Los Angeles Film School
The Los Angeles Film School is an accredited higher education institution located in the heart of Hollywood. The school has served the community and its students since 1999 and offers entertainment-focused Bachelor of Science degrees in Animation, Audio Production, Digital Filmmaking, Entertainment Business, Film Production, Graphic Design, Media Communications, Music Production and Writing for Film & TV; and Associate of Science degrees in Audio Production, Music Production, and Film. The campus facilities include the historic RCA Building at 6363 Sunset Boulevard and the studios at 6690 Sunset Boulevard, where students have access to industry-standard equipment, editing labs, dub stages and recording studios.
Los Angeles Film School
The school’s faculty of industry professionals have earned credits on major motion pictures, video games and music recordings. Numerous alumni have received awards at film festivals worldwide, engineered multi-platinum selling albums, and some credits include GRAMMY and Oscar nominations and wins. The school is a VA-approved institution and accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
For more information about The Los Angeles Film School, please visit www.lafilm.edu or call 323.860.0789.
SOURCE The Los Angeles Film School
New hybrid event aims to give grieving audiences meaningful holiday viewing, with films from more than 25 countries and a mission centered on love, loss, and emotional truth.
A new film festival debuting in late 2026 is taking a different approach to holiday entertainment. Grief Fest™: The Grief Film Festival, created by My Grief Angels Inc., is being introduced as what organizers believe is the world’s first film festival dedicated entirely to grief, remembrance, resilience, and healing.
The hybrid festival will run in two segments: November 25–29, 2026, during Thanksgiving week, and December 24, 2026, through January 3, 2027, during Christmas and New Year’s. Top Honors films will be announced on December 31, 2026.
Organizers say the timing is intentional. Research cited in the announcement shows that grief and loneliness are major holiday stressors for many Americans, making the season especially difficult for people coping with loss. In that context, Grief Fest™ is positioning itself as an alternative to the flood of traditional feel-good holiday programming.
The festival is open to short films, features, documentaries, experimental work, AI-generated projects, and VR experiences. It is described as inclusive, non-religious, and LGBTQ+ friendly, with submissions already received from more than 25 countries. All films will be presented in English, either spoken or subtitled.
Grief Fest™ will be available both in person and virtually through Film Festival Plus, making it accessible to audiences worldwide. The launch of GriefFest.com also includes Lumen, a multilingual AI guide designed to help filmmakers and attendees navigate the festival in their preferred language.
Rather than focusing on industry prestige, organizers say the festival is centered on community and emotionally honest storytelling. For audiences who feel unseen during the holidays, Grief Fest™ is aiming to offer something rare on the seasonal screen: recognition.
Source: PR Newswire
Related Reading
- Grief Fest: Official festival site
- My Grief Angels Inc.: About the nonprofit behind the festival
- Film Festival Plus: Virtual access platform
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MINNEAPOLIS — The powerful new documentary Come Talk to ME is set to make its big-screen debut at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), marking a significant milestone for the independently produced film centered on Parkinson’s disease, communication, and human connection.
The 2026 festival, running April 8–19, will feature more than 200 films from around the world. Come Talk to ME is scheduled for two screenings, including a meaningful premiere on April 11—World Parkinson’s Day—followed by a second showing on April 14. Both screenings will take place at the Main Cinema at Saint Anthony Main in Minneapolis.
A Story About Communication and Connection
Directed by Deacon Warner and produced by Jackie Hunt Christensen, the documentary follows Christensen, her husband Paul, and a close-knit group of friends living with Parkinson’s disease.
The film explores how communication evolves as the disease progresses, highlighting the creative and deeply human ways individuals maintain relationships—with family, friends, and healthcare providers—even as traditional speech becomes more challenging.
Christensen, diagnosed with Parkinson’s at just 34, emphasizes that the film is ultimately about preserving connection:
“Having Parkinson’s does not mean that you stop loving, caring, and feeling… communication is everything.”
Innovative Use of AI Voice Technology
One of the film’s most groundbreaking elements is its use of AI-generated narration powered by ElevenLabs.
The filmmakers recreated Christensen’s voice using archival audio recorded shortly after her diagnosis in 2000. This AI-generated voice—nicknamed “JHC2K”—serves as the primary narrator, allowing Christensen to “speak” throughout the film in a way that would otherwise be difficult due to the progression of Parkinson’s.
Director Warner called the experience both innovative and deeply personal:
“To be part of [MSPIFF’s] rich history… while also utilizing cutting-edge AI technology to set us apart from other films is incredible.”
Festival Screenings and Accessibility
Come Talk to ME will screen twice during the festival:
- Saturday, April 11 (World Parkinson’s Day) – Early afternoon (time TBD)
- Tuesday, April 14 – Late afternoon (time TBD)
Ticket pricing:
- MSP Film Society Members: $11
- General Admission: $17 (+ online fee)
- Students: $10 (with ID)
In a move aligned with the film’s mission, the April 11 screening will offer free admission (donation-based) for individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease.
The venue also provides limited wheelchair seating on a first-come, first-served basis.
A Film Seeking Broader Impact
Beyond its festival debut, Come Talk to ME is actively seeking sponsors to expand its reach and impact. The filmmakers hope to bring the documentary to wider audiences, particularly within communities affected by Parkinson’s disease.
At its core, the film delivers a powerful message: even as physical abilities change, the need for connection—and the human drive to communicate—remains constant.
Why This Film Matters
As awareness of Parkinson’s disease continues to grow, Come Talk to ME stands out as both an emotional narrative and a technological milestone. By combining personal storytelling with AI innovation, the film offers a new way to understand life with Parkinson’s—and the enduring importance of being heard.
Source and Related Links
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) Official Site
- MSP Film Society Official Website
- World Parkinson’s Day – Official Information
- Parkinson’s Foundation – Resources & Support
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
- ElevenLabs – AI Voice Technology Platform
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LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS used GDC 2026 to spotlight the next phase of its “Original IP Initiative,” outlining a proprietary development framework aimed at building high-end, original AAA games for a global audience. The studio said the initiative, first introduced at GDC 2025, now includes active development of a new globally driven blockbuster title and a more formalized system for shaping future intellectual property.
A major part of that strategy came from newly appointed Creative Director Feng Zhu, who described a structured approach to original game creation centered on strong visual identity, disciplined worldbuilding, and repeatable production methods. During his GDC session, Zhu introduced the studio’s “90:10 Balance” philosophy, where 90% of a game is grounded in real-world references like authentic locations, historical context, and realistic proportions, while the remaining 10% is used to deliver the creative hooks, tension, and storytelling elements that define the title’s identity.
LIGHTSPEED also emphasized its investment in production infrastructure, including a purpose-built in-house motion capture facility in Los Angeles. Led by Motion Capture Studio Manager Kristin Gallagher, the studio says the facility is designed to handle complex performance capture with greater efficiency, supported by a custom API and advanced technical pipeline developed jointly by teams in LA and across the company’s global network.
The announcement reinforces LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS’ broader ambition to grow beyond service and co-development work into a stronger portfolio of original blockbuster properties. Best known as a co-developer of PUBG MOBILE and the developer of the upcoming Last Sentinel, the company says its long-term focus is on delivering cinematic, culturally resonant game experiences built for players worldwide.
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