A Night Out in the City of Angels
There are a million and one ways to spend a Sunday night. You could watch a movie, cozy up with a new book, or attend the 2024 City of Angels Women’s Film Festival Gala. (They recently changed the name to City of Angels Film Festival) Just a few options.
My first short film Young People, shows a college relationship tested by the challenges of loss. As the saying goes, hurt people hurt people.
I made Young People in 2023 for the annual Reel Loud Film & Arts Festival at UC Santa Barbara. The festival features silent films with a live accompaniment of their score played on stage. I won the Scott Wells Golden Reel Award that night and thanked the Academy when I gave my speech on stage. Super classy, cool, original :).
So, back to the City of Angels Film Festival. After a weekend chock-full of amazing screenings, the festival honored its attendees with a Sunday night gala where press and interviews awaited and awards were on the horizon. My film Young People was submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway in their “short, short films category”; films 10 minutes or less. It screened on a Thursday during the 2:15 pm block. You can imagine how packed that theater was. My supporters still came through:).
At the gala, I gave interviews on a red carpet and was snapped by paparazzi! I felt a mix of excitement and peace swirling within me like sand churning and settling with the ocean waves.
Taking a seat for the award show felt like picking a spot in a classroom. Sitting too close to the front made you look too eager, like a teacher’s pet, but sitting in the back made you seem too cool for school. I think we picked a happy medium. I watched as writers, directors, producers, and actors ascended the stairs to collect their shining statues.
Then, all too fast, the ‘short, shorts category’ commenced and ended in a flash, onto the next.
It was a weird feeling. I wasn’t expecting a win, but suddenly in a millisecond a moment of consciousness overtook me, the possibility of winning was tangible, the award was there, spotlit, golden, and then it was gone in a flash. I didn’t win.
I was disappointed, and yet as I sat there, slowly relaxing back into my seat, I realized something. I held my boyfriend’s hand, looked around, and thought, “Wow, I got myself here. Here. A film festival in Los Angeles. I made a film that resonates with people and I’ve met some awesome filmmakers and watched some seriously moving films. That is enough. This is enough”, and I smiled and clapped for the winners, and then out of the blue, the remaining surprise categories were revealed.
“‘Best First Time Director…Young People, Brooke Westphal’” said Lisa K. Crosato, actress and COAFF Festival Director. I was shocked. Completely. I had the wits to fix my dress, and ecstatically, with shaking hands covering my slack jaw, made my way to the stage. The exhilaration!
The rest of the night was a sparkly, gorgeous blur. We celebrated in Joaquin Phoenix-Mara Rooney style, at In n Out, of course.
Now, a few weeks out from the event, I am reflecting on the night and I couldn’t be more grateful. I had an amazing time at my first film festival in Hollywood meeting talented filmmakers and watching their incredible movies. And I am so proud of myself for winning this award!
I’d like to conclude with this thought: During the filmmaker panel following my film block, the festival director described our films as 'soul-centered.' I can’t think of a better way to capture the essence of my first film and this festival. Thank you, and cheers to many more.
Thanks for reading!
You can find out more about my film Young People here.
