No Politics. No Stars. No Sh*t.” It’s Time for Dances With Films 2026

DWF 2026: Los Angeles’ Largest Independent Film Festival Returns

Dances With Films (DWF), Los Angeles’ largest independent film festival, begins this week on Thursday, June 18, at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Running through Sunday, June 28, the festival operates under the defiant slogan “No Politics. No Stars. No Sh*t.” and features an expansive lineup of 279 films. This year’s selections include 36 World Premieres of narrative and documentary features, alongside four North American premieres.

This year’s expansive lineup features 279 films, including 36 World Premieres of narrative and documentary features, along with four North American premieres. Go to the festival website for ticketing and information HERE.

Opening Night Premiere ‘ YALE’

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 PM with the World Premiere of YALE, directed by Jay Silverman and written by Van Billet. Based on a true story regarding the writer’s maternal grandfather, the film stars Caitlin McGee, Kevin Dunn, and Rachael Harris. It follows Mackenzie “Mac” Mitchell, an alcoholic who must reunite with her estranged father, Yale, to save her son’s life through a kidney transplant. The journey takes a shocking turn when Yale reveals he has eight other secret families, leading to an epic road trip to find a matching donor among her half-siblings.

Closing Night Thriller ‘TENDER’

The festival concludes on Sunday, June 28 at 7:30 PM with the World Premiere of TENDER, a paranoid thriller starring Jess Weixler and Jesse Garcia. The story centers on a married couple drowning in debt who find a potential salvation within the walls of their home, only for their hope to curdle into obsession, suspicion, and psychological collapse.

Must-Watch Documentaries: Tiki Culture, L.A. Wildfire Survivors, and Altadena History

• Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession (June 20, 8:00 PM): This Los Angeles Premiere explores the history and resurgence of Tiki culture, emphasizing California’s role in the movement. It features appearances by Kate Flannery, Todd Rundgren, and the artist SHAG.

• Where We Played: Voices from the Fire (June 23, 6:00 PM): Directed by Nat Wolff and Austin Cauldwell, this documentary captures the firsthand accounts of children who experienced the devastating 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

• Beneath the Ashes: The Past Reimagined (June 27, 11:30 AM): A World Premiere documentary focused on the aftermath of the Eaton Fire and the fight to preserve the historic Black community legacy of Altadena.

Indie Psychological Thrillers: Mädchen Amick Directs ‘FRACTURED’

Fractured (June 25, 8:30 PM): Directed by Mädchen Amick and starring Emmy winner Julia Ormond and Bruce Dern, this World Premiere psychological thriller follows a woman forced to confront childhood trauma when an infamous ex-boyfriend reappears.

Sci-Fi & AI Dramas: ‘HEARTWORM’ and the Future of Immersive Tech

Heartworm (June 21, 4:00 PM): Filmed on Martha’s Vineyard, this near-future drama explores grief and memory as a mother (Amber Gray) tries to pull her family back from NeuraLife, a fully immersive AI world that promises infinite comfort.

Gen Z & Coming-of-Age: Murder Mysteries and Gritty Dramas

• The Reverb (June 27, 4:00 PM): A World Premiere Gen Z murder mystery pilot created by sisters Jordan and Janie Ruttert, centering on the turbulent link between a college student and a rock star suspected of killing his bandmate.

• American Flake (June 27, 8:15 PM): A gritty coming-of-age drama about Gale, a small-town burnout struggling with the death of his mother while becoming obsessively fixated on a missing bag of American Flakes chips.

Additional Narrative & Short Film Highlights

COIN (June 23, 8:45 PM): A World Premiere about two friends who launch a viral cryptocurrency to save a childhood park, only to be targeted by a political fixer.

• Hekla (June 23, 6:30 PM): A Chicago-set comedy/drama following a determined actress (Elizabeth Stam) navigating a hectic day of auditions and self-doubt.

• Again Again (June 24 & 27): This California Premiere tells the story of Agatha, who finally breaks out of a ten-year time loop to face an unknown future.

• Pittsburgh (June 26, 4:00 PM): Set in 1979, a 9-year-old girl rerouted to Pittsburgh must survive a night in the care of a boozy stewardess and a hard-nosed granny.

• Still Mine (June 26, 5:00 PM): Screening in the Unleashed Shorts Block, this drama follows a woman confronting her past after learning she lived with a misdiagnosis for 15 years.
• Muffled (June 27, 11:00 PM): A World Premiere mystery where true crime enthusiasts investigating a cold case encounter sinister creepypastas and occult rituals

All screenings will take place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. Tickets available on the festival website DancesWithFilms.com.