‘Jesus Land’ Starring Ella Anderson & Juliette Lewis to Open LA Femme Film Festival

Director Saila Kariat and cast host West Coast premiere and Q&A in Sherman Oaks.

The 22nd LA Femme International Film Festival will open Thursday, October 22, 2026, with the West Coast premiere of Jesus Land. Written and directed by Saila Kariat, the film stars Juliette Lewis (Cape Fear, Yellowjackets) and Ella Anderson (Song Sung Blue, Conviction). Sponsored by SAG-AFTRA, the opening-night screening begins at 7 p.m. at the Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria, followed by an in-person Q&A with Kariat and the cast. Over the past two decades, LA Femme has championed female storytellers, supporting the careers of more than 3,000 women writers, directors, and producers worldwide.

Watch the Official Trailer

Story Behind Jesus Land

Adapted from Julia Scheeres’ New York Times bestselling memoir, Jesus Land tells the story of a young girl and her adopted brother confronting religious extremism, racism, and abuse in 1980s rural Indiana. Their hardship escalates when they are sent to a brutal reform school in the Dominican Republic, where their unbreakable sibling bond serves as their lifeline through isolation and trauma.

Alongside Lewis and Anderson, the ensemble cast features Kristian Bruun (Orphan Black, The Recruit), Kelly Sullivan (General Hospital), Xavier Jones (Chicago P.D., Extraction), Bryce Johnson (Pretty Little Liars), and Nikki Roumel (Ginny & Georgia). Additional preview materials and context can be found on the film’s official website.

A History of Honoring Industry Trailblazers

Running from October 22 through October 25, 2026, the four-day festival showcases 110 films—encompassing narrative features, documentary features, short films, music videos, and an animated shorts competition sponsored by TMS Entertainment. Screenings will be hosted at Regal Cinemas at the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

The festival concludes with an awards ceremony on Sunday, October 25, at the Harmony Gold Theater in Hollywood. During the ceremony, actress Mena Suvari will receive the Humanitarian Award in recognition of her advocacy for global health, environmental conservation, and animal welfare through her ambassadorship with Amref. Writer and director Rachel Feldman will be honored with the Visionary Award for her body of work and ongoing dedication to expanding opportunities for women in Hollywood.

Special Screenings and  Industry Panels

The festival program also spotlights major special screenings. On Saturday, October 24, at 7 p.m., Regal Cinemas will host a screening and Q&A for Here’s Yianni!, written and directed by Christina Eliopoulos and starring Julia Ormond, Joe Cortese, Kevin Pollak, Rosanna Arquette, and Sofia Vassilieva. On Sunday, October 25, at 12:00 p.m., the festival presents a fundraiser screening of the documentary We Are Animals, directed by Kirk Murray and Nicholas Tana and produced by Lady Freethinker founder Nina Jackel, featuring interviews with Moby, Nikki Glaser, Allison Pill, and Peter Singer.

In addition, attendees can participate in six industry panels addressing timely topics such as AI in film financing and distribution, pitching projects, vertical filmmaking, short film launches, and diversity initiatives. Reflecting its expanding global footprint, LA Femme also operates a European sister festival in Budapest, Hungary, continuing its mission to connect and empower women content creators worldwide.