By Valerie Milano and Teri Kinne
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/8/25 – The Film Festival at Hollywood Park lit up Inglewood last night as the inaugural edition of the reimagined festival (formerly the DTLA Film Festival) welcomed stars, filmmakers, and cinephiles to its Opening Night Red Carpet. The Hollywood Times was proud to be on site as a media partner, with Publisher Valerie Milano and contributor Teri Kinne representing the publication amidst the glitz, excitement, and cinematic celebration.
The evening began with a bustling Red Carpet at the stunning Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, the festival’s home inside Hollywood Park. Filmmakers, cast members, and industry guests posed for cameras and greeted the press in a lively celebration that signaled the festival’s arrival as a major new player on the Los Angeles cultural calendar.
The festival’s commitment to diversity in cinema was on full display, both in its programming and in the voices featured on opening night. “There’s a sense of something new happening here,” Milano noted. “It feels like the spirit of DTLA has been carried forward, but with the scale and vision of Hollywood Park elevating it to another level.”
Following the Red Carpet, audiences gathered for the highly anticipated Opening Night Film, Sergio Vizuete’s Becoming Vera. The indie drama, which currently holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, has earned widespread acclaim for its emotional resonance and breakout performance by Raquel Lebish.
The film follows Vera, an 18-year-old pianist aging out of foster care in Miami, who rediscovers her voice and identity through music. Critics have praised Lebish’s performance as “subtle, honest, and deeply affecting,” and last night’s Los Angeles premiere only reinforced the film’s reputation as one of the year’s most stirring independent dramas.
Festival Director Greg Ptacek reflected on the choice: “Becoming Vera embodies the artistry and perspective we aim to elevate. It’s about finding strength through creativity, and that makes it the perfect story to open this new chapter for our festival.”
The weeklong festival, running October 6–12, features more than 50 narrative and documentary premieres. Highlights include:
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Centerpiece Film: Harry Locke IV’s horror-drama Kaishaku, starring Stefanie Estes, Alyshia Ochse, Rob Kirkland, and Robbie Allen.
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Star-Studded Premieres: Animals in War with Sean Penn; Room to Move with Amy Schumer; Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story with Gabriel Byrne and Jessie Buckley; Gallagher, featuring Robin Riker, Howie Mandel, Jimmy Kimmel, and Carrot Top; and Ugly Little Monkeys, with Linda Ronstadt and produced by Edward James Olmos.
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Special Sidebar: A tribute to Oscar-winning filmmaker Charles Burnett, including screenings of The Annihilation of Fish (James Earl Jones, Lynn Redgrave) and The Glass Shield (Ice Cube, Lori Petty, Michael Boatman, Richard Anderson).
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Special Premiere: Once Within A Time, produced by Steven Soderbergh.
The festival will close on October 12 with Clint Eastwood: A Life in Film, making its U.S. film festival premiere. The documentary offers an intimate portrait of the living legend, shot at his Carmel ranch, and marks a rare chance for audiences to see Eastwood reflecting on his legacy.
In addition to Opening Night, audiences can look forward to a Red-Carpet event for the Centerpiece film on Friday, October 10, and a Closing Night celebration on Sunday, October 12.
With its bold programming and glamorous Hollywood Park setting, the festival is positioning itself as a must-attend event for film lovers and industry insiders alike. The Hollywood Times will continue to bring coverage throughout the week, spotlighting the stories, filmmakers, and stars that make this festival a dynamic addition to Los Angeles’ cultural landscape.
Red carpet interviews here:
Read our review here: Becoming Vera Opens Hollywood Park Film Festival with Heartfelt Power – Hollywood Times
For full schedule and ticket information, visit hollywoodparkfilmfest.com.
