City of Angels Film Festival adds First Entertainment Credit Union as sponsor

City of Angels Film Festival named First Entertainment Credit Union an official sponsor for its Oct. 22-26 run in Hollywood, tying a local financial institution to a festival built around filmmakers, writers and industry networking. The partnership also includes a public film-finance panel and luncheon ahead of the event.

Why it matters: - The sponsorship links a Hollywood-based credit union with a film festival that serves filmmakers and writers. - The partnership adds support for a four-day event that includes screenings, Q&As, networking and industry panels. - The collaboration also extends beyond the festival itself with a public film-finance event before opening day.

What happened: - City of Angels Film Festival named First Entertainment Credit Union an official sponsor for this year’s festival. - The festival runs Oct. 22-26 in Hollywood. - The festival takes place at the Eastwood Performing Arts Center. - First Entertainment Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution headquartered in Hollywood. - The credit union supports creators in the entertainment industry.

The details: - Festival founder and director Lisa K. Crosato said the festival was delighted to add a financial partner that understands filmmakers and writers. - Meyoung Spektor, senior director for growth and partnerships at First Entertainment, said the credit union is proud to support festivals that share its mission of supporting filmmakers and creative communities. - City of Angels Film Festival says the event welcomes filmmakers and writers from around the world. - The festival schedule includes screenings followed by filmmaker Q&As, networking events and industry panels. - City of Angels Film Festival is IMDb qualifying. - The festival says it is among the top 1% best-reviewed festivals in the world. - The festival is accepting submissions on FilmFreeway through Sept. 20 for films of all lengths and genres and scripts of all lengths and genres. - First Entertainment and City of Angels Film Festival plan an exclusive panel on film finance and a luncheon the week before the festival launches. - The panel and luncheon will be held in the community room at First Entertainment’s Burbank location. - The pre-festival event will be complimentary and open to the public. - The Red-Carpet Awards Gala is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26, at the Harmony Gold Theater on Sunset Blvd. - Tickets for the awards gala are on sale through the City of Angels website.

Between the lines: - The sponsorship underscores how film festivals are increasingly tied to industry access, not just screenings. - A finance-focused panel suggests the festival is leaning into one of the hardest parts of independent filmmaking: raising and managing money. - The Burbank event and public access signal that the partnership is meant to reach beyond festival attendees and into the broader creative community.

What's next: - City of Angels Film Festival will release more details on the timing of the pre-festival panel and luncheon. - The festival will continue accepting film and script submissions until Sept. 20. - The festival will hold its four-day run Oct. 22-26 in Hollywood. - The awards gala will close the festival on Oct. 26.