Have you ever been to a movie festival?

If you live in or around Los Angeles, you have the chance to go to several every years - and one of the best is the South East European Film Festival (SEEFest) running from May 1 to May 8 at various locations throughout the city.

South East Europe has been the pivot of Europe for many centuries. The conflicts in this region sparked World War I with the assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne in 1914. At the end of World War II, much of the region came under the control of the USSR. When the USSR collapsed, it throw the region into chaos.

This year’s festival, the 14th, will explore the theme of cinematic audacity by drawing attention to South East European filmmakers whose works grapple with complex existential, ethical, and historical questions in innovative and provocative ways. DO NOT LET THIS SCARE YOU - the movies may be about complex subjects but they are all entertaining - and will bring you to a world worth knowing.

SEEfest presents internationally acclaimed films, art installations, film retrospectives, literary salons, and other events. The festival begins with the Opening Night Gala and ends with a Closing Night Gala, and in between enjoy a variety of shorts, documentaries, feature films, and special screenings.

Festival passes are now on sale and provide entry into all films and events during the eight-day festival. SEEfest Cine-Fan members enjoy a 20% discount on season passes and single tickets.

This year’s SEEfest theme art design is by Elyas Beria.

More information is available online: seefilmla.org.