For decades, filmmakers have been hindered by a lack of financing and the high cost of technical resources. However, in 2025, we find ourselves in an era where almost any filmmaker with a vision can pick up a cell phone and create a feature film.

Celebrating Lunar New Year 2025—the year of the Snake—filmmakers Michael Idemoto, Chris Chan Lee, and Quentin Lee—pioneers of the Asian American New Wave Class of 1997 cinematic movement—are now launching Dogma LA 25, a manifesto aimed at liberating filmmakers from financial and technical inequities. While renewing their bond as members of the Class of 1997, Dogma LA 25 also serves as a global call to action for independent filmmakers everywhere.

In the spirit of United Artists, formed over a century ago, ten Los Angeles-based filmmakers have officially signed Dogma LA 25 into action on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at filmmaker Quentin Lee’s private residence. 

Films shot anywhere in the world may be certified by Dogma LA 25 by completing an affidavit of manifesto adherence, uploading the final cut of the film for review and paying a $100 USD non-refundable certification fee.

Read the ScreenAnarchy article: https://screenanarchy.com/2025/01/introducing-dogma-la-25.html

DOGMA LA 25

THE MANIFESTO

1. Only films with a total running time of 30 minutes or more may be qualified as Dogma LA 25.

2.    All shooting of the film must be shot on location as opposed to constructed or virtual sets.

3.    Digital 4K 16×9 (3980 x 2160) is the only accepted final delivery format for certification.

4.    The film must be shot in color and finished without excessive manipulation of colors in the release version.

5.    AIGI (Artificial Intelligence Generated Imagery), CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), or VFX must not be used in production or post-production except for corrective purposes.

6.    The director must collaborate on cinematography; the director may also be the cinematographer.

7.    Every director on the production must be credited.

Certification fees will be collected into a trust fund administered by the Dogma LA 25 committee sans 10% administration fee for the fund administrator i.e. De/Center Communications Inc. DBA Margin Films.

Inquiry email: DogmaLA25 [at] gmail [dot] com

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