A Baroque Film Fest – Volume 01 (11.22.2025)

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Founded and curated by SamHel, A Baroque Film Fest was a one-day celebration of the shocking, the strange, and the truly independent. Dedicated to DIY, underground, and extreme cinema from around the world, ABFF brought together filmmakers and fans who thrived outside the mainstream.

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Volume 01 took place on November 22, 2025, featuring 9 short films, 3 feature films, and exclusive Q&A sessions with select filmmakers. The lineup included works from Danish filmmaker Kasper Juhl and U.S. auteurs Stephen Biro and Eric Fox, who debuted their latest addition to the American Guinea Pig series. Short films represented unique visions from across the U.S., Japan, and Mexico — including boundary-pushing creators like James Bell, Davar Villegas, Guy, and more.

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Born out of necessity, A Baroque Film Fest began after SamHel noticed the lack of festivals in Los Angeles willing to screen explicit, confrontational, or taboo-breaking films. ABFF existed as a haven for those left out of conventional indie and horror fests — a space where the uncompromising could be seen, heard, and celebrated.

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Volume 01 was completed and hosted at Eastwood PAC in Los Angeles. With the strong response to this first edition, Volume 02 is expected to open submissions on FilmFreeway, inviting the next wave of daring, DIY, and extreme filmmakers to take part in LA’s most unfiltered film festival experience.