Live from the historic and iconic Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, on Sunday, June 28, 2026: Dances With Films – Film Festival- “DWF: LA” had the world premiere as its Closing Night selection: Adam Hoelzel’s drama “Tender.” This was an “edge of your seat” thriller, crime drama movie, that follows a couple trapped in a failing marriage and drowning in debt who discover a hidden stash of gold buried within the walls of their home. What begins as a lifeline quickly spirals into danger, as the pair devise a high-stakes plan to offload the fortune and escape their financial ruin.
The photo below is taken from the movie, as the 2 lead characters: Billie and Mick, in this movie are breaking through the walls of their house to discover they have 100 million dollars of pure gold bullion:
The All-star cast includes Jesse Garcia, Jess Weixler, David Koechner, Robert Longstreet, Mark St. Cyr, Keli Price, Stephen Ellis, Robert Peters, Shakira Barrera, and Sonja O’Hara. In the below photo you can see the Entertainment Today TV Producer: Steve Taylor, on the right of the below photo, with the 2 lead stars of this movie: Jesse Garcia on the left, and Jess Weixler in the center: 
The spellbinding plot is about a modest house in a dying town, where Billie and Mick believe they’ve finally found stability, until crushing debt, old resentments, and a shocking discovery buried within their walls threaten to tear them apart. As the couple is forced into a dangerous alliance to protect their future, Tender becomes a darkly intimate portrait of marriage under pressure, where love, money, and survival blur into something unrecognizable.
In addition to his starring film roles, Garcia has built an extensive television career with notable credits, including Freddie Gonzalez in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series and recurring parts on shows like Snowfall, Sons of Anarchy, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In the above photo you can see Jesse holding up the Microphone answering a question during the Q & A.
Jessica Weixler (born June 8, 1981) is an American actress. She played Dawn O’Keefe in the comedy horror film Teeth and Jordan in the comedy The Big Bad Swim and played the role of defense lawyer for Lyle Menendez in the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. In the above photo you can see Jess holding up the Microphone answering a question during the Q & A.
The impressive cast includes Jesse Garcia, Jess Weixler, David Koechner, Robert Longstreet, Mark St. Cyr, Keli Price, Stephen Ellis, Robert Peters, Shakira Barrera, and Sonja O’Hara.
As you can see in the above and below photos taken inside the movie theater, during the Q & A, right after this movie: 
I give this thriller movie: 4 stars, and I know you would love the suspense, acting by the leads and everyone in the cast, the ending, and I urge you to see this movie ASAP! 
The above photo is of the official Dances With Films- Film Festival poster, that is signed by many of the stars, Producers, Writers, and Directors of the movies.
The Dances With Films Festival: LA’s lineup of 279 films, with 150 world, North American, and U.S. Premieres, in the heart of Hollywood, and presented thirteen of its famous Orange Carpet events featuring more than 280 films and more than 1000 filmmakers, cast members, and documentary subjects being photographed and interviewed by Los Angeles press covering independent film; several panels and conversations (like a very valuable session on how to get your Film Distributed!– that I attended) led by top industry leaders and professionals, that was held in the VIP Filmmakers Lounge just above the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters- that was sponsored by Magenta Light Studios Distribution; and four days of speed-dating style press junkets over the course of the film festival’s eleven days. Setting the tone for the jam-packed film event, for the first time, Dances With Films: LA kicked things off with a pre-fest concert at Ovation Hollywood for the attending filmmakers and pass-holders.
Notable attendees included Cody Christian, Rachel Leigh Cook, Rudy Diaz, Kevin Dunn, Jesse Garcia, Racheal Harris, Esai Morales, Sonja O’Hara, Cheri Oteri, Michael Paré, Michael Rooker, Brandon Routh, Jean Smart, Jess Weixler, and Rainn Wilson!
29th Annual Dances With Films: LA concludes triumphant edition of Los Angeles’ largest indie film festival and announces Filmmaker Awards
Grand Jury Prizes are led by Brian L. Tan’s Bandit (Narrative Feature) and David Booth Gardner’s The Last Place on Earth (Documentary Feature)
Audience Choice Awards are topped by Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson’s Littermatesfor Best Narrative Feature, with Beatrix Ryle’s My Name is Gitta, and Brad Alexander’s Tell Me About Tomorrow sharing the award for Best Documentary Feature
Jon Bolerjack’s Stan Lee: The Final Chapter and Charlie Roth’s The Expiration of Darius Campbell are the Industry Choice Award winners
Dances With Films: LA announced its Filmmaker Award winners during an entertaining closing night awards celebration at The TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood as it wrapped the 29th edition of Los Angeles’ leading indie film festival, featuring several sold out screenings, celebrity sightings, more films, more events, and another explosion of discovery films and filmmakers during the largest indie film-focused film festival in Lod Angeles. The Grand Jury Prize winners were led by Brian L. Tan’s Bandit (Best Narrative Feature), David Booth Gardner’s The Last Place on Earth (Best Documentary Feature), and Geoff Browne’s Godpower (Best Narrative Short). Heading the list of Audience Choice winners were Andrew Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson Littermatesfor Best Narrative Feature, with a tie going to Beatrix Ryle’s My Name is Gitta, and Brad Alexander’s Tell Me About Tomorrow for Best Documentary Feature.
DWF’s coveted Industry Choice Awards went to Jon Bolerjack’s Stan Lee: The Final Chapter in the “Over 40 Minutes” category, and Charlie Roth’s The Expiration of Darius Campbell in the “Under 40 Minutes” category.
Additional Audience Choice Award winners were Kendra Baude’s Physical Touch (Midnight), Jordyn Apostolache’sMoney (Downbeat), Gerald Fillmore’s Face Love (Fusion Feature), Christopher Baxter’s I Got Next (Dances With Kidz Pro), and Christopher Nataanii Cegielski, Phillip Montgomery, and Josh Baker’s People of the West (Pilots). In the Short Film categories, Audience Choice Awards went to Meg Mateo’s You Could’ve Been a Nurse (Narrative), Julia Boyd’s Dual Wielder (Documentary), and Darren Rubin’s Plastic Pastures (Fusion).
In the Grand Jury Prize competitions, Honorable Mentions went to Jay Diaz’s Angeleno (Narrative), Boaz Dvir’s To Kill a Nazi, and Jon Bolerjack’s Stan Lee: The Final Chapter (Documentary), and Sam Findlay’s Cornerman, and Will Mayo, and Ian Scott McGregor’s Dropping Off (Narrative Shorts).
Dances With Films will next return for its 5th New York City edition in December 2026. For more information about Dances With Films, please go to: https://danceswithfilms.com/.
The 2026 Dances With Films LA Filmmaker Award Winners:
GRAND JURY PRIZES
GRAND JURY – NARRATIVE FEATURES
BANDIT
Director: Brian L. Tan
Writer: Monji Husein Atmodjo
Producers: Bo H. Holmgreen, Chali Sakyan, Brian L. Tan “BLT”, Patrick Tashadian, Tara McNamara, Dara Ferrari and Medyna Afrianti
HONORABLE MENTION:
ANGELENO
Director/Writer: Jay Diaz
Producers: Jay Diaz, Samantha Diaz, Kevin Huie and Danielle Savage
GRAND JURY – DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH
Director/Writer: David Booth Gardner
Producers: David Booth Gardner, Nanang Sujana, Shayne McGrath
HONORABLE MENTION:
TO KILL A NAZI
Director/Writer: Boaz Dvir
Producers: Boaz Dvir, Matthew Einstein, Gayle Zachmann
STAN LEE: THE FINAL CHAPTER
Director/Writer: Jon Bolerjack
Producers: George Chan, Jon Bolerjack, Alex Barajas
GRAND JURY PRIZE – NARRATIVE SHORTS
GODPOWER
Director/Writer: Geoff Browne
Producers: Geoff Browne, Garry M.B. Smith, Alex Mecl, GP Pekipuma
HONORABLE MENTION:
CORNERMAN
Director/Writer: Sam Findlay
Producers: Tosin Morohunfola, Sam Findlay, Lydia Anderson
DROPPING OFF
Director/Writer/Producers: Will Mayo, Ian Scott McGregor
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (UNDER 40′)
THE EXPIRATION OF DARIUS CAMPBELL
Director/Writer: Charlie Roth
Producers: David Hemphill and Charlie Roth
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (OVER 40′)
STAN LEE: THE FINAL CHAPTER
Director/Writer: Jon Bolerjack
Producers: George Chan, Jon Bolerjack, Alex Barajas
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
LITTERMATES
Directors: Scott Tinkham and Michael Woloson
Writer: Scott Tinkham
Producers: Oliver Woolf, Michael Woloson, Scott Tinkham, Kaylee McGregor
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
MY NAME IS GITTA
Director/Writer: Beatrix Ryle
Producers: Marcus Ryle, Susan Wolf
TELL ME ABOUT TOMORROW
Director: Brad Alexander
Producers: Brad Alexander, Harold Noriega,
Jaden Hossler and Shannon Bayersdorfer
MIDNIGHT AUDIENCE AWARD
PHYSICAL TOUCH
Director: Kendra Baude
Writer: Jesse Montagna
Producers: Marki Yaccino and Jesse Montagna
FUSION FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
FACE LOVE
Director/Writer: Gerald Fillmore
Producers: Jorge Alonzo, Victor Corales, Gerald Fillmore
DOWNBEAT AUDIENCE AWARD
MONEY
Director/Writer: Jordyn Apostolache
Producers: Moving Media, Dani Mejía
DANCES WITH KIDZ PRO AUDIENCE AWARD
I GOT NEXT
Director/Writer: Christopher Baxter
Producers: Angel Williams, Andrew Pilkington, Ramfis Myrthil,
Keonia Williams, McKarah Dreyfous and Christopher Baxter
SERIES AUDIENCE AWARD
PEOPLE OF THE WEST
Directors: Christopher Nataanii Cegielski, Phillip Montgomery, Josh Baker
Writers: Maya Rose Dittloff, Bradley Jackson, Marilyn Thomas, Diego D. Moreno, Kris L. Crenwelge
Producers: Brad Munoa, Nico Magee, Joseph Eardly, Edward Hambleton, Rachel Wasserman, Amanda Erickson and Gemma Jordan
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
YOU COULD’VE BEEN A NURSE
Director/Writer: Meg Mateo
Producers: Jaymar Cabebe and Dianne Que
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
DUAL WIELDER
Director: Julia Boyd
Producers: Julia Boyd, Marissa Paiva, Barrett Thomas, Meredith Stein
FUSION SHORT AUDIENCE AWARD
PLASTIC PASTURES
Director/Writer: Darren Rubin
Producer: Dariush Ghaffari
Now in its 29th year, Dances With Films champions the unflinching spirit at the very core of the independent film scene. With most film festivals relying heavily on celebrity, DWF have relied on innovation, talent, creativity, and sweat equity that revolutionized the entertainment industry. And that reliance continues to prove successful with alumni moving on to write, direct, and produce celebrity-studded vehicles, star in blockbuster movies, and television series, produce multi-million-dollar film and create hot TV shows.
Dances With Films wishes to thank its Sponsors and Sponsoring Partners: Magenta Light Studios / Magenta Edge Films, PRG, TCL Chinese Theaters, Ovation, Dave & Busters, PBS, APM Music, Quilty, DCP For All, Monkeyland Audio, Inc., Develop Your Movie, Lucky Strike, AWD/Alliance of Women Directors, Firestone Walker Brewing Company/805 Beer, African Beers USA, Laetitia Vineyards & Winery, McPrice Myers Wines, Lucas Bols, Loews Hollywood Hotel, The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn.
So stay tuned and thanks for watching Entertainment & Sports Today TV and Entertainment Today on Time Warner/ Spectrum. To watch other shows go to: EntertainmentandSportsToday.com Celebrating 30 Years being Broadcast on TIME WARNER / Spectrum! & Now on the KXLA TV Network!
