What's the DIFF? It’s the DaVinci International Film Festival (DIFF), but also a question many ask as they browse through hundreds of festivals online — what makes DIFF a stand out from the others? Well, it starts with our brand — our name. The way we see it, Leonardo da Vinci was the epitome of the divergent and creative mind— a luminary—and so we aim to recognize much of the same at our premier, boutique film festival. Creatives who break boundaries and draw us into new worlds. Like many festivals, we set out to honor the best in independent cinema from around the world and do so by taking into account the full scope of creative integration in any given project. From performances to color correction; score to sound design, our Jury is tasked with assessing each film based on an overall cohesiveness as it relates to storytelling. In addition, DIFF shines a very important light on screenwriting through our sister brand, STORYLINE℠ with annual competitions, as well as an all-new Jr. Leo event at DaVinci Film Institute, produced by the company's 501(c) 3 nonprofit. DaVinci's founder and the Board of Directors are intimately familiar with and appreciate the full cycle of, independent filmmaking and the demands therein. From the perils of financing, through the distribution of any given work — the process is often complex and unforgiving. Most of these creative projects can take a short lifetime to complete and whether or not any given work is showcased at DIFF, we support and encourage all to keep pressing forward. Persistence is key to success in this business! FESTIVAL FORMAT: DIFF qualifies Vitruvian Selections™ (Official Selection) annually in narrative feature and short formats, documentary, animation, and screenwriting categories, who are invited to screen at DIFF's live showcase event held annually at AMC Theaters at The Grove in Los Angeles. Vitruvian Selections™ are in competition for the festival's Leo Award.