MUMBAI: The Academy Foundation of The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has given Film Independent a $30,000 grant for the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival (LAFF).

The festival is among 24 to receive grants designed to make the events more accessible to the general public in the US and it is understood that the LAFF top brass will use the $30,000 to fund International Spotlight.

Last year‘s International Spotlight focused on documenting Mexico through selections from the Ambulante Film Festival. A series of screenings, followed by Q&A‘s with the film-makers and Ambulante co-founders Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz, was key in bridging the gap between film-makers and LAFF attendees. 

"The Academy Foundation‘s generous support enables us to continue to cultivate audiences for diverse film-making cultures and to expose LA‘s movie-loving public to voices and stories beyond our own backyards," festival director Rebecca Yeldham said.

The 2010 edition is scheduled to run from 17 to 27 June.