By Jean Criss
The La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, an annual awards celebration, was held July 29 – 30, 2022 at The Lot in La Jolla, California. Producers, directors, screenwriters, fashion designers, creative artists, cinematographers, photographers, press, and media attended the red carpet events.
The La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival is a community event bringing together collaborative global creative industry leaders to La Jolla, one of the most beautiful places in California. This location is surrounded by pristine coastline, seaside resorts, wildlife, and birds, adding to the ultimate experience. La Jolla welcomed guests to the 13th annual event with open arms, and the awards event sold out once again and received rave reviews by all! Thanks to everyone involved who put this fabulous event together.
The program began Friday, July 29th with an opening night reception, Instagram walls, art installations, press interviews, networking, and cocktails. It was a great time to catch up with business acquaintances and friends, network, meet and greets, and the opportunity to discuss upcoming film ventures.
Saturday’s program began with theater screenings and filmmaker stage introductions from 10am to noon, followed by the red carpet festivities and the award show from 3pm to 10pm. A host of presenters announced the International Fashion Film Awards™ winners while the production crew, paparazzi, and press captured the night. Those attending the event enjoyed the red carpet, interviews, performances, Instagram walls, and award presentations held outdoors on a fabulous southern California breezy night with networking, cocktails, and after party that followed.

Fred Sweet, LJFFF Executive Producer of the 13th annual awards festival, welcoming award-winning producers, filmmakers, designers to the red carpet.
“Over the years one of the most gratifying aspects of the La Jolla global community is how many new collaborations are formed every year at the festival. This year was no exception,” said Fred Sweet, LJFFF Executive Producer. “Virtually all the filmmakers I talked to, and I talked to a lot, said they had met other film creators that they were planning on doing new projects with. And that is what La Jolla has always been about, empowering creative professionals worldwide.”
Tabitha Lipkin, News Personality, TV Anchor, Emmy Award Winner and LJFFF Host wore two stunning designs by Courtney Russell, Fashion Designer/Filmmaker (left). Luke DePron, Men’s Fitness Coach, Co-Host and MC for our theatre screenings featured with Laura Arianna, Actress (center). We were honored to have Larry Namer, Co-Founder of E! Entertainment Television, announce the final award for Best Picture (right).
Jean Criss is a NYWIFT contributing writer and attended her second annual LJFFF event with an affinity and passion in media, television, the arts, fashion, food, and the entertainment industries. Jean is an author, entrepreneur, fashion designer, tech innovator, media strategist, writer, and blogger. Learn more at JeanCrissMedia and CRISSCROSSIntimates; for press interviews/media inquiries contact jean@jeancrissmedia.com, LinkedIn @jean-criss; Twitter @jean_criss; IG @jean.criss and @crisscross.intimates.
Special thanks to @PixiliciousEntertainment and @LJFFF for photography.
- LJFFF video archive
- Fashion Film Gallery
- LJFFF 2022 Award Winners
Related Posts
NYWIFT at Tribeca 2025: In Conversation with Victoria Hill
Victoria Hill is no stranger to creating cinematic magic, and her latest project, The Best You Can, premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, is yet another example of her storytelling prowess. As lead producer of and actor in the narrative spotlight film — starring real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick — Hill brings a deeply human story to life, exploring connection, loneliness, and unexpected friendship in midlife. NYWIFT Board Member Gretchen McGowan is one of the film’s executive producers. “When Victoria Hill and Andrew Mann brought Michael Weithorn’s script to us, I thought: we’re all ready for Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon to appear on the screen together again. This is something the world could use right about now,” McGowan said in a NYWIFT announcement of member projects at Tribeca. With a stellar career that spans producing, acting, and writing across internationally acclaimed films like First Reformed, The Chaperone, and The Secrets We Keep, Hill’s dedication to complex, character-driven stories continues to shine. In this exclusive NYWIFT interview, Hill shares insights into filming on location in NYC, collaborating with industry heavyweights, and her mission to amplify women’s voices through Fibonacci Films.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Jayson Simba
Welcome to NYWIFT, Jayson Simba! Jayson Simba is a Cuban-American actor, director, writer, and producer who hails from Forest Hills, Queens. After attending LaGuardia H.S. of Performing Arts, Jayson enrolled at the Acting Studio NYC, where he studied the Meisner Technique under renowned acting teacher James Price. As an actor, Jayson has starred in over 40 films and television roles. In 2002, Jayson founded One Man Show Productions to help produce the work of independent filmmakers and writers. In 2007, he was hired to write and direct his first feature film, What Matters Most. As an independent filmmaker with 15 films under his belt, Jayson founded Festival of Cinema NYC with the aim of giving emerging filmmakers a platform to showcase their work to further their careers. Jason discusses his experiences as a filmmaker and the foundations of the Festival of Cinema NYC.
READ MORETribeca Festival 2025: Celebrating Stories, Icons, and Impact with NYWIFT
With this article, our coverage of the 2025 Tribeca Festival comes to a close — and what an unforgettable experience it has been. NYWIFT members LaKisa Renee and Tammy Reese had the incredible opportunity to represent the organization on the ground, capturing exclusive red carpet moments, world premieres, and powerful conversations highlighting the festival’s spirit of storytelling, advocacy, and artistic excellence. One of the most moving moments came when EGOT icon and past NYWIFT Muse Honoree Whoopi Goldberg gave a heartfelt shoutout to New York Women in Film & Television. Her support meant the world to our team.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Hayley Pace
Today, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on new NYWIFT member Hayley Pace, an award-winning production designer and actor whose unique blend of skills and passions continues to inspire us! Hayley Pace hails from Toronto, Ontario. They are known for their work on Schitt’s Creek (CBC), In The Dark (CW), and The Expanse (Amazon Prime). In addition to their on-screen work, Hayley has self-produced original projects through their experimental marching band theatre company, The Teeny Tiny Music Show, and has designed for numerous film, TV, and theatre productions across Canada. A graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and York University’s BFA in Devised Theatre & Design, Hayley brings a dynamic and multidisciplinary approach to their artistry. We caught up with Hayley to discuss their career, their creative journey, and what brought them to NYWIFT.
READ MORE
Comments are closed