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
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Stephanie Lynn Jones
Welcome to NYWIFT, Stephanie Lynn Jones! Stephanie is a filmmaker, TV writer, and multi-disciplinary creative with two decades in screen and stage storytelling. She directed the short doc memoir The Jones Twins: Bebop Souls in a Muzak™ World (BRIC TV) and launched her film career on Spike Lee’s production teams. An Emmy nominee for Nickelodeon’s Gullah Gullah Island, she has developed her own TV projects with Universal Kids, PBS Kids, and TIME Studios. With her twin, Suzanne, The Jones Twins’ performance work has appeared at major venues in NYC and beyond; they also lent their vocals to the Slamdance Festival award-winning film System Noise. Stephanie holds a B.A. from Howard University and an MFA from NYU Tisch. Read on to get to know Stephanie, learn about her roots in the industry, and get a preview of her short documentary film, The Jones Twins!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Elizabeth K. Budion
Welcome to NYWIFT, Elizabeth K. Budion! A member of SAG-AFTRA since 2014, Elizabeth got her taste of the film industry by doing background and stand-in work for notable shows such as Orange is the New Black, Broad City, How to Be Single, and The Path. After several years in that space, she dabbled in casting for shows such as Law & Order: SVU, before switching gears to join the Peace Corps in 2018. While living in The Gambia, she focused on elevating the societal status of women, expanding their horizons and potential through education. Elizabeth also built a library and wrote various water grants, while learning the local language of Wolof. Returning to the states in 2020, Elizabeth then received her Master's from New York University, in Global Affairs with a focus on international development and women’s rights. Returning to film, Elizabeth recently wrote, produced, and edited a short animated film titled You. Matter.. starring Tony Award winner Laura Benanti. In addition, Elizabeth is currently collaborating with her filmmaker husband to pen a feature titled RetroViewer. When not working on films, Elizabeth enjoys having new adventures with her adorable 16-month-old son Louis Joseph, or “LouJay!” Read on to learn more about Elizabeth, how she got started in the film industry, and her experience in the Peace Corps!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Catherine Craig
Welcome to NYWIFT, Catherine Craig! Catherine Craig was George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic's first animation FX camerawoman, later becoming a digital artist at ILM. A highly regarded film archivist, Craig designed the Coppola film archive and implemented Zoetrope's domestic and international film distribution. As an early female entrepreneur, Craig founded her own award-winning, union and guild-affiliated film company, specializing in high-end industrial and commercial productions. Her vast experience spans all aspects of filmmaking: she's worked as a director, producer, camera operator, concept artist, storyboard artist, special FX artist, sound recordist, and more. Her screenplay OddFX was accepted into the NYWIFT-affiliated The Writers Lab. The film follows a mother living in a women's shelter, battling a physically abusive husband and a broken support system, who enlists the help of a special FX film crew. Catherine discusses her groundbreaking work with ILM, her drive to tell her own stories, and her film currently in development, OddFX!
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Faith Trinker
Welcome to NYWIFT, Faith Trinker! Faith Trinker is a virtual production filmmaker and immersive storyteller. She recently graduated from NYU Tisch’s inaugural Virtual Production Master’s program, and has a background in 3D computer art and animation from Syracuse University. In her work, she blends digital worldbuilding with on-set filmmaking, and is passionate about evolving workflows, fast-paced environments, and collaborative creativity. Her credits include projects for ESPN and the 2025 MSC Cruises Super Bowl spot featuring Drew Barrymore and Orlando Bloom. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, drawing, cars, and her dog, Freddie. She’s eager to work with her new NYWIFT creative community. Faith discusses her path to virtual production, favorite projects, and goals for the future!
READ MORE
Comments are closed