( August 13, 2007 ) - When independent writer and director Angelo Bell submitted three short films to the LA Shorts Film Festival he was merely hoping to stack the odds in his favor. He was aware that film festivals have become increasingly competitive, with literally thousands of filmmakers submitting films for just a few spots. Angelo was hoping that one of his three films would make it into the festival. He never dreamed that all three films would be accepted. They were.

The Los Angeles International Film Festival is an 11-year film festival. It is also the largest short film festival in the world. The festival is accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. In past years, 25 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, with eight filmmakers actually taking home the Oscar. Recent Hollywood honorees at the festival include actors James Woods, Gary Oldman and directors Tim Burton, Bryan Singer and Paul Haggis.

What this means is that Angelo, an independent filmmaker who produces his films out-of-pocket and typically uses guerrilla filmmaking techniques, has three opportunities to take home an Oscar. Of course, Mr. Bell must win one of several categories available to him: Best of Fest, Best Drama and Best Comedy. "Broken Hearts Club" is Angelo's favorite of his three films and falls within the comedy genre. "Renounced," his edgy MTV-style sci-fi drama about heroin use, is a likely candidate as well as "The First Time," also a drama. Angelo made "The First Time" as part of his second round submission for Steven Spielberg's and Mark Burnett's ON THE LOT.

Angelo relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 1995 to pursue a screenwriting career. After a series of false starts Angelo found his niche in independent filmmaking. Angelo was able to parlay his extensive experience in screenwriting into an independent filmmaking machine, completing 12 short films from 2003 to 2007. During this time, He also co-founded Bell/Gokee Films, which specializes in short films for aspiring actors and FilmGenesis LLC, an independent production company which sponsors the Script-to-Film Contest. Winners of the contest receive a $10,000 production services budget and have the opportunity to direct their film. The 2005 winner, Veronica Rodriguez's film "El Ride" has screened from San Antonio to LA and recently took home the "Best in Fest" award at the Austin Woman's Film, Music & Literary Festival -- A "Best in Fest" award for Angelo would qualify him for an Academy Award nomination.

The LA Shorts Festival runs from September 5-16 at the Burbank AMC Theater. The Festival annually attracts more than 15,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives. Many attendees visit the Festival in search of up-and-coming filmmakers, writers, actors and directors. Angelo has already begun to leverage this opportunity into a meeting with Fox executives to discuss sponsorship opportunities for the FilmGenesis Script-to-Film contest.

Currently Angelo is in pre-production for the feature length version of his short film, "Broken Hearts Club." He has raised more than $50,000 in production funds and is actively seeking independent film investors and executive producers to complete funding.

Angelo Bell can be reached via his homepage http://www.319prods.com and his MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/angelobell.