The world premiere of “Yale” will be held on June 18 to kick off the film festival. (photo courtesy of Dances With Films)

Dances With Films: Los Angeles announced the film lineup for next month’s return of Los Angeles’ largest indie film-focused film festival, June 18-28, for its 29th edition platforming films not produced by studios or with big budgets. Those films include DWF: L.A.’s critically acclaimed Midnight Horror and Genre, and Pilots sections, as well as continuing the celebration of music, dance, and family-friendly programming in the Downbeat and Kidz sections. This year’s packed schedule will be bookended by the world premieres of Jay Silverman’s drama “Yale” with Caitlin McGee, Kevin Dunn and Rachael Harris, as the opening night selection, and Adam Hoelzel’s thriller “Tender” with Jesse Garcia, Jess Weixler, David Koechner and Robert Longstreet, on Closing Night. In an environment where multiplexes can struggle to consistently fill houses, DWF: LA expects to once again draw record-breaking audiences to its screenings and events at the TCL Chinese Theatre on 6925 Hollywood Blvd. in the Ovation Complex.

This year’s DWF: L.A.’s lineup includes 279 films, including 41 narrative features, 17 documentary features, 4 midnight features, 33 television and streaming pilots, and 184 short films (99 narrative and 21 documentaries, 32 midnight, 15 Kidz section, 17 Downbeat/Music), with an impressive number of films making world, North American or U.S. premieres.

“For close to three decades Dances With Films has exhibited ‘The Power of Indie Film’ and this year’s lineup is filled with unique and diverse voices from filmmakers working outside of the studio system and without the benefit of bigger budgets, will entertain and surprise film lovers with the cinematic magic DWF is well-known for,” founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent said. “As always, we couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce them all and connect our filmmakers with audiences, film distributors, and other industry veterans in the best way imaginable: at the TCL Chinese Theatres right in the heart of Hollywood.”

For information about the Dances With Films: L.A. film lineup, events, passes and tickets, visit danceswithfilms.com.