The best movies usually don’t get their own billboards. Quietly, they appear at a film festival or two, maybe pick up a modest distribution deal if they're lucky, and then more likely than not, drift into the archives for future film students to enjoy. The general public rarely sees half of the great movies that are made every year. But despite what the billboards would have you believe, filmmaking is not just about star-driven comic book superheroes. It’s also about storytelling! And this week all the best stories are downtown at the 21st annual Los Angeles Film Festival at LA Live.

The L.A. Film Fest is the premier independent showcase for filmmakers in this mecca of the moving image. As always, the festivities include panel discussions, performances and of course – a ton of films. Inevitably, at a festival of this size it's nearly impossible to see everything, so to make it a little easier, the organizers have broken it down into select showcases like Nightfall, which will feature genre films by new indies, and Launch, which will focus on filmmaking in the digital realm. For the second year running they’ll also have LA Muse, a showcase of films about -- you guessed it -- L.A.! Highlights to watch for include Dope, The Overnight and a members-only screening of Fan Girl, starring Meg Ryan and Kiernan Shipka.

With all-access passes selling for as much as $2500, the L.A. Film Festival always draws an elite crowd of folks who are serious about their craft. If you're not that hard core, you can still catch individual screenings for about $15. But you should probably study the schedule!

LA Film Fest is at LA Live, June 10-18