Los Angeles – TikTok, the leading global destination for short-form mobile video, announces today the recipient of the first-ever “TikTok Real Short Award,” in partnership with Film Independent, a non-profit arts organization that produces the LA Film Festival.

Presented at the LA Film Festival Filmmaker and Press Reception, visionary filmmaker Ann Lupo will receive a $10,000 grant to further encourage her creativity and passion for storytelling through video.

TikTok, a Platinum Sponsor of this year’s LA Film Festival, has quickly become a worldwide destination for content creation, showcasing the power of short-form video as a medium for storytelling, creativity, and sharing passions across cultures. The partnership with Film Independent and creation of the “TikTok Real Short Award,” allowed Festival filmmakers to utilize the mobile platform to create meaningful works of art. Filmmakers were given the inspiration “Why I’m a Filmmaker,” encouraging participants to capture a moment showcasing their passion for filmmaking and captivating fans through their storytelling.

A judging panel led by LA Film Festival’s programming team handpicked Ann Lupo from Brooklyn, New York for her submission amongst the over 90 filmmakers in the Festival. The video addresses the “Why I’m a Filmmaker” prompt with exceptional storytelling through the lens of TikTok, utilizing creator tools to enhance the narrative. Her innovative short won Ann Lupo the $10,000 grant.

Ann Lupo directed and starred in the feature film “In Reality,” which is competing in the LA Film Festival’s US Fiction competition.

The “TikTok Real Short Award” submissions, including the winning short, can be viewed on the FilmIndependent (@filmindependent) TikTok account.

“The TikTok Real Short Award reflects our commitment to self-expression through the lens of mobile, vertical video, and each submission using creator tools like the reaction feature and AR objects, we received revealed just how unique we can be within the short-form video medium,” said Stefan Heinrich, Head of Global Marketing at TikTok. “Our creators inspire us every day and we cannot think of a better partner than Film Independent to help us discover new filmmakers and innovate within the industry. We are excited about continuing our partnership and pushing the boundaries of storytelling through traditional filmmaking and new video media.”

In addition, TikTok is proud to be a Lead Sponsor of Film Independent Project Involve in 2019, an intensive nine-month program supporting filmmakers from communities often underrepresented in film and entertainment. The mentorship program, celebrating 25 years this year, will connect rising filmmakers with TikTok creators for an exchange of ideas to enhance their understanding of filmmaking techniques. Films created from Project Involve will debut at the 2019 LA Film Festival.

About TikTok

TikTok is a destination for short-form mobile videos. Our mission is to capture and present the world’s creativity, knowledge, and moments that matter, directly from the mobile phone. TikTok enables everyone to be a creator and encourages users to share their passion and creative expression through their videos. TikTok is based in Los Angeles, with global offices in London, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Jakarta, Mumbai, and Moscow. In early 2018, TikTok was one of the most downloaded apps in the world. TikTok is available worldwide for iOS and Android .