Ja’Lisa Arnold Wins the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award
The Los Angeles filmmaker was awarded for her work Grief Cannot Exist Without Joy. Christopher Guerrero won the Audience Award
The Los Angeles filmmaker was awarded for her work Grief Cannot Exist Without Joy. Christopher Guerrero won the Audience Award
LA filmmaker Ja’Lisa Arnold has won the 2025 Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award for her work Grief Cannot Exist Without Joy, the story of a young musician finding a way to peace following his brother’s death. The film was chosen by a jury of industry experts from the six short films entered for this year’s competition. In the separate Audience Award, voted for by the public, Christopher Guerrero won for his film Reprogrammed, a timely tale abiout the place of AI and human emotions in a retro-futurist world. Both works responded to this year’s theme of ‘togetherness’.
A jury of leading figures across film, art and media selected Arnold’s film, including Erin Christovale of LA’s Hammer Museum, Deutsche Bank’s Claudio de Sanctis, filmmaker and artist Rhys Ernst, Christine Messineo (director of Americas, Frieze), Oscar-nominated writer-director RaMell Ross and Tayanna Todd of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group.
‘My sincere congratulations to Ja’Lisa Arnold for her beautiful film, Grief Cannot Exist Without Joy,’ De Sanctis said. ‘This year’s winner of the Jury Award sensitively tells a story of brotherly love and connection, and how the one left behind overcomes the grief that’s swallowing him. I am immensely proud that Deutsche Bank continues to support emerging LA filmmakers through this programme.’
Messineo said: ‘Frieze Los Angeles, taking place in the home and heart of the film industry, is celebrating the sixth Deutsche Bank Film Award this year. Now it is more important than ever to foster opportunities for emerging talent, and that impact can be seen in the work of this year’s remarkable filmmakers.’
A collaboration with nonprofit Ghetto Film School and global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON, the Frieze Los Angeles Film Award launched in 2019 as a platform for emerging voices in filmmaking. Parallel to the Jury Award, the Audience Award, an open public vote, selected Christopher Guerrero’s short film Reprogrammed, the story of a young, driven roboticist who realizes she is neglecting her own human relationships.
Watch all the 2025 Fellows’ films
Further Information
Frieze Los Angeles, 20 – 23 February 2025, Santa Monica Airport.
Frieze is proud to support the LA Arts Community Fire Fund, led by the J. Paul Getty Trust. In addition to Frieze’s contribution, 10% of the value of all newly purchased tickets is being donated to the fund.
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Frieze Los Angeles is supported by global lead partner Deutsche Bank, continuing its legacy of celebrating artistic excellence on an international scale.
Main image: Ja’Lisa Arnold, still from Grief Cannot Exist Without Joy, 2025
