We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Malia Aniston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Malia, thanks for joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

At C-47 Film Festival, we believe that every single aspect of film production deserves recognition. That’s why we include award categories that are often overlooked at other festivals. We have categories that highlight the hard work of art department teams—like costume design, set design, and hair and makeup—because those elements play a huge role in bringing a story to life and are just as essential as the roles in front of and behind the camera. We also want to create a film festival experience that’s truly unique for Las Vegas. Our goal is to make C-47 a festival that brings together the local community and filmmakers from around the world to celebrate the full spectrum of filmmaking in an environment that feels collaborative, inclusive, and celebratory. Oh! Plus, we only selected 47 or less submissions per season.

Malia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey! I’m Malia Aniston, and honestly, I’ve been in love with storytelling for as long as I can remember. I remember making my own little books starting around 4/5 years old. Writing song lyrics. I had an entire binder. My filmmaking journey started when I was a teenager, just playing around with a camera and some basic editing software. That was the beginning of what’s turned into a full-blown career, and now, here we are with C-47 Film Festival and my production company, C-47 Productions. I created the festival because I really wanted a platform where all the different elements that make movies special get the recognition they deserve.

C-47 Film Festival actually started during one of those lightbulb moments – I was on the phone with my therapist, just talking through my ideas and dreams about creating something special for filmmakers. We were discussing my passion for all the details that go into making a film festival, and how I wish I could make it a reality someday, maybe in 5-10 years. She paused and simply said “why not now?”, and suddenly it just clicked. Within 24 hours, I had filed for the LLC and thrown up a website. It was like once the idea was out there, I couldn’t stop myself from bringing it to life. It went from a casual conversation to a real, tangible thing overnight. C-47 quickly became a festival with a purpose. My therapist also never fails to remind me to invite her to the Oscars once I get invited. It’s like my subtle reminder to keep going.

C-47 Film Festival is my passion project, born out of a genuine love for every part of the filmmaking process. The name “C-47” actually comes from a term we use on film sets for clothespins – a small but essential tool that keeps everything running smoothly. To me, it represents the idea that every little detail, every role, matters. Every film matters no matter the budget, if you have a great story to tell, we want to hear it and give it the same platform as any other major film festival. That’s what this festival is all about: recognizing the people and the artistry that bring a film to life, from the actors to the crew, and giving them a space to shine.

What I’m most proud of with C-47 is how we’re shaking things up a bit in the festival world. We don’t just focus on the typical awards – we’ve got categories that you don’t see everywhere else, all those behind-the-scenes roles that bring a film’s world to life but don’t always get the spotlight. I wanted to create a space where these artists are celebrated just as much as the directors or actors. Everyone on a film set contributes to the magic, and I think it’s time we recognize that.

What makes C-47 stand out, I think, is that we’re building something really unique here in Las Vegas. We’re aiming to create a festival that’s not only about showcasing work but also about fostering community. It’s a place where filmmakers of all levels – whether they’re seasoned pros or fresh new voices – can come together, share, learn, and inspire each other. But not only that but we are trying to make the small film scene here stand out and grow along with everyone else coming here to continue their film goals.

So if there’s one thing I want people to know about C-47, it’s that it’s a festival where everyone’s role matters. Filmmaking is this massive collaborative art, and we’re here to celebrate all the pieces that make it happen. It’s been amazing to watch it come to life, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Absolutely. Honestly, the whole journey of starting C-47 was a test of resilience in itself. But one story that really stands out was during our very first festival. I was still feeling overwhelmed – I mean, I’d built this thing almost overnight, and here we were a few months later, hosting an actual festival. There were so many times I thought, “Am I really ready for this?” But then, several filmmakers came up to me throughout the event, telling me how amazing they thought the festival was. Some had traveled all the way from places like Miami, Los Angeles, and other parts of the U.S. just to be here. Hearing them say how grateful they were for the opportunity really hit me. It was a powerful reminder of why I started C-47. That support and excitement from the filmmakers showed me that, despite the doubts and challenges, there are people who believe in this vision just as much as I do. And that’s what keeps me going.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I had to unlearn was that everything has to be perfect before you put it out there. I used to get so caught up in the details, thinking that if every single piece wasn’t flawless, then it wasn’t worth doing. I’d be constantly tweaking, adjusting, and second-guessing myself – which, let’s be for real, is exhausting.

When I was starting C-47, though, I realized that if I waited for “perfect,” I’d never get anywhere. I launched the festival pretty quickly – I mean, within 24 hours of deciding to do it, I had the LLC and a basic website up. It definitely wasn’t perfect at that point, but I knew I had to get it out there and then improve along the way. The truth is, I’ve learned that people appreciate authenticity and progress over perfection. Waiting for “perfect” would have just held me back from something that’s already made an impact on so many filmmakers. Now, I’m way more comfortable with the idea that things can be a work in progress and still be incredibly valuable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.c-47ff.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c47filmfestival/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092635453554
• Other: Submit your film now: https://filmfreeway.com/C-47FilmFestival

Image Credits

Images by Spitfire Images and DS photo