From Sundance Institute, a New Minifestival for L.A.

From Sundance Institute, a New Minifestival for Los Angeles

New pictures about lesbian hookers and cancer. A short film about a guilt-ridden young adult. A panel discussion about guerrilla movie marketing.

Yep, Sundance is Sundance regardless of geography.

The lineup at Next Weekend, the Sundance Institute’s coming minifestival in Los Angeles, includes 10 features, the organization said on Tuesday, two of them world premieres: “The Foxy Merkins,” a prostitution buddy comedy directed and co-written by Madeleine Olnek; and a cancer drama called “How to Be a Man,” directed and co-written by Chadd Harbold.

The remaining eight films will mix past entries from Sundance’s flagship Utah festival (“Blue Caprice”) with pictures first shown at competing festivals (“Stand Clear of the Closing Doors,” which played Tribeca last spring). The inaugural Next Weekend, which runs from Aug. 8 to 11, will also present 10 short films and organized discussions aimed at fans of independent films.

As an offshoot of the Next section of Sundance’s Utah festival, Next Weekend is intended to highlight cinema that is particularly adventurous with boundary-pushing films from mostly first-time directors. Since the mission of Robert Redford’s nonprofit Sundance Institute is to help new cinematic voices be heard, a spokesman said, the organization decided to try bringing a few to the movie industry’s home base.

Next Weekend will begin with an outdoor screening of Chris Smith’s cult documentary “American Movie” at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is adjacent to Paramount Pictures and operates a popular movie series in warmer months. Mr. Redford’s new Sundance Sunset Cinemas in West Hollywood, Calif., will serve as Next Weekend’s headquarters.