Pre-festival coverage of the 2013 Pan African Film Festival in LA, which takes place next month, continues with this feature-length drama from writer/director Elias Mael, titled Against The Grain.

Synopsis reads:

Isaiah Johnson, an inner-city kid from Oakland, has an opportunity to attend an elite university. In his first year of college, he struggles to maintain his grades, attempts to remain loyal to his troubled childhood friends and valiantly tries to capture the heart of his dream girl. But when he arrives at a crossroad, he is forced to choose between his past and his future.

A UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television graduate, Elias Mael says he was inspired by the same drive, determination and initiative-taking that pushed Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith to direct their own feature-length debuts some 20 or so years ago.

And with a skeleton crew, shooting the film over 3 weeks in late 2010 and early 2011.

The film is exec-produced by Mayon Denton, and prouced Marcello Robinson.

PAFF 2013 is set to take place at the new Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles, and will kick off festivities with a star-studded Opening Night Gala on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 theatre.

Watch the trailer below:

Against the Grain Trailer from Elias Mael on Vimeo.