CREATING REEL-LIFE SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN L.A. : AIM OF FESTIVAL: UNITE FILMAKERS, AFICIONADOS.

Byline: Amy Dawes Daily News Staff Writer

Camaraderie and community in Los Angeles? That's the vision of Robert Faust, 30, the New York-bred founder and organizer of the four-day L.A. Independent Film Festival, which starts tonight with the premiere of Jim Jarmusch's ``Dead Man'' at the Directors Guild headquarters in Hollywood, followed by an opening-night party at the same locale.

``The whole festival was designed to create a sense of community for independent filmmakers and film lovers, like there is in New York,'' said Faust. During the four-day event, the open-air cantina at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood becomes a hospitality center and hangout. Last year's opening and closing night parties at the DGA were so successful, Faust said, ``that we couldn't get people to leave. They had to throw us out.''

Part of the reason is that Faust has involved a wide spectrum of filmmaker organizations, from the Independent Feature Project West to the key groups representing women, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and gay filmmakers. ``I want to do away with ghettoization,'' said Faust. ``The idea is, let's all just get together and celebrate.''

The 2-year-old festival, which this year received 700 submissions, focuses on premiering new independent features, plus documentaries and shorts. ``So many people are out there making American independent films that for one reason or another don't get acquired for distribution,'' said Faust. ``The filmgoer gets an opportunity to see some of them, which I think is really exciting. For the filmmaker, it's an important outlet because it exposes them to audiences and reviews in a major market.''

Faust, a former MTV producer, talent manager and IFP West events producer, says he gets calls all the time from agents and acquisitions executives seeking tips on new filmmakers.

``The reaction of a live audience to these movies often boosts the confidence level of the decision-makers,'' he said.

Opening night premiere ``Dead Man,'' Jim Jarmusch's adventurous, metaphorical journey to the extreme frontier of the Old West, features striking black-and-white photography by Robby Muller and a soundtrack by Neil Young. Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer star.

Other program highlights include a daylong new media and technologies forum on Saturday at Raleigh, and a ``script bar'' at the Raleigh cantina sponsored by the Writers Guild.

Screenings take place at Raleigh Studios, Paramount and the DGA. Tickets are available at the door (evening events tend to sell out in advance) or by calling Theatix, [phone].

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Photo: Festival offerings include ``Dead Man,'' starring Jo hnny Depp in an adventurous, metaphorical journey to the extreme frontier of the Old West.