FILM/SNEAK PEEK : L.A.'S INDIE FILM FEST GETS MORE RESPECT.

Byline: - Bob McCarthy

Sundance. Toronto. Los Angeles?

This city's independent film festival has come a long way in a short five years' time, earning comparisons to the two better-known indie film showcases. And why not?

Organizers point out that the L.A. Independent Film Festival has nearly doubled in size each year and that better than 40 percent of filmmakers have either landed a deal with a distributor, representative or production company after a premiere. So an extra day has been added to this year's festival, which began Thursday and continues through Tuesday.

LAIFF has also been a venue for big-name premieres, and this year is no exception.

George Hickenlooper's ``The Big Brass Ring,'' based on the Orson Welles screenplay about an independent candidate's run for office, stars William Hurt, Miranda Richardson and Nigel Hawthorne and will make its world premiere on Tuesday.

``The Florentine'' also premieres and features a cast that includes James Belushi, Tom Sizemore, Virginia Madsen, Mary Stuart Masterson, Luke Perry and Hal Holbrook. ``The Florentine'' is a story of how an upcoming marriage puts a group of friends in a contemplative mood about their lives.

From producer Gus Van Sant comes a story of survival on the streets of Las Vegas titled ``Speedway Junky,'' featuring Daryl Hannah, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Patsy Kensit and Justin Urich.

The festival is at the Directors Guild of America Theatre, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; Laemmle Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd.; and Harmony Gold Preview House, 7655 Sunset Blvd. For a schedule, visit the Web site, www.laiff.com, or call [phone].