The light redirecting films have a thin optically transparent substrate having a light entrance surface and an opposite light exit surface, at least one of the surfaces including a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape having two differently curved surfaces. The individual optical elements are quite small in size relative to the length and width of the substrate, and redistribute light passing through the substrate in a predetermined angular distribution. The individual optical elements may be distributed on the surface of the substrate such that some intersect each other, or the placement may be randomized.