A photo-tunable liquid crystal composition may include a polymer matrix and a liquid crystal mixture dispersed within the polymer matrix. The liquid crystal mixture may include at least one achiral nematic liquid crystal material, at least sine photo-active chiral dopant, at least one photo-inactive chiral dopant, and at least one emissive dye. The composition may be fabricated in the form of an emulsion, a wet film, or a dry film. The dry film may be used in a photo-tunable liquid crystal film laser. The output wavelength of the photo-tunable liquid crystal film laser may be tuned by exposing the dry film to illumination having at least one wavelength at one or more transition wavelengths.