load-file needs an absolute file name. If you don't give it an absolute path, it will have to generate one based on the current buffer's default-directory which isn't going to be what you want:
$ cd / $ emacs -Q --batch --eval "(load-file \"foo.el\")" Cannot open load file: No such file or directory, /foo.el $ cd /tmp $ emacs -Q --batch --eval "(load-file \"foo.el\")" Cannot open load file: No such file or directory, /tmp/foo.el I thought emacs would look in emacs home directory (~/.emacs.d/) to find files.
You don't want that either. Emacs will not look in ~/.emacs.d by default when loading lisp files (and see Warning message about load-path. or https://stackoverflow.com/q/24779041 regarding the fact that Emacs will complain if you try to make it do so).
In code, you would usually use either (load "foo") or (require 'foo) to load a foo.el[c] library with Emacs looking for it in the directories listed in the load-path variable.
I suggest reading:
- C-hig
(emacs)Lisp Libraries - C-hig
(elisp)How Programs Do Loading - C-hf
require