"IndieFanFilmFest" a TOP 100 BEST REVIEWED festival - come see why!

"I attend many festivals and there are few that measure up to this one. The festival lives up to its motto: where filmmakers are ALWAYS center stage. The attendance of filmmakers representing diverse genre and levels of expertise coupled with the many opportunities to network makes this a festival I will always try to attend. I have no hesitation checking 5 stars in every category. There needs to be 10 STARS for communication.” Margery Wilson, Quizas International

* An international festival and IMDb qualifying event *

CSIFFF features LIVE SCREENINGS at the plush and smoke-free Jumer's Casino in Rock Island, IL, whose fantastic viewing rooms and discounted room rates make for a great intimate festival experience. Quad Cities International Airport is minutes away, or visit CHICAGO before or after - Chicago's O'Hare and Midway International Airports are within a few hours drive!

CSIFFF celebrates the diversity of Americans and all human beings, so in addition to our general call for submissions, we are issuing a call for films with innovative, progressive and balanced stories from and concerning women, the LGBTQ community, seniors, and those of Latin, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Native American descent.

CSIFFF's RED CARPET AWARDS CEREMONY on Friday is an evening long event and a night to remember - with a four-course meal, table wines, film clips, photo ops, and awards throughout. You won't want to miss it!

CSIFFF is an International Film Festival that is dedicated to REAL INDIE FILMMAKERS - not the big studio spinoffs calling themselves as such. While held in Rock Island, Illinois, which along with Davenport, Bettendorf and Moline make up the Quad Cities along the Mighty Mississippi River in America's heartland, FILMS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM AROUND THE WORLD. As well, additional categories are open for submissions from the following Central States: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin..

We are very excited to meet you and to review your creative gem. We understand how precious each film is to its creators and will work with you and the growing Central States Film Community to cultivate your craft in the coming months and years. OUR PROMISE - to diligently endeavor to empower INDEPENDENT filmmakers and celebrate film CREATIVITY and DIVERSITY in the Central States and around the world!

ALL SUBMISSIONS are eligible to be nominated for genre, role and crew categories as determined appropriate by judges, for example Comedy or Horror, Actor or Actress, and Director or Cinematography*

BEST OF FEST - given to the overall winner chosen by our judges from all submitted films.

BEST CENTRAL STATES FILM - chosen by our judges from all submitted films qualifying as a Central States Film

STUDENT FILMMAKER - anyone 18 and under, or a college student (verified by student ID) please submit at student rates for automatic eligibility for student awards.

Awards given for each submission category; genre awards - for example Comedy, Foreign Language, or Horror; and craft - Cinematography, Soundtrack, Director, etc., as well as Actor, Actress, Talented New Director, and Talented Student Filmmaker.

MUSIC CATEGORIES, FILM POSTERS, and TRAILERS - only films that specifically submit to one or more of the Soundtrack, Song, Music Video or Trailer categories will be judged for those awards. Selected Trailers and Music Videos will be screened.

The judging panel reserves the right to remove a category or to add additional categories as they deem appropriate.

*Films completed before 2018 can submit in the Open Category - for Short content or Feature length. Selected films will, of course, be screened and one will be awarded the Jury Award - Open Category. These films will not, however, be included in nominations for Best Actress, Director, etc.

All entries and submissions to Central States Indie FanFilmFest must be made through FilmFreeway. See categories for specific lengths. Films not in English must be subtitled in English.

If you meet requirements for a Central States submission category, your film will be judged in these more narrow categories while still eligible for top festival awards.

If your film is selected only in Soundtrack (Short or Feature), Original Song with Lyrics, Original Song Instrumental, we reserve the right to screen it in part or not at all.

Films completed before 2017 can submit in the Open Category - for Short content or Feature length. Selected films will be screened and one will be awarded the Jury Award - Open Category. These films will not, however, be included in nominations for Best Actress, Director, etc.

Awards Event requirements - we endeavor to hold a first class top of the line Awards Evening that is 2nd to none, therefore selected films must comply with deadlines for nomination clips and other requests necessary to make this evening spectacular. Selected films that do not respond to event our requirements must and, unfortunately, will be disqualified.

By submitting your film you have read and agreed to all CSIFFF submission rules and these terms and conditions. If you have any further questions, please contact us via the email link.
1. SCREENING FEES - The Central States Indie FanFilmFest, LLC does not pay screening fees. By submitting your film via FilmFreeway you acknowledge that the festival will not pay to present your work.
2. SUBMISSION - All works must be submitted via FilmFreeway as an online screener. FilmFreeway allows you to upload the film or provide a link for a host site such as Vimeo or Youtube.
3. ONLINE SCREENERS must have working links and passwords throughout the submission process. It is your responsibility to notify us if any changes are made.
4. COMPLETION DATE - Entries must have been completed on or after December 31, 2018 unless previously unreleased. Otherwise submit to appropriate "Open" Category.
5. PREMIERE REQUIREMENTS - currently there are no premiere requirements, however feature length films that are viewable by the general public online will be disqualified. We do not discriminate against shorts or featurettes films that are available to the public online, but many festivals do, so it is suggested that public release be delayed until you have completed your film festival run. Password protect the online viewer to guard against this issue.
6. WORKS IN PROGRESS are accepted but PLEASE READ: While you may submit the final edit up until the posted deadlines, your original submission should be a fair representation of your final piece as our judges will be making their initial decisions based on it. When your final edit is complete, simply send us an email letting us know. If the film is substantially changed please re-submit the following year.
7. All works selected must be available and downloadable (by us) FOUR WEEKS BEFORE the opening day of the festival, and award nomination clips needed for the Red Carpet Award Event no later than TWO WEEKS BEFORE - NO EXCEPTIONS.
8. REFUNDS - CSIFFF does not issue refunds for submissions received.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By entering your film for consideration for the Central States Indie FanFilmFest (CSIFFF), you authorize that your work is cleared for festival exhibition and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the Central States Indie FanFilmFest and also hereby grants the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Indie FanFilmFest International, LLC, Central States Indie FanFilmFest, and all of their agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered. Central States Indie FanFilmFest may opt to withdraw your work from the festival at any time for any reason. Central States Indie FanFilmFest DOES NOT PAY SCREENING FEES. By submitting your film via FilmFreeway you acknowledge that the festival will not pay to present your work. CSIFFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund of submission fees. CSIFFF does not issue refunds.
Entering your film for consideration in the Central States Indie FanFilmFest is, hereby, your digital signature of agreement to posted Rules & Terms.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Thank you so much for awarding "Oh My Stars" the Best Central States film!! I thought I'd already done a review, but in going over my records, it appears I did not. They were great--communication was terrific and very nice people. The award is B E A U T I F U L and I am so grateful to have such a lovely keepsake of the film, and our win. Ihmic Rekteen was kind, and very responsive. Thank you again.

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    So glad you are happy. Your film deserves all the recognition it received and more! Wishing you continued success.

  • Stephen Mills

    Central States is a festival that gives filmmakers a great chance to get their film seen. I am so pleased to have had their careful and non-formulaic eye consider my feature Love is not Love. I recommend them to every filmmaker looking for a festival that will truly "see" their film. I am deeply and happily grateful to them.

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Stephen - it was an honor to have your film in our festival. Keep up your authentic creativity! Peace.
    Mike and the crew

  • It was a great experience. Everyone was very professional and our film got a lot of exposure. Thank you so much.

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Our pleasure, and thank you too! Keep up the great work and hope to get to meet you at our next live event!

  • Joseph Michael

    I enjoyed my experience with the Central States IFFF and sharing my web series The Great American Road Trip with other film makers and fans! I do wish that we were able to meet in person for the ceremony but the festival did the best it could in a virtual year. Thanks for helping us share our work!

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Joseph. We so appreciate your response in this really difficult year for getting together and celebrating the collective talents of so many wonderful indie filmmakers.

  • William Vandry

    Thank you for welcoming my film Samson, and being an integral part of support for filmmakers and fans. Thank you!

    September 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you! Our privilege for sure. Not having the live event has been very disappointing for so many this year. Hope to see you at the next one to screen your film! Peace, Mike