We are Cincinnati's home for independent filmmakers. We cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking!

We are a multi-genre festival and continue accepting all-genre types from all over the world - we love a great story! Come meet directors, producers, filmmakers, artists and community members from all over Cincinnati, the US, and the world!

Cindependent Film Festival returns September 18, 19, and 20, 2025, at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio! We host over ten hours of film programming daily, free coffee networking events, live screenplay readings for accepted screenplays by local professional actors, VIP parties, and a filmmaker lounge for networking your film or screenplay.

Cindependent is a filmmaker-focused festival, dedicated to empowering and providing career development resources for accepted artists during our event. We welcome storytellers at all levels of their careers including student, emerging, mid-career, professional, experienced and celebrity.

Our festival is located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati in walking distance to the many incredible parks, bars, restaurants, museums and energy of the wonderful Queen City!

We provide lodging for filmmakers attending the festival - lodging may be limited and we prioritize film nominees, then out-of-town visitors followed by our precious local filmmakers (we love you!)

A sample festival schedule may run like this:

Wednesday Evening: Welcome Party for visiting Filmmakers and Screenwriters
Thursday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings begin. After Party at 10pm.
Friday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings begin. After Party at 10pm.
Saturday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings continue. After Party at 10pm.
Sunday: Awards Ceremony and Goodbye Brunch

Awards & Prizes

Cindependent may provide five Development Grants during each festival. This is not cash-money provided directly but a development program that works to sustain new works within the Cincinnati region. You do not have to be local to Cincinnati to win one of these awards. Our ability to award this is dependent on our funding progress and we may not offer this in 2025.

There are additional non-monetary distinctions awarded each year that do not have monetary attachments: Best Short Screenplay, Best Feature Screenplay, Best Student Film, Best International Short, Best US Short, Best Ohio Short, Best Family Short, Best Comedy Short, Best Drama Short, Best Off-Kilter Short, Best Experimental Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Kirk M Weber Fan Favorite Film, Kirk M Weber Fan Favorite Screenplay, and the Founder's Film Award.

Rules & Terms

Submitter only needs to submit to ONE genre, but will be considered in all appropriate categories.

You agree to the following terms and conditions of the Cindependent Film Festival.

• All films must be the original work of the filmmakers and all filmmakers must have the necessary rights. The festival is not liable for any rights issues.
• By submitting a film to CFF, you grant the Cindependent Film Festival permission to screen your film, if said film is officially accepted into this year's lineup.
• If your film has been selected, you are automatically considered accepted. If we do not hear from you otherwise within 14 days of notification, your selection will be accepted and intended for playing in the festival.
• All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Foreign language films without English subtitles will not be screened.
• Only completed entries (including entry form, payment, and final film) will be considered.
• We are an environmentally friendly festival. We accept digital entries ONLY. Do not send DVD’s, Blu-rays, or physical press kits.
• Films must have been produced no earlier than 2023.
• We have no premiere status requirements.
• If accepted, the filmmaker is required to provide the festival a digital file (.mov, .mp4), for exhibition.
• In accordance with the Cindependent Film Festival policy, the entry fee is non-refundable.
• You will not be allowed to enter your work unless you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the Cindependent Film Festival Festival.

You grant the Cindependent Film Festival the following:
• Permission to exhibit your film. Films must be available for screening September 2025.
• Allow photos, posters, highlights or excerpts of your film (e.g. a trailer) to be placed on the Cindependent Film Festival Festival website and used for other marketing and promotional purposes. You also agree to allow CFF to promote the following year's festival with the material listed above. CFF will never solicit or screen your film outside the promotion of the CFF without your approval.

The Festival
• We are accepting short film (under 40 minutes), feature film (under 125 minutes), and screenplay submissions.
• Notification of selections will be made August 2nd, 2025.
• The Cindependent Film Festival reserves the right to change our programming without notice. The official selections and screening schedule is at the sole discretion of the festival.
• You may submit as many entries as you like. Each entry requires its own entry fee. Entry fees will not be refunded.
• Entrants are encouraged, but not required, to attend the festival. Entrants receive 2 free full passes to the film festival for the duration of the film festival, and can receive artist pricing on each additional pass.
• Exceptions to these rules will not be made unless we make an exception.
For questions and inquiries, please email allyson@cindependentfilmfest.org
119 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Howdy Partner

    Favorite film festival we've been to thus far! So filmmaker-centric, seamlessly run, and every film was of such high quality. Cindependent really makes you feel loved. So honored to have Get You Better included in the 2024 lineup! Looking forward to 2025.

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you!!! We really loved how much your team FESTED. Thank you for being part of our CindeFamily. <3

  • Diogo Andrade

    A festival that genuinely celebrates independent cinema. The organization is friendly, approachable, and communicative.
    Thank you!

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Diogo, thank you for this review!! We appreciate you.

  • Louisa Connolly-Burnham

    I had an amazing time participating in Cindependent Film Festival with my film Sister Wives! Allyson and the whole team were super welcoming and made the whole process really easy and stress-free. Their communication was great, and it was clear they’re passionate about supporting filmmakers. I felt so safe and championed here.

    The festival featured a great mix of films, showcasing diverse voices and genres. You could tell the organizers put a lot of thought into curating the lineup. Screenings were well-organized with top-notch quality, and the Q&A sessions were a fantastic way to connect with both filmmakers and the audience.

    Cindependent Film Festival really cares about filmmakers, and I highly recommend it. Can't wait to submit again!

    All the best,
    Louisa Connolly-Burnham x

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Louisa, you were just amazing to have in Cincy! Thanks for visiting from across the pond. We hope to premiere your future work here!

  • Makayla Boyd

    This festival has been my favorite so far! I got to network with so many people, there was popcorn, champagne, candy, and a red carpet! There was an award ceremony along with multiple nights of screenings! There were also many speakers panels and masterclasses. This is by far the best festival I've been to and can't wait to go again!

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Makayla, thank you for this review! We absolutely loved having you and featuring your work. Thank you!

  • Asha Chai-Chang

    You haven’t been celebrated for all of your hard work as a Creative until you’ve attended Cindependent Film Festival! I didn’t think you could fall in love with a film festival, it’s team, and it’s filmmaker all at once. The curation is superb! As an official selection and nominee, you feel honored by the company you are in with newfound peers because it’s like the programmers sought to create more than just a line up of AMAZING films with such broad, diverse voices however they found exceptional people too! If you want to be awed by spectacular talent, boundless resources, above and beyond support, on-point communication, and themed parties to find kindred spirits, Cindependent is the Cindexperience you MUST attend. I see why alums and audience members attend annually!

    Oh did I mention that people will actually see your project-!! Yes like actual packed theaters; like imagine meeting film enthusiasts who are looking forward to see YOUR film because you found one of the few film festivals that advocate for indie filmmakers like you, year round?!!

    It’s rated as one of the Top Film Festivals for Filmmakers and I second that rating! Will definitely be submitting again and again for years to come!

    October 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Asha, thank you so so so so so so so so so much. We loved having you with us and absolutely loved sharing your work!