Indie Film Wisconsin has been at the forefront of discussing and championing the state's independent film scene for over a decade.

Now comes Indie Film Wisconsin Film Festival's second year. A celebration of the independent film making spirit and a showcase of independent cinema and new media. Not just from Wisconsin but from around the world.

The festival was founded by Indie Film Wisconsin's creator, Wayne Clingman. From his tenure as Commissioner of the City of Racine's cable access station, through being integral in introducing Wisconsin’s film incentive program and producing his own films, to his work on various film festivals including It Came From Lake Michigan Film Festival and Sydney, Australia's A Night of Horror International Film Festival; Wayne's experience in independent media creation, exhibition, and promotion is wide ranging.

Indie Film Wisconsin welcomes submissions from filmmakers, screenwriters, and new media content creators, working in all genres. We want to celebrate the unique spirit of independent film, by providing a welcoming space for filmmakers and audience members to interact an enjoy the latest in indie cinema from around the globe.

The fest's venue is the 7th Avenue Theater in historic Kenosha, Wisconsin. The move brings the festival closer to Milwaukee and Chicago, which presents better infrastructure for exhibition. The festival takes place less than an hour's drive from Milwaukee. Hotels, bars and restaurants are within walking distance of the cinema.

All prizes awarded will be non-monetary in nature,
Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Short, Best Animated Short, Best Music Video, Independent Spirit Award, Feature Screenplay Competition Winner, Feature Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Finalist, Short Screenplay Competition Winner, Short Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition Finalist.

Indie Film Wisconsin Film Festival Rules

Awards & Prizes

All prizes awarded will be non-monetary in nature. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Short, Best Animated Short, Best Music Video, Independent Spirit Award, Feature Screenplay Competition Winner, Feature Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Feature Screenplay Finalist, Short Screenplay Competition Winner, Short Screenplay Competition 1st Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition 2nd Runner Up, Short Screenplay Competition Finalist.

Rules & Terms

We require films initially be submitted via online screeners, i.e. private Youtube or Vimeo links. We do not accept physical preview copies (i.e. DVDs).

In submitting your film or video to Indie Film Wisconsin Film Festival, you acknowledge that you have all the relevant permissions, licenses and releases for your film or video to be screened in a public exhibition. You must have in your possession the permissions, licenses and releases for the submitted film or video's music, script, actors etc.

There is no restriction as to the year that the film was made.

If your film is selected to screen at the festival, you must supply us with a copy of your film in one of the following formats: digital media file uploaded to our Dropbox account, or DCP shipped to us on a hard drive.

While care will be taken, we are unable to guarantee the safety of your hard drive, or film while in our possession, or in transit. If selected to screen at the festival, please do not send us a master copy, or your only copy of the film.

After the festival, hard drives containing digital files submitted to the festival for exhibition will be either returned to entrant, or forwarded to another film festival as requested by entrant.

The festival only pays for return shipping. We do not pay for shipping both ways of DCPs or other exhibition mediums. If selected to screen at the festival, and unable to upload a digital copy of their film to the festival's Dropbox account, the filmmaker agrees to arrange for and pay for digital file/hard drive, and/or DCP shipping to the festival in Wisconsin, USA. Filmmaker also agrees to provide necessary KDM for any DCP sent to the festival at no expense to the festival.

Additional publicity materials (jpg stills, etc.) are required if your film is selected to screen at the festival.

Please select the most relevant category for your film. You may choose between:

1. Feature films: Narrative length feature film (45 to 150 minutes in duration). All Film genres are accepted.

2. Documentary films: Feature length documentary films (45 to 150 minutes in duration).

3. Short Films: Any live action film, narrative or documentary (45 minutes or under in duration).

4. Short Animations: Any animated short film (45 minutes or under in duration).

5. Music Videos: Any type of Music

6. Web or TV: Single episodes of web series or television series, and/or short films and/or videos, made primarily for exhibition or distribution on television or the internet (50 minutes and under in duration). Narrative as well as documentary content is accepted in this category.

7. Feature Screenplay Competition: Competition for feature length screenplays. Any genres

8. Short Screenplay Competition: Competition for short film screenplays. Any genres

Judges, selected by Dr. Fortune’s Emporium LLC, will decide the winners of each of the above categories. In all cases, the judges' decisions are final.

Entrants whose films are chosen for screening at the festival will be notified by mid March 2019.

If you decide to attend the festival, we are unable to cover any costs of your travel or accomodations.

By submitting to the festival you agree to abide by and commit to the following statement: "I authorize Dr. Fortune’s Emporium, LLC to screen the film or video listed above, upon the film or video's acceptance in Indie Film Wisconsin Film Festival. For the purpose of the screenings, I authorize Dr. Fortune’s Emporium LLC to market the film or video in whatever manner they see fit. I acknowledge that Dr. Fortune’s Emporium LLC holds the screening rights of the film that I submitted to Indie Film Wisconsin for the purposes of screening the film at the 2019 Indie Film Wisconsin film festival. I confirm that all other rights remain the sole property of myself and/or my nominated production company. I hereby confirm that all material used in the production of the film or video is the original work of myself or my nominated production company, or is work for which I or my nominated production company have obtained with releases, including but not limited to actors, performances and the musical score. I guarantee that I have obtained all the necessary permissions, licenses and clearances to enter this film or video into Indie Film Wisconsin film festival, and that the film and the screening of the film by Dr. Fortune's Emporium LLC, does not infringe the moral and ethical rights including copyright of any third party. I understand that my submission is in no way a guarantee of acceptance into Indie Film Wisconsin, and that nobody representing Dr. Fortune's Emporium LLC or Indie Film Wisconsin has guaranteed my acceptance into the festival prior to this submission. I have read and agree to the general rules, terms and conditions of the Indie Film Wisconsin film festival. I have also read and agree to any specific rules relating to the category that I am entering my film or video."

RULES AND CONDITIONS FOR SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS

There is no restriction to the year that the screenplay was written.

Screenplays must be submitted electronically online.

All screenplays should be formatted in accord with industry standards.

Please include a paragraph synopsis.

No rewritten/corrected pages will be accepted once entry is received.

Screenplay must be in English.

Screenplay must not have been previously optioned, purchased, in production or produced.

Screenplays written as adaptations of other works must have secured rights before being submitted.

The entrant retains copyright to their screenplay.

The entrant agrees that he or she will never assert against Dr. Fortune's Emporium or Indie Film Wisconsin any claim or action based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential or fiduciary relationship, implied contract, idea theft, unfair competition or any other theory arising in connection with their submission to Indie Film Wisconsin, and the entrant understands that Dr. Fortune's Emporium accepts no liability of any kind for the unauthorized use of all or part of such submissions by any person. In this regard, the entrant hereby absolutely releases and forever discharges Dr. Fortune's Emporium LLC, Indie Film Wisconsin and its officers, employees, volunteers, judges, readers, affiliates, and associates, individually and collectively, of or from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, legal fees, expenses, debts, actions, and causes of action against Dr. Fortune's Emporium or Indie Film Wisconsin of every kind whatsoever, now and in the future, in connection with the entrant's submission.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Timothy Jacobson

    Our creative team at Sustainable Driftless, Inc. is thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in the Indie Film Wisconsin Film Festival with our documentary "Decoding the Driftless."

    April 2020
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much

  • Joyce Fitzpatrick

    This is a new festival and the founder was very kind and hospitable. We appreciated being a part of it and look forward to a bigger and better one next year!

    June 2019
  • Easy to submit to, start of something great!

    April 2019
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the review

  • It was an honor to have my director's cut of a Turtle Taido short screened as an official selection at this wonderful festival, now in its second year. Our only regret is that we are unable to travel to the festival this year because of our current workload and deadlines. Knowing the people who put this festival together, it's no surprise that it's so successful! Highly recommended! *****

    April 2019
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Many thanks for your review!

  • Very nice people. Great communication.

    April 2019
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for the review.