IndieX Film Fest is an international short film festival based in Los Angeles with monthly editions that qualify for the Annual Awards. Besides the monthly awards and the annual event, IndieX Film Fest occasionally holds special screenings and Q&As with cast and crews.

From the theaters of Raleigh Studios Hollywood to Regal LA Live, IndieX has premiered over 450 films in annual events, special screenings, and Q&A sessions, welcoming more than 4,000 attendees from around the world.

Among its past honorees, IndieX is proud to have featured Academy Award winners Barney Burman and Joel Harlow, Oscar nominees including Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Bruce Davison, Eric Roberts, Janet McTeer, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Paul Giamatti, as well as Emmy winners Kyra Sedgwick, Loretta Devine, Carey Jones, and Roy H. Wagner. The lineup also includes SAG winners Donny Carrington, Hymnson Chan, and Sam Phillips, Sundance laureates Masha Ko and Bart Freundlich, AACTA winner Darren Gilshenan, and MTV Award winner Joslyn Rose Lyons. Other notable names have included Kevin Bacon, Joe Mantegna, Sosie Bacon, Danny Trejo, Karen Allen, Kevin McNally, Pixie Lott, and James Phelps, among many others.

IndieX is looking for independent projects from all genres and all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry. With room for transgressive, eccentric or forbidden, to balance traditional narratives with high standard projects, linear or non linear, that simply "don't fit".

Each monthly round, all submitted projects are judged by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry from Los Angeles area, against a high standard of merit.

From the pool of official selection, which has a very competitive acceptance rate, IndieX choses the nominees and award winners of the season. Some of the award-winning projects, selected by the programmers of IndieX, are publicly screened in Los Angeles in special Q&A sessions with cast and crews.

Annual Awards qualifying
The nominees and award winners of each monthly round qualify for the Annual Awards. For this event in Los Angeles, the judging team of IndieX chose around 75/85 films to nominate for the best of the year (from the pool of nominees and awards winners of 12 monthly rounds).
To learn more, check the following link:
https://indiexfest.com/annual-awards/

Every submission can add additional judging categories. In these cases, the name(s) to be credited should be included in the cover letter or sent to IndieX by email.
Note that any entry is judged only according to the nature of the submitted category or categories.

MONTHLY ROUNDS
All projects officially selected in each monthly round receive the IndieX official laurel and the custom certificate of achievement according to their final status in the competition.

At least 3 different judges score the quality and creativity of each entry on a performance scale. The highest rated entries are nominated for the awards of the respective categories and finally are choose the winners.

Besides the main award and the special Student Awards for each category, it can be given also Outstanding Achievement Awards (special recognition) and Honorable Mentions.

Also, IndieX selects overall winners each round: Best Short, awarded to the strongest film overall; Best Short (Foreign-Language), designated when eligible; and two to three Awards of Excellence as additional honors.

Categories with no submissions meeting the festival requirements or the minimum score threshold will have no awards assigned. Award levels are determined by the overall evaluation and may vary depending on the quality of the submissions.

ANNUAL AWARDS
The top monthly award winners qualify for the annual awards.
Each annual event is based in an annual cycle of 12 monthly rounds.
The judging team of IndieX chose around 75/85 films to nominate for the best of the year.

EVENTS DATES
The event date in FilmFreeway designates the day of the announcement of the award winners of each monthly round.
The special screenings and Q&A as well as the annual awards have a different timeline that is announced through our website and social media outlets. All submitters are always kept in loop and in advance to be able to do the preparations to attend the events.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

All films should have a maximum length of 60 minutes.
All short scripts should have a maximum of 60 pages.

The films must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).
The scripts must be written in English.

By submitting the film or script, the submitter agrees that:
1. IndieX can use trailer/teaser/film poster/stills or BTS and script excerpt for promotional purpose (but do not release, under any form or circumstances, the full film or script)
2. Entry fees are non-refundable.
3. The submitter owns all the rights to the film or script.
4. The information about the entries can be disclosed to IndieX associate film festivals.
5. Submission cannot be withdrawn after the announcement of the official selection.

For student fee, it is mandatory the student status evidence (e.g. copy of student card included in the project).

AI-Use Disclosure Requirement
Projects that have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at any stage of creation — including image generation, animation, writing, sound design, or editing — must include a brief AI-Use Disclosure in the project’s cover letter or description. The disclosure should specify which AI tools were used and the extent of their use. Submissions lacking transparency regarding AI-assisted content, if applicable, may be deemed ineligible.

The projects that do not follow the rules & terms above can be automatically disqualified at the sole discretion of IndieX.

PUBLIC THEATRICAL SCREENINGS - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
For public screenings, the submitter must provide:
Primary format (preferred):
• 2K or 4K DCP (SMPTE compliant)
 – Container: Interop or SMPTE (SMPTE preferred)
 – Frame rate: 24 fps (other rates accepted if mastered properly)
 – Audio: 5.1 Surround or Stereo (5.1 preferred)
 – Aspect ratio clearly indicated
Alternative formats (if DCP is unavailable):
• 4K or 2K ProRes (ProRes 422 HQ or ProRes 4444)
• 4K or 2K H.264 (High Profile, 20–50 Mbps recommended)
 – File format: .mov or .mp4
 – Audio: Stereo or 5.1
Delivery Method:
• Secure digital transfer required (link with download enabled)
Subtitles and Accessibility:
• Films not in English must include English subtitles
• Optional subtitles/captions for accessibility encouraged
Final Specifications:
• All final screening materials must be delivered by the deadline set by the festival; late delivery may result in the film being withdrawn from the public program.
• The festival reserves the right to request new files if the materials provided are technically inadequate

Disclaimer:
(i) Affiliated Events: IndieX Film Fest is associated only with Independent Shorts Awards and Indie Short Fest. Any resemblance to other events or organizations is purely coincidental. We do not represent, nor are we represented by, any other entity.

(ii) Confidentiality: IndieX Film Fest does not share any information with third parties. All filmmaker data and communications remain strictly within our organization.

Important Notice: The submitter owns all the rights to the film, meaning that the submitted work (i) does not violate or infringe any copyright, patent, privacy right, publicity right, trademark, service mark or any other personal or property right of any person or entity, that (ii) does not constitute or include a defamation of any person or entity, and that (iii) its representatives have paid and will pay in full all license fees, clearance fees, and other obligations, of any kind, arising from or associated with the exhibition of the Film at or in connection with the Festival. Also, that the submitter is duly authorized, on his own behalf and on behalf of all other persons or entities who have any ownership rights or interests (including, without limitation, intellectual property rights) in or relating to the film, to exhibit the film at the Festival.

IndieX Film Fest 2019-2026 © All Rights Reserved

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • ERCAN DEĞİRMENCİ

    Being selected by IndieX Film Festival with my film Çördük is a meaningful step in its journey. The festival offers a respectful and well-organized environment for independent storytellers. It is encouraging to see platforms that value sincere and authentic narratives. Thank you for giving space to such voices.

    April 2026
  • "For now this is my preliminary review. Not only did IndieX specifically respond beyond the catch-line of my short video's title: "WIN A DATE WITH NORMA MASTER BATES!" (ILLIAD & ODD) but quick-listed it to what is for now their/my ensuing round of this competition. My film is a one-man/woman (!?!?) Parody borrowing from several films, associations, self-stylized artworks and quips but a character study about real Identity confusions and caricatures themselves. The editing was arduous and the footage is raw and unrefined in conventional methods and status quo ideologies. IndieX affiliates with other Festivals within Los Angeles and beyond ... some also finding me and my work. That noted, I have thus far not been promised a screening and the Event is awaiting but as I was quickly moved onto the next round, fittingly I want to prematurely ... ... ... hmm, respond in kind with respect and gratitude for having expressed genuine (NOT rehearsed) enthusiasm towards me for my efforts.

    Thanks, IndieX Film Fest. TBC..............!"

    ~ Brian Spellman

    March 2026
  • Zahar Alg

    Thank you to IndieX Film Fest for selecting my short animated film Soul Poetry for the March 2026 round. Grateful to be part of the experience.

    March 2026
  • Amei a experiência, foi incrível participar

    March 2026
  • Yonka Yancheva

    Being part of IndieX Film Fest has been an absolute pleasure and honor. When I submitted my film "Kukuk: A Romani Soul Unbroken", I didn't expect the level of recognition we received in so many different categories. As a creator and filmmaker that motivated me greatly. Participating in IndieX Film Fest inspired and encouraged me to keep working hard and be a braver visionary in my films. Thank you again!

    February 2026