NoBudge is an online film festival and platform for low-budget, no-budget, and DIY indie films. "One of the best places to sample what’s happening in low-budget cinema worldwide," says Glenn Kenny of The New York Times. Our mission is to provide a supportive home for emerging indie filmmakers working with limited resources and without major industry connections.

We premiere new short films and features online, and also host live screenings bi-monthly in Brooklyn, New York at Nitehawk Cinema (Williamsburg).

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"NoBudge celebrates the creative freedom often only found in work made free from commercial considerations. It’s a place to discover fun, stimulating short works from artists you didn’t previously know."
-Vulture

"Like a great film festival shorts section beamed into your home, NoBudge is one of the internet’s top showcases for independent work." -Eric Allen Hatch, Endcrawl.

"One of the most singular streaming outlets on the block." -The Guardian.

"One of the premier destinations for true independent movies."
-No Film School.

"Should be on every film fan's bookmark list"
-Film School Rejects.

"With the hurdles of theatrical distribution increasing all the time, NoBudge stands as a valuable alternative — a way for cash-strapped directors to have their work seen and written about without having to worry over the financial and logistical headaches."
-Village Voice

Featured by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vulture, The Guardian, Indiewire, Filmmaker, Village Voice, The Wall St. Journal, No Film School, Paste, Film School Rejects.

Awards & Prizes

The NoBudge Audience Award
Cash prize of $250 given to one film per month. (voted on by our members)
All accepted films are eligible.

The NoBudge Short Films of the Year
Each year, we name our top shorts of the year.

Rules & Terms

NoBudge is an online streaming site for new indie films. We have an open call for submissions year round.

Can I submit my film if it's already available?

Yes. Feel free to submit any film regardless of premiere status or existing availability. NoBudge is not an exclusive platform.

What type of films do you screen?

All types. Narratives or documentaries or hybrids. We recommend you watch some of the films on our site to get a sense of our taste but we like anything distinct, whether it's naturalistic, stylized, funny or dramatic. Character or tone-based films may have a better chance than plot-driven or genre, but that's not always the case.

Is there a fee to submit to NoBudge?

Yes, there is a $30 submission fee for shorts (under 30 minutes) and $45 for features (over 30 minutes). NoBudge Members get $5 OFF all submissions: https://www.patreon.com/nobudge.

Do I get feedback with my submission?

We don't offer feedback on Regular submissions, but we do have a separate category where you will receive feedback from NoBudge founder & curator Kentucker Audley.
More info at: http://nobudge.com/feedback-submissions/.

Do you accept films from outside the United States?

Yes. As long as it's in English or has English subtitles.

Can I ask for a waiver?

We don't grant waivers. Sorry. We think it's only fair that everyone submits on equal footing.

When do films screen online?

Anytime. Depending on a film’s strategy, a film may premiere directly online, or it may wait till after a festival run. If your film is chosen for NoBudge, you have complete control over the screening availability. Also, you keep 100% of the rights of your film.

How will you post my film, if accepted?

In most cases, we embed your film from your personal Vimeo link. We can also upload to our Vimeo channel if that's preferred. Additionally, we usually upload our selections to our YouTube channel a week or so after they premiere, but that's not required.

Who decides if a film is accepted?

The films are all watched and selected by filmmaker and actor Kentucker Audley.

When will I hear back?

All films will be notified within 1 week if they are accepted or not.

Can I submit a web series?

Yes, we consider serialized content. If we accept, we would post all of the episodes at once, rather than a separate post for each episode. If the total run time is under 25 minutes, submit it as a short film. If over 25 minutes, please submit as feature film.

How does NoBudge publicize its films?

We post about every film via our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts and send out a weekly email to our mailing list. However, we are a small site with no advertising or publicity budget, so it’s largely the responsibility of the individual filmmaker to generate exposure / traffic.

Is NoBudge a distribution company?

No. We curate self-released films. We encourage our filmmakers to seek out additional channels to spread their film. We don't take any licensing rights or collect any profit from your film.

*Please note: we don't accept all films on the basis of having no budget. We are a curated site. Thank you.*

7 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Networking
  • Lee Manansala

    NoBudge is a great platform for your work, and I'd recommend submitting for sure. So glad I got to work with Kentucker. Cheers!

    May 2020
    Helpful
  • Iva Gocheva

    NoBudge is one of the best ways to showcase your film in the NYC film community. The energy at the showings at Nitehawk is vibrant and exciting. Kentucker Audley does an excellent job of curating a group of shorts that could at once seem autonomous, but he finds interesting ways to tie them together. We had a great time!
    No budge is also a great resource for your online premiere. Your film will sit among other exciting filmmakers in a fresh and well-traversed site for up an coming and seasoned filmmakers alike!

    February 2020
    Helpful
  • Yura Makarov

    NoBudge is awesome platform to publish your work online. We received so much of attention and support from film community releasing out film on NoBudge!

    August 2019
    Helpful
  • Julia Bales

    I love the team over at No Budge. They were so supportive and ask incredibly thoughtful questions for my interview. Highly highly suggest this organization!

    July 2019
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  • Eren Gulfidan

    Premiering my film Daydreaming online on NoBudge and being part of its screening series at the Nitehawk cinema have been a wonderful and rewarding experience. I admire Kentucker Audley's programming and his inclusion of films of different genres by filmmakers from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences. I felt the inclusive and supportive spirit of NoBudge not only on its online platform but also at the screening. It's a vital platform for independent filmmakers, and I'm so glad I submitted my film. I hope it continues to flourish and maintains its place in the filmmaking community.

    July 2019
    Helpful