20th Anniversary

The only festival in the WORLD to give Official Selection Plagues

The Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival is Pittsburgh's premiere film festival (now in it's 20th year) for truly independent films, and a headline event for micro-budget and no-budget films from around the world. PIIF offers a fantastic opportunity for undiscovered filmmakers to showcase their achievements, filmmakers who posses an independent vision and operate to create innovative work outside the studio system. We screen more films than all comparable festivals, screening 12 hours a day on both Saturday and Sunday, while still having relevant industry discussions between filmmakers in our filmmakers lounge.
Every film that is selected to screen at our festival receives an OFFICIAL SELECTION Plaque, we are the only festival (In the world) to offer a substantial plaque for being selected. For the 2016 and 2018 Best Feature Film secured a distribution deal as a result of our recommendation, upon winning our festival. Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival uses the strength of the independent film making community to put on a fantastic festival. Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival is an indie film festival by and for indie filmmakers. In 2023 eleven films we're offered distribution deals, as a result of submitting to the Pittsburgh Independent Film Fest. In 2024 9 feature films were offered distribution deals.
If you have a feature film and are looking for distribution, this is the festival for you.

We were the Best of Pittsburgh City Paper readers Poll winner 2023, 2024, 2025 three years running!
PIFF was Just voted Pittsburgh City Paper readers Poll winner 2025 First place!

Awards & Prizes

Every film selected to be in the 2027 P.I.F.F will receive a OFFICIAL SELECTION Plaque to be presented at the Awards Ceremony Opening Night!

In addition to the OFFICIAL SELECTION plaques, Awards will be presented for the following categories:

Best Feature
Best Short
Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best AI Generated
Best Short Script
Best Feature Script

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES
Official Regulations for the 2023 Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival
ELIGIBILITY

1. Entries that have screened on US television prior to the Festival are eligible for a Festival screening.

2. Productions produced after January 2020 are eligible.

3. If submitting DVD. Productions must be submitted on DVD Region 0 or 1,

4. Entries must be postmarked by the deadline date.

5. Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images and content in the entry.

6. Entrant will allow usage of clips from the entry and all related publicity material submitted for promotional use on television, radio, in print, web and at live Festival events.

7. Upon notification of acceptance, trailers may be sent via email links to YouTube. This is a great marketing for getting an audience excited about your film.

8 .Upon notification of acceptance, Entrant will allow usage of film or script regardless of any deals made with distributors T.V stations or any other distribution deal. made after submission has been made. If accepted to the festival your film will screen and cannot be withdrawn for any reason NO exceptions. We do NOT pay screening fees of any kind, or provide transportation or Airfare to the festival for filmmakers.

9. We will look at works in progress.

10. NO Fee Waivers are available.

11. All Decisions by judges, programmers and organizers will be final and no refund of entry fee will be permitted.

12. Filmmakers will pay all transportation costs of shipping exhibition tapes / dvds to festival, DVD's, Flash Drives, Drives and Blu-rays WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

75 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Carolynn Cecilia

    Screening our Pittsburgh-based film (Spite) at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival was a fantastic experience. The festival was welcoming and clearly passionate about supporting independent filmmakers. The audience was especially generous and engaged!

    July 2026
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  • Matthew Humphrey

    Fantastic festival. I was glad to have my short "Salim's" included this year. I'm looking forward to submitting work and attending in the future!

    July 2026
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  • Isabel Corica

    This was my first film festival, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. I was honored that my film "Why Me?" received an Official Selection plaque, which made the event even more memorable as a first time filmmaker. The networking opportunities were fantastic, and I had the chance to meet so many talented filmmakers. It was a fun, rewarding experience, and I look forward to attending again in the future!

    July 2026
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  • Robert Scott

    The Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival is a wonderful event. Ron Quigley does a great job putting it together and curating the films. The atmosphere is welcoming and Indie film friendly. There are many opportunities to network, see old friends and make new ones.

    July 2026
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  • Pas Vraiment Ordinaire None

    What a wonderful festival! Ron and his team created a fantastic environment to share stories, to network before and after the screenings - and presented a number of fantastic films. The venue provided an engaging released atmosphere within which to meet fellow filmmakers and network with all who attended. Thanks!

    July 2026
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