This is the 3rd annual international film festival competition for PopCon but we are in our 9th year as a physical convention. The film festival portion of PopCon begins Thursday, June 2, 2022 and concludes Sunday, June 5, 2022.

PopCon prides itself as being Indy's "only" locally owned and operated large pop culture fan event. PopCon Indy will be programming a full-lineup film festival. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their feature and short films in multiple genres.
The film festival will be honoring films of several pop culture genres, including but NOT limited to: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anime/Animation, Horror, Action/Adventure, Fan Film, Thriller, Documentary, Internet Culture & Gaming/Sports.

PopCon takes place June 3 - 5, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center and will welcome dozens of special guests, including several big-name celebrities, YouTube sensations, gamers and creators from all aspects of pop culture. The international film festival will begin Thursday, June 2nd and run through the duration of PopCon, ending Sunday, June 5, 2022.

PopCon continues to bring some of the largest names in pop culture to Indianapolis each year, but the event’s true mission is to give creators – of all kinds – a platform to find new audiences. Instead of focusing on one specific fandom, PopCon flips the script on the typical con experience by focusing on all genres of pop culture fandom. The film festival is an obvious expansion of that mission.

The film festival will be in addition to all the other programming at PopCon over the event’s weekend. The 5th Annual PopCon Podcast Awards, the 8th Annual Ultimate Cosplay Championships, and hundreds of fan panels and workshops will be alongside video gaming, laser tag, escape rooms, state-of-the-art virtual reality offerings, and 24-hour board gaming. PopCon will also continue to have the best selection of vendors for fans to enjoy.

Tickets to the event can be purchased from our main website link on the left in the contacts section.

Awards & Prizes

Some official selections will be submitted for distribution to several of our domestic and international film distribution partners. NOTE- films already available free online are not eligible for submission to distributors.

Each Official Selection will receive (1) event tickets to Indy PopCon (convention & film festival), a PopCon gift bag and an official PopCon welcome letter.

Award trophies will be given for the following:
-Best Horror/Thriller
-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
-Best Feature
-Best Short
-Best Director
-Best Actress
-Best Actor
-Best Cinematography
-Best Special Effects (SFX)
-Best Indiana Film

Award Certificates will be given for the following categories:
-Best Sound Design
-Best 1st Time Filmmaker
-Best Story
-Best Student Film
-Best Villain
-Best Hero
-Best Animation
-Best Fan Film
-Best Documentary

Rules & Terms

***Please read all rules and terms prior to submitting your film***

PopCon Film Festival is excited to consider your short film of 45 minutes or less or your feature film over 45 minutes in length within the categories of but not limited to; Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Horror, Anime/Animation, Fan Films, Thriller, Internet Culture & Gaming/Sports.

Films must be submitted through FilmFreeway. If selected, acceptable screening formats are as follows: Blu-Ray, DVD or DCP. Digital is highly preferred. Please upload trailers as well.

We accept films produced after May 2019.

In the interest of fair competition to all that submit their film/scripts, PopCon does NOT offer free submission waivers.

Please submit the version you want judged. We do not allow alternate versions to be submitted without being subject to another entrance fee.

By submitting your film to PopCon Film Festival you acknowledge and authorize use of material for promotional use which includes but is not limited to excerpts and images.
You also agree to hold PopCon Film Festival harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, expenses and damages as a result of entry.

Premieres will be considered in final programming decisions.

All films not in English must have English subtitles.

Notifications will be made by May 17, 2021 via email or phone.

PopCon reserves the rights to disqualify any submission without refund and PopCon does not allow any refunds once a film has been submitted.

Films that have been acquired, produced, financed or distributed by any major motion picture studios or production companies will be screened out of competition. It is the sole responsibility of the submitting entity to attain all permissions required from the studio(s) or production company(s) prior to submission and screening.

By submitting, artists agree to all terms set forth in the rules.

Entering your film is considered giving the PopCon International Film Festival permission to screen your film during the course of the event (physical and/or virtual)

PopCon International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition prior and during PopCon for promotional purposes.

The submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless PopCon and PopCon International Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

SUBMISSION SUGGESTIONS:
Please include the following items when submitting your film:
1) Poster
2) Stills/Set pictures
3) Trailer- not required but highly recommended even for shorts (limit trailers to 90s)
4) Complete the Filmmaker Biography section in Film Freeway
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Pedro de Lima Marques

    An amazing event that hosted the film in a spectacular way.

    I very much look forward to the next opportunity to participate in this amazing event.

    August 2021
    Helpful
  • Thorsten Schade

    What fun! A very great festival! Nice people, nice contact! I would have loved to be there in person. PopCon is great!

    August 2021
    Helpful
  • Éric PINÉDA

    It was an honor to participate to the PopCon International Film Festival.
    Great communication and great festival.
    I highly recommend it to all filmmakers.

    July 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Eric thank you for the kind words. "Anna" was an great addition to our festival. We look forward to your future projects.

  • Andrew T. Horng

    Sadly did not attend the in-person event, but was able to attend virtually! :-) Grateful for that. The virtual fest went off w/o a hitch, too. The films were enjoyable and the festival directors were organized. Amazing job!

    July 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Andrew,

    Thank you for giving PIFF a review. We are so glad you were able to attend virtually. Thank you for the kind words. We loved "Private Session" and look forward to your next project.

    Audery & George
    Festival Directors

  • Ryan Skryd

    The event organizers were friendly and accommodating, communicating every step of the process, and it was so easy to meet other filmmakers at the event and network. It was an absolute pleasure to have my film selected to screen at the convention, and as a filmmaker I felt like the organizers genuinely enjoyed the my film, and they were interested to hear about it which meant the world. To be recognized as a filmmaker at all is always a treat, but to be recognized at such a great event with nice people is more than you could ever hope for!

    July 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Ryan,

    Thank you for leaving a review of your experience. We are glad you enjoyed the convention and film festival. It was so good to meet you and we absolutely look your passion for Galloping Ghost. So glad you submitted and introduced an opportunity for so many other to discover this gem.

    Audery & George
    Festival Directors.