This is the 4th annual PopCon International Film Festival (PIFF) competition for PopCon, but we are in our 10th year as a physical convention. The film festival begins Friday, August 25, 2023 and concludes Sunday, August 27, 2023 and will feature films, post screening Q&A's, celebrity panels, filmmaker panels and more.
PopCon prides itself as being Indy's "only" locally owned and operated large pop culture fan event. PopCon will be programming a full-lineup film festival. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their short/feature film and short/feature screenplays 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, Supernatural/Thriller, Documentary, Internet Culture & Gaming/Sports.
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 8th Annual PopCon Podcast Awards, the 10th Annual Ultimate Cosplay Championships, and dozens 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.
Upon filmmakers request and written consent, official selections can be submitted for distribution consideration 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 the following:
One (1) Three-day Pass (in-person event admission) to Indy PopCon (full convention & film festival). Additional passes are easily purchased.
PopCon gift bag
An official PopCon International Film Festival welcome letter.
Award trophies will be given for the following*:
-Best Horror
-Best Thriller
-Best Comedy
-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
-Best International Film
-Best Feature
-Best Short
-Best Director
-Best Actress
-Best Actor
-Best Cinematography
-Best Special Effects (SFX)
-Best Indiana Film
* Please note that trophies will NOT be shipped and can only be received at the in-person awards ceremony
Award Certificates will be given for the following categories*:
-Best Sound Design
-Best 1st Time Filmmaker
-Best Story
-Best Costuming
-Best Production Design
-Best Ensemble Cast
-Best Student Film
-Best Villain
-Best Hero
-Best Animated Film
-Best Fan Film
-Best Documentary
-Best Short Screenplay
-Best Feature Screenplay
* Please note that certificates will NOT be shipped and can only be received at the in-person awards ceremony, but can be received digitally for self-printing.
Films can be nominated for multiple awards.