Every August, filmmakers from around the world meet up for The Indie Gathering International Film Festival. The Indie Gathering is more than just a film festival - it's a place where filmmakers can gather together with the audience for one great weekend!

The "Indie" Gathering Film Festival exists to showcase the independent filmmaker. Our mission is to inspire and encourage film makers through a competitive showcase. Filmmakers participate in their screenings and after the films speak with audience members who seek a closer look into the creative process.

**PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!**

With competitions for films, scripts, film scoring, special FX makeup, stunts/fight scenes, and acting/monologue, The Indie Gathering has a place for everyone! The weekend consists of three screening rooms, a convention/vendors room, film seminars/lectures, competitions, networking parties and more! If you are involved in, or interested in, any aspect of filmmaking, this festival is for you.

Previously voted one of the Top 25 Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine as the Best Fest for Networking!

**PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!**

Awards to attending winners include trophies, plaques, certificates, and Grand Championship Belts (to Best Overall Film, Script, Film Score). Non-attending winners receive e-certificates. Additional awards TBA.

**PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!**

When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project. Please note that we may, in our own discretion, move your project into a different genre if we feel it is a better fit for that genre. This does not happen often, but we want to ensure your project is in the right category. However, we still need your selected genre e-mailed to us. Please select only ONE.

Film Genres: Action / Animation / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Documentary / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Experimental / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Trailer / TV Pilot / Web episode / Western

Music Video Genres: Alternative / Blues / Country / Indie / Jazz / Metal / Other / Pop / Punk / R & B / Rap / Rock

Script Genres: Action / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / TV Pilot / Web episode / Western

Films in any language other than English MUST be subtitled.

There are NO restrictions as to when your film or script was completed or where it has been released. Anyone may enter the competition. All entries must receive an average score of 90 or above in the judging process to qualify for award placement.

Filmmakers - If you are sending your judging copies (2 are required) by mail instead of a secure online screener, please check both copies of your DVD or Blu-Ray before mailing to make sure they play. Each DVD or Blu-Ray should have your film title, total run time and FF tracking number.

Hard copies are NOT returned, unless you clear this with the festival administration from the beginning. In order to have your disc(s) or script(s) returned to you (after the festival) you MUST send an SASE along with your disc(s) OR script(s) - not separately or after.

**IF YOU SUBMIT VIA SECURE ONLINE SCREENER AND YOUR FILM IS SELECTED TO SCREEN, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SEND A HARD COPY (DVD / BLU-RAY) OF YOUR FILM FOR SCREENING. ANY SELECTED FILM NOT RECEIVED BY A GIVEN DEADLINE WILL BE REPLACED IN THE LINEUP - NO EXCEPTIONS.**

We do not grant submission fee waivers *under any circumstance*. We do not pay screening fees.

Please note, if your project qualifies for an award, you or a direct representative from your project must be in attendance at the festival in order to receive any physical awards. Non-attending winners will be e-mailed award certificates after the event.

All submissions - whether accepted or not - come with ONE complimentary 4-day event pass to the festival. Any additional passes must be purchased in advance or at the door.

If you have a film in competition which can no longer be considered for screening, you may withdraw it from screening consideration but still leave it in competition for award placement. Please e-mail theindiegathering@gmail.com as soon as possible if you need to withdraw from consideration for screening.

You may withdraw your submission at any time, but there are no refunds on submissions.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I've had films at The Indie Gathering International Film Festival every year for almost longer than I can remember, and I always come back for more. Not only is the selection of films comprehensive, but the networking is superb. I've met filmmakers from every continent in the years my films have screened.

    I've traveled to film festivals who've screened my films in Belgrade, Serbia; Kassel, Germany; Roses, Spain; Barcelona, Spain; London, UK; Mexico City, Mexico; Montevideo, Uruguay, as well as Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Seattle, and The Indie Gathering International Film Festival is still among my favorites.

    November 2022
  • Lauren Himmelvo

    Not very organized. Very few attendees. Travelled to be there for not a lot.

    August 2022
  • They really inspire indie film makers to shoot for greater heights!

    August 2022
  • It’s my honor meeting the legend -Master filmmaker Ray Szuch and his team in Cleveland, Ohio. This is a very well- organized film festival. Ray and other speakers are very knowledgeable about indie filmmaking and they surely care about every filmmaker ‘s journey and growth. Even it is far away from Hollywood, I am amazed by how well they hosted the event. There’re red carpet, formal interview, formal award ceremony,film screening, film block, professional photography, Q& A, it is surely a mini “academy” gathering style that no one should miss :) thank you for choosing” Mad scientists” to be the winner!

    August 2022
  • Although I wasn't able to attend, I was really impressed with the programming at this festival. Hope to attend future events.

    August 2022