Approaching our 29th year, The Indie Film Gathering International Film Festival is based in northern Ohio. This weekend long film festival is a gathering for filmmakers young, old, student, amateur, or professional. This festival is for people who create because it is part of their dichotomy. Those that need to make and to express themselves. No matter your budget or access, we celebrate the passion and dedication of artists and filmmakers who simply love and appreciate cinema and are dedicated to growing their skill set and overall knowledge of cinematic arts.

Our mission is to provide an opportunity and safe space for filmmakers of any level or capability to showcase their work. Indie Gathering is an opportunity to engage filmmakers from all walks of life. We are building a community on the premise that bringing people up for their merits is greater than cutting with crushing critique. Indie Gathering is a place for filmmakers to better their skills, showcase their ideas, and build a community. We thrive on your inspiration not your flaws. We embrace experimental, animated, narrative and documentary, short-form and feature length films from every corner of the globe, offering filmmakers an environment that values artistry above marquee names and industry relationships. We are about fostering creativity and honing the craft. "If you build it, they will come”- Field of Dreams. We hope that resonates with you.

**PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!**

With competitions for films, scripts, film scoring, and acting/monologue, The Indie Gathering has a place for everyone! The weekend consists of two 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!

Awards to attending winners include framed certificates, software, cash prizes and other prizes 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/Animation

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.

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 per filmmaker. 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 or tickets.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I've had films at The Indie Gathering International Film Festival every year for over ten years now, 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; and Montevideo, Uruguay; as well as Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Seattle and San Francisco, and The Indie Gathering International Film Festival is still among my favorites.

    October 2023
  • Michael Stafford

    The indie gathering International Film Festival is unique film festival that possess the opportunity to watch a wide variety of films but also engage with other filmmakers and network. It's gets better each year.

    September 2023
  • Pauline Nowakowski

    Excellent job! I look forward to 2024

    September 2023
  • From all of us at Powerball, thank you for selecting our film to be screened at your festival! We hope to be a part of your festival again in the future!

    August 2023
  • Autumn Libengood

    It was a true honor having our film “Life After” a part of this film festival. We can’t say thank you enough it was truly such a blessing.

    August 2023