IMDb qualifying Chicago Indie Film Awards celebrates independent U.S. and international film and script projects of all genres. 

Every bi-monthly edition, U.S. and international projects compete together in various sections of the festival. The official selections are screened privately to jury members of each edition in various categories.

Our team consists of filmmakers, actors, directors, writers and critics from all over the world.

We believe that we live in a new era of digital technology and the festivals need to be able to adjust to various forms of online competitions, screenings and virtual events in order to recognize and promote talented artists working in media.

Chicago Indie Film Awards is committed to supporting international and American indie film projects of all genres.  

Awards & Prizes

Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary short
Best Experimental
Best Animation
Best Science Fiction
Best Horror
Best Director
Best Producer
Best Cinematography
Best Editor
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Script
Best Unproduced script
Best TV Series/Pilot/Web
Best Comedy
Best Student Film
Best Music Video
Best Thriller
Best Trailer
Best Composer
Best First Time Filmmaker
Best Female Filmmaker
Best Indie Film

Rules & Terms

Films can be available online and still submit to our monthly festival.
Films must have been completed within the past 4 years.
Shorts must be less than 50 minutes.
Chicago Indie Film Awards can use stills, poster, headshots and trailers to promote films and artists.
Entry fees are non refundable since our programmers will go through all submitted projects.

193 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Neil Antonio

    Wonderful opportunity to have had mii works reviewed and chosen! Luvly festival that's worth coming back to!

    September 2021
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  • Diana Frei

    I am honored my film has been selected. Very nice experience, although it has been slightly unreal due to the corona situation.

    February 2021
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  • Pascal Kulcsar

    Big thank you and happy to have been read and also to have selected "the sax". I hope you liked this burlesque comedy and surprised you by its originality. There is still some work to do before claiming the final it's true, but it will be postponed. Each day its pain as the other would say ...
    Pascal K
    Belgium

    August 2021
    Helpful
  • Michael Petrone

    The Chicago Film Awards is a tremendous asset for independent filmmakers. They are professional, legitimate, and a great resource if your hoping to garner attention and promotion for your film.

    August 2021
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  • Giovanni Sanseviero

    A great festival with a great future and well worth the investment, Team CIFA keeps it all together. Thanks! GS, Face Painters

    August 2021
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