We are Cincinnati's home for independent filmmakers. We cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking!
We are a multi-genre festival and continue accepting all-genre types from all over the world - we love a great story! Come meet directors, producers, filmmakers, artists and community members from all over Cincinnati, the US, and the world!
Cindependent Film Festival returns September 19, 20, and 21, 2024 at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio! Cindependent is a filmmaker-focused festival, dedicated to empowering and providing career development resources for accepted artists during our event. We host free coffee networking events, live screenplay readings for accepted screenplays, VIP parties, and an exclusive filmmaker lounge.
Our festival is located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati in walking distance to the many incredible parks, bars, restaurants, museums and energy of the wonderful Queen City!
We provide lodging for filmmakers attending the festival - lodging may be limited and we prioritize film nominees, then out-of-town visitors followed by our precious local filmmakers (we love you!)
There may be - but not yet confirmed for 2024 - five monetary grants awarded during the festival to continue stimulating artistic development in Cincinnati.
A sample festival schedule may run like this:
Wednesday Evening: Welcome Party for visiting Filmmakers and Screenwriters
Thursday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings begin. After Party at 10pm.
Friday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings begin. After Party at 10pm.
Saturday: Film Screenings, Workshops, Screenplay readings continue. After Party at 10pm.
Sunday: Awards Ceremony and Goodbye Brunch
Cindependent may provide five Development Grants during each festival. This is not cash-money provided directly but a development program that works to sustain new works within the Cincinnati region. You do not have to be local to Cincinnati to win one of these awards. Our ability to award this is dependent on our funding progress and we may not offer this in 2024.
There are additional non-monetary distinctions awarded each year that do not have monetary attachments: Best Short Screenplay, Best Feature Screenplay, Best International Short, Best Ohio Short, Best US Short, Best Family Film, Best Comedy Short, Best Drama Short, Best Family Short, Best Off-Kilter Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director of a Short Film, Best Director of a Feature Film.