The AmAuteur Film Festival is a genre-expansive, all-inclusive, community-oriented film festival with a focus on the new film underground. Our mission is one for the outcasts, the weirdos, the misfits, the ambitious, and the tragically underestimated pioneers of modern film language.
We’re getting back to the roots of what a festival should represent: not a competition awarding the aesthetic marvels that cost a year’s rent to produce, but a pure and simple time of celebration. We’re here to showcase those unique and creative filmmakers redefining the medium while having access to fewer resources, less money, less time, and/or little experience.
You’re not gonna find any A-list celebrities here. What you will find is a community of underground creators challenging the conventions of big-budget filmmaking by embracing the excitement and deeply collaborative sentiments of truly DIY, independent arts. Basically, if you’ve ever had to pull focus while holding the makeshift boom pole with an iPhone attached on the other end… we see you, and we value the work you create!
We also recognize how expensive the festival circuit can be. Believe us, we don’t have that kind of money either. This is why we vow to keep our prices affordable to micro-/no-budget filmmakers everywhere, as well as to give every penny the festival makes back to our selected filmmakers.
Be sure to carefully review our submission rules and guidelines below to determine if the AmAuteur Film Festival is the right fit for your project!
Our inaugaral event was held at DePaul University in the heart of downtown Chicago in November 2025, hosting a slew of visitors including 12 in-person filmmakers. We look forward to seeing your work and hope you consider joining us for AmAuteur 2.0!
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FESTIVAL (noun): a time of celebration marked by special observances.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary
I adamantly say I’m an amateur filmmaker, partly because the origin of the word amateur means “the love of a form” and professional means “I do this for money.” So I am an amateur filmmaker because I love the form.
- Jim Jarmusch
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WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
1. ALL genres and formats welcome: drama, comedy, romance, science fiction, horror, western, experimental, documentary... hell, even a vlog or a TikTok if the vibes are right.
2. Filmmakers of all different backgrounds and levels of experience. Students welcome and encouraged to submit!
3. Original, creative, ambitious, fun, boundary-pushing ideas achieved on a small scale.
4. A demonstration of mastery and/or innovation of visual elements and filmic language. Films with a distinctive voice, vision, and style that offer fresh new perspectives.
5. Stories that uplift marginalized voices and the power of DIY creativity through a sense of sincere, righteously independent spirit.
WHAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR:
1. Expensive productions with recognizable stars and big effects.
2. Recycled, unoriginal ideas. Give us something new!
3. Pornography.
4. Straight trash (that is: films that are edgy or intentionally “bad” without reason). Extreme sexuality, violence, gore, etc. are accepted if deemed tasteful and intentional.
5. Films that utilize generative artificial intelligence in any capacity. We like our art imperfect and made by humans.
6. Films that promote racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, and/or any other offensive stereotypes. The spirit of independent creativity is and shall remain accessible to and inclusive of those from all walks of life.
As a non-competitive event oriented around community-building and celebration of the craft, THE AMAUTEUR FILM FESTIVAL VOWS TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE ANY AND ALL PROFITS (from submission fees, ticket sales, merchandise, etc.) TO SELECTED FILMMAKERS*.
*Please note that, due to prior complications with international payouts, cash reward is only eligible for U.S.-based filmmakers at this time.
