MISSION & OBJECTIVE ~
The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is committed to discovering and showcasing a unique cinematic experience unrestrained by conventional boundaries.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL ~
Welcome to our 16th year and what a year we hope it will be.

With the Metropolitan City of Philadelphia as its pallet, the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival seeks out and brings together a unique blend of innovation, technology, creativity, and diversity of film in an ever-evolving filmmaker ecosystem.

The festival launched in 2007 out of the mediabureau.com film initiative. The group had been meeting as part of the Philadelphia Underground Film Forum #uff and with surging and pent-up demand for Independent film at a crossroads, launched the first festival in 2008. What was once a digital screening group has blossomed into an annual 6-day event attended by filmmakers from all over the world.

The festival programs original film across 12 genres, animation, VR, and music video's. We like to discuss the films we program, online and offline, using #piff #pifffilms #uff #DemocratizeContent across our active media networks. The vast majority of the festival program is world and local premier status.

We hope top hear from you and see you at the festival!

Awards & Prizes

Films are selected into the Underground Film Forum #UFF and then awarded with "Best of..." & Underground Film Forum selections.

*The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is IMDB certified.

Rules & Terms

All work should be original with all licensing obtained.
All films must have been completed 20 months prior to the festival date.
All forms of film are accepted into competition.
Please specify your film in a genre if submitting it as a short or feature.

Feel free to discuss your film and its merit on festival social media properties @Philaindie. Lobbying your film is accepted but we reserve the right to delete any and all comments. Please respect we have only so many available slots to screen.

The festival reserves the right to revoke any submission at anytime.

55 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joshua Perrin

    I'm proud of these guys for pulling this off as a live, 6-day event in 2022 amidst the impending doom of Philadelphia covid restrictions. The day 1 comedy night added a lot of value to the fest. Networking was great and I will be back in 2023 with my upcoming short animation.

    September 2022
    Helpful
  • T. J. McIntosh

    We're proud The Gun screened at the PIFF 15! Thank you to Martin and the team running a great festival with an epic line up of films.

    September 2022
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    Officialselectionpiff
    Response from festival:

    Thank you T. J. we're looking forward to seeing more work and meeting up soon!

  • Armin Hasemann

    It is a great honor to be part of the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival.
    A special thanks to the juries for selecting our Documentary in the Best Documentary category. Greatly appreciate.

    August 2022
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  • Grady Jones

    Everyone was so helpful and all the filmmakers, actors, and actresses were so inspiring. Great Festival.

    August 2022
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  • Joanna Bogunia

    A great festival with kind and passionate staff. Communication was great and we were well informed. Thank you for selecting "PODLASIE. THE EDGE OF THE WORLDS" as part of the 2022 Festival!

    June 2022
    Helpful