MISSION & OBJECTIVE ~
The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival was founded to enable an environment for its participants to observe and engage the local and international independent film and business community. We are committed to discovering and showcasing a unique cinematic experience unrestrained by conventional boundaries.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL ~
Welcome to our 14th year! Post Covid-19? We had only hoped for that. But it is yet to be. Thank you for your patience and sticking with us as we continue to navigate the pandemic.

With the Metropolitan City of Philadelphia as it's 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 was hatched in 2007 out of the mediabureau.com film initiative. The group had been meeting as part of the Philadelphia Underground Film Forum #puff #uff and with regular submissions and pent up demand in Philadelphia for Independent film, launched the first festival in 2008. What was once a digital screening group has blossomed into an annual event attended by filmmakers from all over the world.

The festival programs original films, animations, and video's across 12 genres and produces or sponsors creative events since 1998. We like to discuss the films we program online and offline using #DemocratizeContent. During the most recent festival in 2019 (pre-Covid) we hosted 2,000+ filmgoers and filmmakers from 20 + states and over 12 countries in 5 days. The vast majority of the festival program is world and local premier status. Since inception in 2008, the festival has streamed live interviews, discussions, Q&A, and or films to a global audience.

Awards & Prizes

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

The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is *IMDB certified.

Rules & Terms

All work should be original. All films must have been completed 24 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. Lobbying your film is accepted. Please respect we have only so many available slots to screen. The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is *IMDB certified!

38 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tricia Murajda

    We were thrilled to have our documentary. Down the House, premiere with PIFF. The organizers did an excellent job at adapting to the changing conditions with the virus to create and host an online screening platform as well as in-person screenings. The organizers were wonderful people to meet and talk with and highly communicative and responsive to any concerns. Kudos on creating the online platform. It was an honor to be chosen and to participate.

    July 2021
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  • Thai Edwards

    Great experience and such an honor to be considered a selection we look forward to doing it all again. Thank you so Much!!

    May 2021
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  • Ellen Weisberg

    Terrific festival! So glad to have been a part of it!

    May 2021
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  • Rick Schilling

    Grateful to part of this wonderful festival and filmmaking community.

    May 2021
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  • Christina Zorich

    The New Abolitionists are gratful and honored to be included in this year's Film Festival.

    May 2021
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