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 15th year and what a year it will be. After two Covid festivals, we are eager and excited to be back in the theaters and online 100% for our 15th celebration.

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 event attended by filmmakers from all over the world.

The festival programs, in theaters and online, original films, animations, and video's across 12 genres. 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. Since its inception in 2008, the festival has streamed live interviews, discussions, Q&A, and films to a global audience.

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. 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!

40 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Warren Rogers

    Fantastic! Absolutely loved the festival!

    September 2021
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  • Patrick Müller

    Thank you so much for awarding my film SPELLBOUND "Best Horror Short"! It is such an honor. It is remarkable that festival director Benjamin F. Barnett was able to host such a fine festival in times of Covid. Although I could not be present in person, I could read and see on the festival’s social media channels how everyone was enjoying the festival and the experience what cinema is all about: to watch films with others and to be open to the creative visions of the filmmakers. Many thanks to Festival Screening Chair Maarten Olaya. I wish you all the best and again thank you very much, Patrick Müller.

    August 2021
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  • 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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