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 17th 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 and actively takes part in Philly Tech Week. 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 to hear from you and see you May 8-11 at the festival!

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.

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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • I highly recommend The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival! They are very passionate about films. Thank you for including my documentary The Projectionist: A Collector's Journey in your Festival.

    May 2024
  • John Kalning

    First class festival, thanks for having eximium cor

    May 2024
  • Rebekah Louisa Smith

    A lovely festival who really care about their filmmakers. Thank you for screening our VR clients film NIRWANA GOLD

    May 2024
  • J Reid

    Our experience with PIFF has been top tier all the way. Super communication. They are tapped into the whole Philly film community that is a big plus for filmmakers like us!

    May 2024
  • tatyana yassukovich

    It was a great pleasure to be at this festival this year. I appreciated the passion they have for independent film and I am so grateful they chose my film to be part of their program

    May 2024