IN Film Festivals
Looking to submit your film, but not sure where to start? The Indiana filmmaking community has a host of film festival opportunities for you to take advantage of in-state. Check out the festivals below!
Heartland International Film Festival
Heartland Film was founded in 1991 and curates, promotes and celebrates thoughtful and engaging films. Since its debut in 1992, the festival has grown into an 11-day event with 150+ filmmakers and 250+ screenings, earning recognition for quality programming and Hoosier hospitality. HFF has built a reputation on its impactful movies, the connections audiences make with visiting filmmakers, the overall hospitality and intimacy of the experience, and bringing big Hollywood names – like Robert Downey Jr., Colman Domingo, Greg Kwedar, Brendan Fraser, Matthew Modine, Jessica Biel, Rob Reiner, and Geoffrey Rush – to the Hoosier state.
Indy Film Fest
Indy Film Fest was founded in 2004 to celebrate the art of cinema and to create a shared experience around film in Indianapolis. We are a non-profit, international, independent film festival programming both features and shorts. Our all-volunteer staff strives to bring the best films the industry has to offer to our community from home and abroad. Our programmers aim to foster new talent and help filmmakers connect with the global industry. We are also dedicated to educating and developing audiences for international and independent cinema in Indy, screening the kind of innovative, visionary work that may not normally achieve distribution in this area.
Indy Shorts International Film Festival
Nonprofit arts organization Heartland Film, Inc. will host the ninth annual Indy Shorts International Film Fest (Indy Shorts) to exclusively showcase short films (40 minutes or less in length) from July 21-26, 2026, with in-person screenings in Indianapolis and virtual. All winners will play encore screenings at the Heartland International Film Festival the following October. An Academy Award®-qualifying film festival in all three categories (Live Action, Documentary, and Animation short film categories), the winner of the Narrative, Documentary, and Animated Grand Prizes will qualify for Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, granted they meet all the other requirements needed to qualify. In recent years, 39 programmed short films have been nominated with 10 going on to win Oscars®.
Indiana Youth Film Festival
The Indiana Youth Film Festival was created in 2023 as the only film festival in Indiana soley dedicated to young filmmakers ages 12-24 years old! Every year, they facilitate a festival weekend full of screenings, filmmaker talk backs, workshops, panels, and so much more for the filmmakers and the entire community.
Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival
Indianapolis Black Documentary Film Festival showcases documentaries about the African American experience that inspire socially conscious cultural discourse. Our dynamic group of collaborators is committed to fostering an appreciation for documentary films by maintaining a platform for filmmakers to share their work as catalysts for meaningful dialogue.
Victory International Film Festival
The Victory International Film Festival invites filmmakers and film lovers to experience the magic of cinema in the vibrant heart of Evansville, Indiana from September 10th – 12th. This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and storytelling from around the globe, offering a unique platform for independent voices to shine.
With $2,750 cash prizes, this event helps to sustain and nurture artistic growth and sustains the community as a cultural hub. Dive into inspiring workshops, captivating screenings, and vibrant networking opportunities designed to connect and empower filmmakers, students, and enthusiasts.
River Bend Film Festival
For more than two decades, the River Bend Film Festival has stood as the premier gathering spot for independent filmmakers, music-video creators, and writers from Indiana, across the country, and around the world.
All screenings take place in the beautifully restored Goshen Theater, while hands-on workshops, Q&As, filmmaker coffee talks, and special guest appearances unfold both there and in nearby venues. The festival thrives on connection, and we invite audiences, filmmakers, and writers to meet, mingle, and spark meaningful conversations throughout the weekend.
Indianapolis Jewish Film Festival
The Jewish Film Festival in Indianapolis offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history and diverse experiences of the Jewish diaspora. Through thought-provoking films, you can gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be Jewish and how this identity is represented in film. One of the main focuses of the festival is exploring the Jewish diaspora, which refers to the dispersion of Jews around the world. Through a wide variety of films, you can witness different aspects of this global community and how it has shaped Jewish culture over time. From stories about immigration and assimilation to tales of resilience and survival, these films provide an intimate glimpse into the lives of Jews living in various parts of the world.
Hobnobben Film Festival
At Hobnobben, we encourage people to "see and be seen." By showcasing diverse stories and voices that have been typically excluded, and curating films by themes, we're able to provide a one-of-a-kind festival that invites participants to see themselves represented on screen — and be seen by others. We shine a light on underrepresented stories and creators in film, such as: LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, neurodivergent, seniors, immigrant, body-positive stories, and the quirky/campy. We believe the art of filmmaking should be accessible to everyone, and as such, we aim to build safe spaces for diverse storytelling, audience engagement with important issues, and meaningful conversations. We believe this is best accomplished by meeting people where they’re at and hearing their stories. This isn’t a film fest for film snobs.
Gary International Black Film Festival
The Gary International Black Film Festival (GIBFF) is a dynamic weekend cinema feast located just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago in Gary, IN. The GIBFF brings filmmakers and engaged audiences together for a powerful weekend of indie Black Cinema.
The GIBFF uses film as a catalyst for stimulating cultural activity to enhance the ‘cultural capital’ of Gary, IN by celebrating Black culture through independent film and discussion. It is their goal to bring films of the highest quality that reflect the depth and transcendence of black people.
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival
The Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival is a yearly community celebration brought to life by a passionate team of volunteers.
Supported by Indy Pride, Inc.—Indianapolis’ LGBTQ nonprofit behind the annual Pride Festival and Parade as well as year-round programming—the Festival has become an essential part of the city’s cultural arts scene. For more than 25 years, ILGBTFF has celebrated diversity through film, presenting LGBTQ+ features, documentaries, and short films from across Indiana and around the globe.
