⁣The Chicago film industry was a central hub for motion picture production and exhibition before Hollywood became the undisputed capital of filmmaking. In the early 1900s, Chicago boasted the most significant number of production companies and filmmakers. This situation was partially preserved until 1920, when the Chicago film industry met decline for a combination of reasons, including the impact of the Great Depression. Not until the 1980s and early 21st century has Chicago experienced a film production revival. Movie production again entered Chicago in the 1980s, with the state of Illinois becoming a leader in money spent on film production. Blockbusters, such as Blues Brothers, Sixteen Candles, and The Dark Knight, have rejuvenated the Chicago film scene.
Inspired by this tradition, the mission of the Chicago Filmmaker Awards, aka Cifawards, is to recognize and reward independent filmmakers that are currently missing in mainstream Hollywood. Whether your talent is in front of the camera or behind it, we have a category for you. We are waiting to watch your films.
We are interested in professionally made independent works. Submissions are open for shorts, feature narratives, documentaries and animation, and even experimental films and music videos.
This will be a seasonal Awards event with yearly live screening. Each season, we will select the best-known movies and promote the winners through social media and the official website. Few of the winners of each season will be selected for our online event.

⁣Las Vegas located in Nevada, is one of the most-visited cities in the world. It has numerous venues for entertainment. Las Vegas is also a favourite spot for filmmaking, the activity which was also referred to as a sinful activity at its beginning. The iconic Las Vegas Strip is the setting for scads of Hollywood movies through the years because it’s immediately recognizable. “The Hangover,” “Casino”, “Leaving Las Vegas,” and “Last Vegas” are just a few of the many blockbuster films made here. There are a lot of diverse locations in the area: “you drive one hour, you’re up at the mountains. You drive another hour, you’re in the desert”. We hope you go utilize these potentials for our cinematic event.

⁣New York International Women Festival is a seasonal competitive Festival dedicated to Film style, and female gaze in cinema.
First of all, it a festival that valorizes the work of women filmmakers. We are looking for a unique and innovative perspective from female filmmakers to introduce them and promote them. We also accept projects directed by non-female directors who have something important to say about womanhood.
Secondly, it is a festival to valorize the style and fashion in a film. Regardless of filmmaker gender, we aim to focus on the stylistic features of cinema to see what elements have made a film significant, to see how camera movements or set designs have been able to create a unique environment for the movie to be set in and to see how make-up artists, production designers and costume designers have been able to add their unique vision to these works of art. If you think you have a film with good taste, this is your festival and don't hesitate to submit your work.
The festival has a seasonal structure. First, the judges will privately review the submitted materials, and subsequently, they will announce the winners. The winner's projects will then be introduced to our social media.

⁣⁣Las Vegas located in Nevada, is one of the most-visited cities in the world. It has numerous venues for entertainment. Las Vegas is also a favourite spot for filmmaking, the activity which was also referred to as a sinful activity at its beginning. The iconic Las Vegas Strip is the setting for scads of Hollywood movies through the years because it’s immediately recognizable. “The Hangover,” “Casino”, “Leaving Las Vegas,” and “Last Vegas” are just a few of the many blockbuster films made here. There are a lot of diverse locations in the area: “you drive one hour, you’re up at the mountains. You drive another hour, you’re in the desert”. We hope you go utilize these potentials for our cinematic event.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Brooklyn International Short Awards is an online awards event. The festvial will welcome any independent project from all genres. The Festival is looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones and all countries. The selection process has two parts. First, the submitted projects are judged through private screenings by our internal programming team, and they will select the Finalist films of each edition. Then the Festival’s jurors, who are a random team of invited experts mainly from the film industry, will privately review the films and award the best projects. All of the winners will receive the official laurel and an achievement certificate and can request an online screening. Winner’s announcements will be released through our social media to help promote the films.

⁣⁣IMDb qualifier's Toronto Independent Festival of CIFT was established in Toronto in 2015. In the short span of time, it became a well-recognized international festival in Toronto with more than 10000 patrons each year, and it is now after Tiff it is the most successful local festival that is held each year at TIFF Bell Light Box, the house of Toronto International Film Festival (Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, opened the past two editions of the festival; in the past years, Globe and Mail and CBC, two prominent news outlet in Canada covered the festival).
The eighth edition of the festival has both a bi-monthly and a yearly structure for film competition; on the first round, our jury selects the winners of each season through private screenings. In the case they get selected by the programming team of the yearly event, the winners of each season may be then considered for the yearly competition. If this happens, they will be shown and compete with other films-winners at the yearly event.

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Paris Lady MovieMakers Festival is a competitive online event that valorizes the work of women filmmakers or films about women. In this festival, we are looking for a unique and innovative perspective from female filmmakers to introduce them and promote them. We also accept projects directed by non-female directors who have something important to say about womanhood. We are an online event based in Paris and we are dedicated to female cinema.

⁣⁣⁣⁣Philadelphia World Film Festival is an online based bi-monthly festival. PWFF is looking for independent projects from all genres, particularly low or no-budget ones, as well as from all countries, especially from those traditionally underrepresented in the global film industry. The submitted projects are judged through private screenings by a random team of invited experts from academia and film industry from the region. From the pool of official selection, which has a very competitive acceptance rate, PWFF chose the nominees and award winners of the edition.

⁣Atlanta Movie Awards welcomes you to its 1st edition! An event organized for both independent filmmakers and cinema-goers who love to discover niche films and artists.
The festival’s judges and programmers come from different film backgrounds and are eager to put together an exciting and truly high-quality program of indie films. The festival’s aim is to discover new talent, films and filmmakers with potential, and to recognize the collaborative work this art form is funded on.
The program will focus on independent films of different genres, with no limitations on length, style or country of origin. The festival is open to everyone regardless of budget and experience.
The festival is run in association with a collection of international film festivals supporting indie filmmaking. By establishing a working network with filmmakers, producers and marketing professionals, we share one common goal: to forge productive and lasting relationships between independent filmmakers and audiences.

⁣⁣The Shanghai Indie Film Festival (SIFF) is an online platform dedicated to showcasing bold and original voices in independent filmmaking. As one of Asia's most dynamic and culturally rich cities, Shanghai serves as the perfect backdrop for a festival that embraces diversity, innovation, and creativity. SIFF provides a global stage for both emerging and established filmmakers to present their unique narratives, styles, and visions to an international audience.
Leveraging the digital space, SIFF is committed to creating an inclusive environment where filmmakers from around the world can share their stories without borders. The festival features a wide array of films, from thought-provoking documentaries and experimental shorts to captivating animations and dramas. With interactive panels, virtual Q&As, and an extensive online screening program, SIFF offers a unique opportunity to explore the best in contemporary independent cinema from the comfort of your home.