The Cindependent Film Festival
The Cindependent Film Festival was founded in December 2017 by Allyson West.
The festival is a comprehensive showcase of filmmaking entrepreneurs that took place in both 2018 and 2019. Due to COVID-19, the festival program was postponed in 2020, 2021, and 2022 while our team developed new and innovative ways of film programming and community through Reels on Wheels, Cindependent and Chill and our partnership with the Woodward Theater and Woodward Cinema.
The festival is returning on September 29 and 30, 2023 at Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. We are currently open for submissions.
The festival focuses on providing many career opportunities for artists:
We work so that filmmakers leave the festival with more resources than they started with through educational masterclasses (9 available in 2019,) granting opportunities (with our Grant Development program that focuses on promising artists,) and many masterclasses designed for both knowledge and networking.
We foster professional connections and networking opportunities through sponsored parties, lunches, and coffees that bring in directors, producers, and business sponsors to interact with our artists.
We focus on all aspects of the filmmaking process, including staged readings that employ local Cincinnati performers for screenwriters and those in pre-production on their work.
We provide professional development through community engagement, allowing filmmakers the opportunity to screen and engage with packed audiences and parties.
Come level up with us.
The festival has been consistently ranked a ‘Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festival’ in the industry since August 2018. We focus intently on customer service and providing filmmakers the opportunity to experience Cincinnati at its finest. Our partnership with 21c Museum Hotels allows us to welcome filmmakers into the city with 2-night stay in Downtown Cincinnati, helping us gather stories and films from local, national, and international artists.
The festival itself has won granting awards and business sponsorships in the past three years, including awards from The City of Cincinnati, ArtsWave, Social Venture Partners, Ohio Arts Council, and many others.