Filmmakers of La Phoenikera! The iINDIE FILM FEST is now accepting submissions for its 2020 festival taking place in our city during the month of February. Organizers of the festival are looking for entries by storytellers that provide new voices and perspectives.

One of the venues of iNDIE FILM FEST this year was Crescent Ballroom, where people got to watch movies and get their drink on. Photo by Mango Skies.

The earlybird deadline to submit a film is August 12 and the guidelines are the following:

iNDIE FILM FEST accepts works in the categories of documentary feature, documentary short, fictional feature, fictional short, sports films, music video, drone shorts and Sci-Fi features.

The film must have been completed no earlier than December 2018.

The film must still hold a Theatrical World Premier status and a Digital World Premier status.

The film must have an independent budget of no more than $250,000.

You cannot have a major studio, promotion partner or commercial sponsor involved with the funding of your film.

If you have hosted a fundraiser screening of your film, it is still eligible for this festival.

The film must be able to screen on DVD or Blu Ray and you must provide a HD digital version of it.

The film must have English subtitles if its primary language is not English.

All films must be at least two minutes in length.

No horror films are eligible for this festival.

All films with World Premier status will be able to collect a profit share from the sales of the screening.

Only online submissions are accepted at this time.

The final deadline to submit films is December 24, however, cost of submission increases after each deadline. Check out their website for all costs associated with submitting your film.

Festival awards include: Best Indie Film, Best Indie Documentary, Best Indie Director, Best Indie Animation Film, Best Indie Music Video, Best Indie Cinematography and People’s Choice Awards.

2019 iNDIE FILM FEST

In February of this year, more than 1,000 people attended the two-day film festival, which took place in different venues of La Phoenikera.

The event also featured panels and conversations with filmmakers and concerts, which made it one of the dopest events to attend in downtown and a great networking opportunity for local, national and international creatives.

The festival featured a panel to discuss the role of women in filmmaking. Photo by Mango Skies.

Aside from receiving submissions from filmmakers in La Phoenikera, organizers gathered films from different parts of the country and the world, including Iran, Canada and Lebanon. More than 50 creatives submitted their flicks and the festival featured about 30 of them.

iNDIE FILM FEST is happening sometime in early February, 2020. Once all the details are set, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, if you are a filmmaker or know people who are, submit your movie and encourage others to do so as well!

The Phoenikerxs behind iNDIE FILM FEST

Pita Juarez is a filmmaker, journalist and political communications strategist in La Phoenikera. She is a queer immigrant from Guatemala who works to uplift the narratives of marginalized people through effective and compelling storytelling. With Matty Steinkamp, she co-produced and directed the award-winning documentary You Racist, Sexist Bigot. Pita’s journalistic work has been featured in National Geographic, CNN Latino, Remezcla, NPR and Univision.

Matty Steinkamp is an award-winning filmmaker in La Phoenikera. He co-founded the production company Mango Skies with his creative partner Pita Juarez in 2016 with the goal of creating films that make a positive impact in the community. Matty has a passion for bringing people together through film. Today, you can find him filming community members around the city, editing commercials for multinational companies or hanging out at Filmbar.

Kash Cole is a musician, rapper, writer, and independent filmmaker from St. Louis, Missouri who now lives in La Phoenikera. After entering the film world as writer and subject on the documentary You Racist, Sexist, Bigot, Kash graduated college and formally joined the team at Mango Skies. Last year, he worked alongside Matty and Pita to organize iNDIE FILM FEST. Kash is a member of local favorite music project The Stakes.

Matty Steinkamp and Pita Juarez. Photo by Mango Skies.

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