Hello,
We are proud to announce a new film festival scheduled in Central Virginia, the Indie short Film Festival on March 22-24, 2024 in the heart of downtown Charlottesville. The festival will include up to 100 international and domestic short films with Q&A after the screening blocks, screenwriting competition with table reads for the top screenplays, launch party with live performances, panel discussions, and the Sunday Brunch Awards.
Submission deadline is on February 15, and All Access Passes are on sale now. Individual tickets will go on sale in February.
To submit your film, buy passes, donate, volunteer, or to view the schedule, visit our official website at www.IndieshortFilmFestival.com Our festival is also located on www.FilmFreeway.com/indieshortfilmfestival
PRESS RELEASE
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA HAS BECOME HOME OF THE FIRST EVER INDIE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL ON MARCH 22-24, 2024
The INDIE short FILM FESTIVAL may sound familiar to many filmmakers, and for a good reason. Its founder launched the Indie short Film Series in 2019 in the beautiful and hip city of Charlottesville, Virginia. Due to the Series’ growth in national popularity, it attracted filmmakers throughout the globe to submit their films for screening, and filmmakers traveled from coast to coast to be present in-person.
The founder decided to provide filmmakers, screenwriters, and film enthusiasts with something bigger, a 3 DAY FILM FESTIVAL during March 22-24, 2024, which will include: 100+ short film screenings, screenwriting competition, table reads, panel discussions, brunch award event, and a launch party w/ live performances.
The purpose of this festival is the same as that of the series, to provide independent filmmakers with a platform to share their stories and their process of making short movies.
Top Notch filmmakers have signed on to join the festival as programmers, including a Multi-Emmy award winning documentarian, award winning producers and actors, and overall highly celebrated filmmakers. One of the goals is to continue programming high caliber short films as the curator has in the past. Often, films were screened at Sundance, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca and other festivals, submitted from global territories.
The festival’s leadership has deep experience in curating and administering film festivals and film events. He has curated hundreds of films for public viewing and committed to supporting independent filmmakers’ stories.
What does Charlottesville have to offer? Why Charlottesville?
Charlottesville’s beautiful landscape serves as the perfect backdrop for a film event. Besides serving as the home of the Virginia Film Festival and the Indie Short Film Series, it is also the home of Academy Award Winner, Sissy Spacek, John Grisham, Dave Matthews Band, football legend Howie Long and Chris Long, and many others. The event is in good company while providing an opportunity for independent filmmakers to have their storytelling presented to a live audience and to share the intimate details of their journey during a moderated panel discussion.
Filmmaking Competition
Categories include best narrative, best documentary, best animation, and best of fest. Winners will win crystal awards, cash, and filmmaking equipment. It’s planned to have 100 short films to be in competition.
Screenwriting Competition – How do screenwriters fit into the film festival?
We are looking for creative writing that commands attention in a limited period of time. Genre is not important, but willingness to communicate human relationships through style, mood, pacing, and overall vision are critically important. Three monetary prizes will be awarded: 1st Place $500 – 2nd Place $300 – 3rd Place $200
Too often we hear from screenwriters that they do not feel represented at film festivals, as the spotlight shines on the films and not on unproduced scripts. Our response to help settle that concern is to program table reads for the top three screenplays. The table reads will be read by local actors. Screenwriters do not have to be present to win the cash prizes but they must be present to be awarded a table read. If an award winning writer cannot be present then we will offer the table read to a writer who can be in attendance. We may provide video telecommunication as an option of attending. Either way, it does not negatively impact their award if they are unable to attend the event.
All Access Packages, launch party tickets, and the Sunday Brunch Award tickets go on sale mid January and individual screening blocks go on sale mid February. Be the first to know of festival updates, sign up now online: www.indieshortfilmfestival.com
The Break Down of the Festival (Times May Change Slightly):
Friday, March 22
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A – Violet Crown Theater 1p-9p
Launch Party – Common House 9p-12:30a
Saturday, March 23
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A – Violet Crown Theater 9a-5p
Panel Discussions – Common House 10a-4p
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A – Vinegar Hill Theatre 12p-9p
Sunday, March 24
Table Read of Three Top Screenplays – The Vault 9:30a-11:30a
The Sunday Brunch Award – To Be Determined 11:30a-1p
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A – Vinegar Hill Theatre 1p-7p