Indianapolis International Film Festival — Regular submission deadline is March 1!

2011 Indy Film Fest seeks submissions from around the globe

Festival expects growth in quantity and quality with lower fees, greater reach

INDIANAPOLIS ⎯ Submissions are now open for the 2011 Indianapolis International Film Festival (Indy Film Fest), hosted July 14 – 24 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Filmmakers of all genres, backgrounds and skill-levels are invited to submit their work to this highly-anticipated annual event on the Indianapolis arts scene.

Submission fees have been lowered this year, in an effort to bring even more diverse films into the screening process. Key deadlines in submitting are:

• Early Deadline: January 1; $25 fee
• Regular Deadline: March 1; $30 fee
• Late Deadline: March 15; $40 fee

Feature length films in any category are eligible for the festival’s $1,000 Grand Jury prize; the 2010 Grand Jury Prize winning film was Michael Weithorn’s A LITTLE HELP, starring Jenna Fischer. Other films featured in 2010 include Academy Award-winning short film THE NEW TENANTS and opening night film BARRY MUNDAY, which hit theaters this October. Films interested in submitting must utilize Withoutabox.com (http://www.withoutabox.com/login/4101), the online tool connecting festivals and filmmakers.

Craig Mince, Indy Film Fest President, said of the open submissions, "This is going to be a very exciting year for the Festival and for our audience. There are so many great films and filmmakers that we want the people of Indiana to experience, so we are making it more affordable than ever to submit a film this year."

Films chosen for the 2011 festival will be featured in three major categories:

• American Spectrum, celebrating the best in American cinema. Films must be produced or co-produced by at least one (1) U.S. citizen.
• World Cinema, recognizing the best in international works. These films may be co-produced by a U.S. citizen(s) but at least one (1) producer must be a citizen of a nation other than the U.S
• Matter of Fact, reserved for thought-provoking documentary filmmaking from the U.S. or around the world.

Lisa Trifone, Festival Managing Director, notes that “we're evolving as a festival, and this year we want to push the envelope. After seven successful years, we’ve proven ourselves to be a viable film festival in Indianapolis where filmmakers are eager to feature their work.”
In addition to seeking films for submission, the festival is also accepting applications for the Screening Committee now through December 1. Individuals interested in volunteering or supporting the Indy Film Fest can contact the festival at info@indyfilmfest.org.

About the Indianapolis International Film Festival:
The Indy Film Fest serves as an advocate for independent film in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas, connecting audiences to the films and filmmakers from home and abroad that expand perspectives, challenge perceptions and entertain the senses. Founded in 2004, the 2010 Indy Film Fest featured 112 films from around the world, including world and local premieres. An all-volunteer organization, the festival is a non-profit establishment. For more information and submission rules and regulations, visit www.indyfilmfest.org.