Indie Film Festival Awards (2)

Festival start: 02 June 2025      Festival end: 05 June 2025

Welcome to the Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA)!

The Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the creativity and innovation of independent filmmakers from all over the world. Our mission is to foster community engagement through the art of cinema and to provide a platform for talented filmmakers, regardless of borders, languages, or genres.

Based in New York City, the IFFA presents a one-of-a-kind festival that connects independent filmmakers and content creators from all corners of the globe. We offer a unique blend of online award nominations, live screenings, and an in-person Indie Film Festival Awards Show, bringing together artists, industry professionals, and audiences in an unforgettable celebration of independent cinema.

A Global Platform for Independent Film
IFFA stands out as a film festival with no barriers — films of all genres and languages are welcomed. A dedicated committee of industry experts previews submitted films, carefully selecting outstanding works to be featured in our Award Nomination Festival.

Award Nomination Festival

The selected films will participate in the IFFA Award Nomination Festival, which runs from mid-February 2025 to mid-April 2025. During this period, all nominated films will be showcased on the Indie Films World streaming platform for a nominal fee of $1.49. Fifty percent of the revenue generated will be shared with the producers, supporting their continued creative efforts.

After the two-month festival period, these films will be removed from the platform. Films will be screened via a secure server, allowing viewers from around the world to watch and vote. The 25 films receiving the most votes will be nominated for 25 prestigious award categories.

Live Screenings & Awards Show

The nominated films will be screened live in New York City at our premier theater venue located in the heart of Downtown Manhattan. The grand finale of the festival will take place on the last day of screenings during the Indie Film Festival Awards Show, where filmmakers, actors, and technicians will be honored for their outstanding work in independent cinema.

Opportunities for Filmmakers

IFFA offers more than just awards. We bring distributors to the festival, giving producers and content creators the chance to meet, network, and explore distribution opportunities. IFFA also assists in distributing films worldwide, including through platforms like Amazon Prime Video.

Submissions

IFFA accepts submissions for all types of films, including:

Feature narratives
Short films
Television shows and series
Documentaries
Animation
Student films

We invite filmmakers, creators, and artists to submit their work and be part of this exciting celebration of independent cinema. Join us in showcasing new voices and innovative stories that will shape the future of film!

Why Choose IFFA?

Global Exposure: Showcase your film on an international platform.

Revenue Sharing: Receive 50% of streaming revenue from the festival.

Networking: Connect with distributors and industry professionals.

Recognition: Gain recognition and award nominations for your work.

Distribution: Opportunities to distribute films worldwide.

We look forward to celebrating your creative work and welcoming you to the Indie Film Festival Awards!

Feature Film – 6 Awards
Best Film
Best Director
Best writer
Best Actor - Male
Best Actor - Female
Best Actor in Negative Role

Short Film – 6 Awards
Best Film
Best Director
Best writer
Best Actor - Male
Best Actor - Female
Best Actor in Negative Role

Documentary 3 awards
Best Film (Documentary)
Best Director (Documentary)
Best Cinematographer (Documentary)

Web Serie 6 Awards
Best Series
Best Director
Best writer
Best Actor - Male
Best Actor - Female
Best Actor in Negative Role

Best Film (Student)
Best Director (Student)

Best Film (Animation)
Best Director (Animation)

Rules & Terms for Film Submission
To submit your film to the Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA), you must:

Comply with Preselection Conditions & IFFA Guidelines

Fill Out the Online Entry Form

Upload Your Film Online

If your film is selected for nomination, you must adhere to the festival's rules and regulations.

Preselection Conditions

Feature Film

Films must be unreleased.
The film must have a runtime of more than 60 minutes.

Short Film

Films must be unreleased.
The film must have a runtime of less than 55 minutes.

Student Film

Films directed by a student as part of their school curriculum.
The film must be more than 10 minutes long.
Films must be unreleased.

Documentary / Web Shows

Documentaries and web shows must be unreleased.

Documentaries must be more than 5 minutes in length.

Web Shows must be more than 15 minutes per episode.

Screening and Submission

All films submitted to the IFFA will be screened through a secure online virtual screener during the Award Nomination Festival. By submitting a film, the beneficiary, producer, or authorized representative agrees to this clause.

Submission Material Requirements
Regardless of the equipment used for shooting, all films must meet the following format specifications:

Feature Content (Movies/Series)

Accepted Media Formats: MPEG-4 / QuickTime (ProRes)
Audio: Embedded in .mp3 or .wav format
Video Resolution: 1920×1080 or higher (use codec H.264 for .MOV / .MP4)
Content Subtitles

Preferred Formats: VTT or .SRT with timecodes
Alternative: English subtitles burnt into the video
Trailer

Same format as feature content.
Poster Image

Portrait image with a size of 1080 x 1920 pixels.
Banner Image

Landscape image with a size of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
After submitting the online form, a Dropbox link will be provided for you to upload all materials. (Max upload limit: 50 GB at once).

Subtitling Guidelines

1) Films in English we prefer to have subtitle but it's not compulsory.

2) Films in all other languages must include English subtitles.

Terms & Conditions:

Indie Film Festival Awards Agreement
By submitting to the Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA), you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions for virtual screening and participation.

Grant of Rights
By submitting your film to the IFFA, you grant the festival and its sponsors the right and permission to use the film during any stage of the festival (Submission, Selection, or Nomination) for the following purposes:

Broadcast, duplication, and advertising in association with the IFFA.

Viewing on IFFA platforms, television, in theaters, on the internet, and on IFFA’s website and sponsors' websites.

Podcasting, archival purposes, and any other lawful media purpose, worldwide, and in perpetuity.
You may opt out of future use after the Award Show by providing written notice 30 days following the festival’s final date. However, the film may still be retained for archival purposes.

Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution

This contract is governed by the laws of New York. Any disputes arising from this agreement will be resolved through the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules at the New York office.

You agree that remedies for breach by the IFFA will be limited to monetary damages and will not include the right to terminate or seek injunctive relief.

Exhibition Rights

The submitter grants the IFFA the right to exhibit the film during the LIVE IFFA Festivals in theaters worldwide. By submitting, you accept that there is no promise of payment in any form, including money, likeness, image, biography, recording, or other compensation from IFFA.

You confirm that you are authorized to submit the film and related materials on behalf of all contributors, including performers, directors, writers, technical crew, and distributors.

Award Selection: Rules and Regulations

The INDIE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS is organized by the Indie Film Festival Awards in collaboration with Indie Films World.

1) Purpose
The festival aims to recognize and showcase films that highlight the importance of creativity and craftsmanship in filmmaking.

2) Eligibility for Feature Films
A Feature Film must be 60 minutes or longer and unreleased theatrically. Directors of previous student thesis films or TV films are eligible for the INDIE FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS with their first feature film.

3) Eligible Films for Competition
The films eligible for the awards must be part of the Official Selection (Competition, Out of Competition, Un Certain Regard), or one of the Parallel Sections such as "The Critics' Week" or "The Directors’ Fortnight."

4) Jury Selection
The winner will be chosen by a Jury of six members:

One president
One director (from the Society of Hollywood Directors)
One director of photography (from US Cinematographers)
One film critic (from American Film Critics)
One industry professional or international film enthusiast
One representative of the Cinema and Audiovisual Industries
The Jury will only vote for one winner per section, and the Jury President will resolve any tie-breaking issues.

5) Winner's Obligations
The producer and director of the winning film must agree to use the IFFA logo in all promotional materials.

6) Final Authority
The President of the IFFA has the final authority to settle any cases not covered by these rules. His/her decision is final in any disputes related to the festival.

7) Language of Rules
The rules are provided in English.

8) Acceptance of Regulations
Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of all the aforementioned rules and regulations.

9) Festival Authority
The President of IFFA, Mr. Mukesh Modi, is the permanent authority of the festival and has the exclusive power to remove or add any submissions, officials, or partners during the festival's lifetime.

Additional Terms and Conditions of Entry
No Withdrawal: Once your film is accepted and scheduled for the IFFA, you may not withdraw your submission. Please ensure there are no conflicting festival schedules before submitting.

Rights and Permissions: By submitting your material, you confirm you hold the rights to all images, sound, music, interviews, promotional materials, and any third-party content used in the film and its promotion. If your film is accepted for screening, you grant the festival the right to use portions of your film for promotional purposes in all media in perpetuity.

Selection & Notification Process
Films are reviewed by a screening committee who assess elements such as craft, technique, originality, and professionalism. High-scoring films are then re-screened and evaluated by the jury.

Submitters will first be notified if their film has not been selected. Afterward, those whose films are selected for screening will be informed via the email provided during the application process. A dedicated page for each selected film will be created on the festival’s website.

Damaged Drives
IFFA cannot be held responsible for any damaged or lost drives during shipping.

Opinions Expressed in Films
The views expressed in the films are those of the filmmakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IFFA, its board, or its associates.

By submitting to the Indie Film Festival Awards, you agree to comply with all the terms and conditions outlined in this agreement.