PopCon International Film Festival ()

Festival start: 08 July 2021      Festival end: 11 July 2021

This is the 2nd annual international film festival competition for PopCon but we are in our 8th year as a convention. PopCon prides itself as being Indy's "only" locally owned and operated large pop culture fan event. PopCon Indy will be programming a full-lineup pop culture film festival. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their feature and short films in multiple genres.

The film festival will be honoring films of several pop culture genres, including but NOT limited to: sci-fi, fantasy, horror, anime/animation, gaming/sports, internet culture, fan film, action/adventure, documentary & thriller!

PopCon takes place July 8-11, 2021 at the Indiana Convention Center and will welcome dozens of special guests, including several big-name celebrities, YouTube sensations, gamers and creators from all aspects of pop culture. The international film festival will begin July 8th and then run through the end of PopCon July 11th.

PopCon continues to bring some of the largest names in pop culture to Indianapolis each year, but the event’s true mission is to give creators – of all kinds – a platform to find new audiences. Instead of focusing on one specific fandom, PopCon flips the script on the typical con experience by focusing on all genres of pop culture fandom. The film festival is an obvious expansion of that mission.

The film festival will be in addition to all the other programming at PopCon over the event’s weekend. The 5th Annual PopCon Podcast Awards, the 8th Annual Ultimate Cosplay Championships, and hundreds of fan panels and workshops will be alongside video gaming, laser tag, escape rooms, state-of-the-art virtual reality offerings, and 24-hour board gaming. PopCon will also continue to have the best selection of vendors for fans to enjoy.

Tickets to the event can be purchased from our main website link on the left in the contacts section.

Some official selections will be submitted for distribution to several of our domestic and international film distribution partners. NOTE- films already available free online are not eligible for submission to distributors.

Films selected for Official Selection will receive (2) event tickets, a PopCon swag bag and an official PopCon welcome letter.

Award trophies will be given for the following:
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Special Effects (SFX)
Best Indiana Film
Best Story
Best Director
Best Short
Best Feature

Award Certificates will be given for the following categories:

Best Student Film
Best 1st Time Filmmaker
Best Villain
Best Hero
Best Animation
Best Fan Film
Best Documentary

***Please read all rules and terms prior to submitting your film***

PopCon Film Festival is excited to consider your short film of 45 minutes or less or your feature film over 45 minutes in length within the categories of but not limited to; Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure, Horror, Fan Film, Anime/Animation, Thriller, Internet Culture & Gaming/Sports.

Films must be submitted through Festhome. If selected, acceptable screening formats are as follows: Blu-Ray, DVD or DCP. Digital is highly preferred. Please upload trailers as well.

We accept films produced up to two years prior to submission date.

In the interest of fair competition to all that submit their film, PopCon does NOT offer free submission waivers.

Please submit the version you want judged. We do not allow alternate versions to be submitted without being subject to another entrance fee.

By submitting your film to PopCon Film Festival you acknowledge and authorize use of material for promotional use which includes but is not limited to excerpts and images.

You also agree to hold PopCon Film Festival harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, expenses and damages as a result of entry.

Premieres will be considered in final programming decisions.

All films not in English must have English subtitles.

Notifications will be made by May 31, 2021 via email or phone.

PopCon reserves the rights to disqualify any submission without refund and PopCon does not allow any refunds.

Films that have been acquired, produced, financed or distributed by any major motion picture studios or production companies will be screened out of competition. It is the sole responsibility of the submitting entity to attain all permissions required from the studio(s) or production company(s) prior to submission and screening.

By submitting, artists agree to all terms set forth in the rules.

Entering your film is considered giving the PopCon International Film Festival permission to screen your film during the course of the event (physical and/or virtual)

PopCon International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition prior and during PopCon for promotional purposes.

The submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless PopCon and PopCon International Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

SUBMISSION SUGGESTIONS:
Please include the following items when submitting your film:
1) Poster
2) Stills/Set pictures
3) Trailer- not required but highly recommended even for shorts (limit trailers to 90s)
4) Filmmaker Biography