Festival start: 13 August 2027
Festival end: 15 August 2027
The Indie Gathering International Film Festival is entering our 22nd year festival in 2027. We moved to Columbus, Ohio this past year. Getting the opportunity to present your projects on the big screen is rare and precious. The Indie Gathering leveled up now that we are in 4 theaters in a real multiplex for 3 days, showing over 100 projects.
This weekend long film festival is an in-person gathering for filmmakers young, old, student, amateur, or professional. This festival is for people who create because it is part of their soul. Those that need to make and to express themselves. No matter your budget or access, we celebrate the passion and dedication of artists and filmmakers who simply love and appreciate cinema and are dedicated to growing their skill set and overall knowledge of cinematic arts.
Our mission is to provide an opportunity and safe space for filmmakers of any level or capability to showcase their work. Indie Gathering is an opportunity to engage filmmakers from all walks of life. We are building a community on the premise that bringing people up for their merits is greater than cutting with crushing critique. Indie Gathering is a place for filmmakers to better their skills, showcase their ideas, and build a community. We thrive on your inspiration not your flaws. We embrace experimental, animated, narrative and documentary, short-form and feature length films from every corner of the globe, offering filmmakers an environment that values artistry above marquee names and industry relationships. We are about fostering creativity and honing the craft.
**PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!**
With competitions for films, scripts, film scoring, and acting/monologue, The Indie Gathering has a place for everyone! The weekend consists of three movie theater screens, vendors, film seminars/lectures, competitions, networking parties and more! If you are involved in, or interested in, any aspect of filmmaking, this festival is for you.
Previously voted one of the Top 25 Film Festivals by MovieMaker Magazine as the Best Fest for Networking!
Awards to attending winners include framed certificates, & other prizes
PLEASE READ ALL RULES BEFORE SUBMITTING!
When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project. Please note that we may, in our own discretion, move your project into a different genre if we feel it is a better fit for that genre. This does not happen often, but we want to ensure your project is in the right category. However, we still need your selected genre e-mailed to us. Please select only ONE.
Film Genres: Action / Animation / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Documentary / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Experimental / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Trailer / TV Pilot / Web episode / Western
Music Video Genres: Alternative / Blues / Country / Indie / Jazz / Metal / Other / Pop / Punk / R & B / Rap / Rock
Script Genres: Action / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / TV Pilot / Web episode / Western/Animation
Films in any language other than English MUST be subtitled.
There are NO restrictions as to when your film or script was completed or where it has been released. Anyone may enter the competition. All entries must receive an average score of 90 or above in the judging process to qualify for award placement.
We do not grant submission fee waivers under almost any circumstance. We do not pay screening fees, please do not email about us paying to screen your films.
Please note, if your project qualifies for an award, you or a direct representative from your project must be in attendance at the festival in order to receive any physical awards. Non-attending winners will be e-mailed award certificates after the event.
All submissions - whether accepted or not - come with TWO complimentary 3-day event VIP passes to the festival per filmmaker. Any additional passes must be purchased in advance or at the door.
If you have a film in competition which can no longer be considered for screening, you may withdraw it from screening consideration but still leave it in competition for award placement. Please e-mail theindiegathering@gmail.com as soon as possible if you need to withdraw from consideration for screening.
You may withdraw your submission at any time, but there are no refunds on submissions or tickets.
Micro Films
Short Films 5'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard26$23.92$
20.02$
10 May 27
Late45$41.4$
34.65$
07 Jun 27
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Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
Films 5 min. or less in length. When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project. Film Genres: Action / Animation / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Documentary / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Experimental / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Western Any language other than English MUST be subtitled.
Short Film (5 min to 55 min)
Short Films >6' 55'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard32$29.44$
24.64$
10 May 27
Late47$43.24$
36.19$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
Films over 5 min. and under 55 min. in length. When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project. Film Genres: Action / Animation / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Experimental / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Western Any language other than English MUST be subtitled.
Feature Film (60 min to 170 min)
Short and Feature Films >56' 170'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early35$32.2$
26.95$
02 Dec 26
Standard42$38.64$
32.34$
10 May 27
Late65$59.8$
50.05$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
8.05$
Submit
Films over 55min. in length. When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Filmmakers, please also note if your film is a student project. Film Genres: Action / Animation / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Experimental / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Western Any language other than English MUST be subtitled.
Music Videos
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early15$13.8$
11.55$
02 Dec 26
Standard26$23.92$
20.02$
10 May 27
Late42$38.64$
32.34$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
3.45$
Submit
When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Music Video Genres: Alternative / Blues / Country / Indie / Jazz / Metal / Other / Pop / Punk / R & B / Rap / Rock
TV Pilot or Web Episode
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early26$23.92$
20.02$
02 Dec 26
Standard40$36.8$
30.8$
10 May 27
Late52$47.84$
40.04$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
5.98$
Submit
For finished projects classified as TV Pilot or Web Episode - please e-mail which of these two categories you are submitting under. This should be a SINGLE episode per submission. Any language other than English MUST be subtitled.
Trailer
Short Films 3'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early15$13.8$
11.55$
02 Dec 26
Standard20$18.4$
15.4$
10 May 27
Late30$27.6$
23.1$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
3.45$
Submit
Any genre teaser or promotional trailer. Any language other than English MUST be subtitled
Short Script
Script / Pitch
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard25$23$
19.25$
10 May 27
Late45$41.4$
34.65$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Script Genres: Action / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Western
Feature Script
Script / Pitch
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early30$27.6$
23.1$
02 Dec 26
Standard40$36.8$
30.8$
10 May 27
Late60$55.2$
46.2$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
6.9$
Submit
When submitting your project, please e-mail us with your project information and genre selection at theindiegathering@gmail.com. This must be received by e-mail to ensure your submission goes into the proper judging category. Please include your project name and tracking number in the e-mail. Script Genres: Action / Comedy / Comedy-Romantic / Drama / Drama-Comedy / Drama-Crime / Drama-Romantic / Family / Fantasy / Horror / Horror-Comedy / Sci-Fi / Suspense-Thriller / Western
TV Pilot - SCRIPT
Script / Pitch
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early25$23$
19.25$
02 Dec 26
Standard40$36.8$
30.8$
10 May 27
Late55$50.6$
42.35$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
5.75$
Submit
For written projects classified as a TV Pilot or Web Episode script - please e-mail us at theindiegathering@gmail.com regarding which of these two categories you are submitting under. This should be a SINGLE episode per submission.
Animation - short
Short Films 55'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early15$13.8$
11.55$
02 Dec 26
Standard25$23$
19.25$
10 May 27
Late45$41.4$
34.65$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
3.45$
Submit
For fully animated films or films with more than 60% animation
Animation - features
Short and Feature Films >56' 120'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early30$27.6$
23.1$
02 Dec 26
Standard45$41.4$
34.65$
10 May 27
Late62$57.04$
47.74$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
6.9$
Submit
feature length films that are at least 60% or fully animated
Webisodes
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard32$29.44$
24.64$
10 May 27
Late52$47.84$
40.04$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
This category is for web-created content
AI Films/Trailers/Music Videos
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard35$32.2$
26.95$
10 May 27
Late55$50.6$
42.35$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
This category is for all AI generated content. We welcome this new art-form but these are not in competition with any live action or traditionally animated films. These are also not in contention for BEST OF FESTIVAL. Do not enter any AI generated films in any other category.
Documentary - Feature
Short and Feature Films >55' 180'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early30$27.6$
23.1$
02 Dec 26
Standard40$36.8$
30.8$
10 May 27
Late65$59.8$
50.05$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
6.9$
Submit
Documentary feature films - 55 minutes to 180 minutes in length
Documentary - Short
Short Films 55'<
Fee-8%
PRO 23%
Early20$18.4$
15.4$
02 Dec 26
Standard30$27.6$
23.1$
10 May 27
Late60$55.2$
46.2$
07 Jun 27
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
07 Jun 27
Save up
4.6$
Submit
For documentaries under 55 minutes in run time
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.
-8%
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods. 