Indie short Film Festival

Date and Time

• Fri, Mar 20, 2026 - Sun, Mar 22, 2026  

Location

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Details

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 and speak on a panel.

The founder decided to provide filmmakers, screenwriters, and film enthusiasts with something bigger, a 3 DAY FILM FESTIVAL in March 2024 with a screening of 73 international and domestic short films. In 2025, the festival featured 110 short film screenings, screenwriting competition, table reads, panel discussions, brunch award event, acting workshop, and a launch party w/ live performances.

The purpose of this festival is to provide independent filmmakers with a platform to share their stories and their process of making short films.

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. 20% of the films screened at the 2024 festival were previously screened at Sundance and other major film festivals.

The Competition

Categories include Best narrative, Best documentary, Best Animation, Best Music Video, Best Screenplay, and Best of Fest. Also added as the result of requests by filmmakers, additional categories include: Best Lead Actor (Female) and Best Lead Actor (Male). Allowing filmmakers to submit to more than a single category. Winners will prizes that may range from cash, film equipment, and crystal awards.

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 un-produced scripts. Our response to help settle that concern comes by way of 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 may. 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.net

The Break Down of the Festival (Times May Change Slightly):

Friday
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A - Violet Crown Theater 1p-9p
Launch Party w/ Live Performance - Common House 9p-12:30a

Saturday
Cinematography Workshop w/ Hands-on - Vault Virginia 8a-12n
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A - Violet Crown Theater 9a-8p
Panel Discussions - Common House 10a-6p
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A - Vinegar Hill Theatre 12p-9p

Sunday
Table Read of Three Top Screenplays - The Vault 9:30a-11:30a
The Sunday Brunch Award - The Vault/Bradbury 11:30a-1:30p
Screening Blocks Each with a Q&A - Vinegar Hill Theatre 1:30p-9:30p