Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival
An award ceremony showcasing the best independent films worldwide. Every season we award the best filmmakers, writers and producers — shorts and features, fiction and non-fiction, from US and international creators.
Officially on IMDb
The Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival is a verified event on IMDb — where festival awards become part of the permanent, public record of a film and its crew.
The festival, frame by frame
Winners, laurels, festival news and behind-the-scenes moments — everything first lands on our Instagram page.
@nashvillefestivalNashville Independent Filmmakers Festival
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Where independent cinema takes the stage
Welcome to the Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival. This is an award ceremony that showcases the best independent films worldwide. Every season we award the best filmmakers, writers and producers.
We showcase various genres, from non-fiction to fiction films, and we accept both short and featured movies. We get films from all over the world — from US filmmakers and international ones. The main criterion for participating in the festival is the artistic criteria and merits.
Considering our professional platform, we hope to provide a suitable environment for the introduction of short films and feature films. Filmmakers have the option to request an online screening.
The Programme
Every season, the jury walks this list — from the first short to the last script.
The festival charter
Ten plain promises and rules — read them once, submit with peace of mind.
We select films for the Festival that have been made since 2025.
For short films, the maximum running time is 50 minutes.
A micro-short film is a film of less than 5 minutes.
By sending the film to our Festival, the filmmaker undertakes to have all the film's rights and to present it in the festival environment.
If you register for the Festival, your entry money is non-refundable.
The Festival has complete independence and freedom in choosing and awarding films. The Festival reserves the right not to give an award to a category, or to select a film and its crew as an award winner in another category it sees more fit. If a movie is nominated, the festival office will contact the entrant by email. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.
This Festival is held voluntarily by a group of volunteers. Its members' goal is to respond to filmmakers in the shortest possible time — within a maximum of three days.
We accept films of all genres.
Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted. A separate submission and a separate entry fee must accompany each entry.
All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English.
Notes from our filmmakers
Pinned straight from their letters — unedited, unprompted.
I was thrilled to see The Quran chosen in Selection for an award winner at the Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival!! I must commend the festival for its sincere and genuine approach to recognizing outstanding films. The exceptional judging panel's unbiased selection truly reflects the festival's commitment to excellence. May the Almighty bless Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival and its future endeavors. Kudos to the team for maintaining such high standards!
It was a real joy to be part of this festival and have my song "Easy Come, Easy Go" selected as a semi-finalist. Communication was very good leading up to and after the selection process. Well operated.
Overall a good site to promote my works!
Thank you, Nashville — the land of Music, and now of Films. I feel honored since Maya movie also had two songs. Thank you, Nashville.
We are honored and pleased to have our short documentary Omelettes for Yummies as a Semifinalist in the Nashville Independent Filmmakers Festival. Thank you so much!