Desertscape Film Festival
Various, United States
95
Tier AScreenings
Festival directory
Indie Film Festivals
Independent and mid-circuit festivals with solid structural scores — the practical list when “top film festivals” is too broad and too competitive.
What we mean by indie
This hub emphasizes Tier B festivals and non-FIAPF Tier A events — regional and independent programs that still show real venues and history. It is not a paid “indie seal.” Cross-check Tier A, genre hubs, and the Warning list.
Showing 60 of 3,597 dossiers
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Dubuque, United States
95
Tier AScreenings
Cinefest Sudbury
Sudbury, Canada
95
Tier AScreenings
Sunset Film Festival Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States
95
Tier AScreenings
sports film festival
Vilnius; Kaunas; Klaipeda;Siauliai, Lithuania
95
Tier AScreenings
Outshine Film Festival
Miami, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Outfest Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ Int'l Film Festival
Chicago, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival
Austin, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
QFest Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Sacramento International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Sacramento, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Boston LGBTQ Film Festival
Boston, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Seattle, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Denver Film Festival - QFest
Denver, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Toronto International Trans Film Festival
Toronto, Canada
94
Tier AScreenings
Queer Screen - Mardi Gras Film Festival
Sydney, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
Goteborg International Film Festival - Queer Section
Goteborg, Sweden
94
Tier AScreenings
Filminute - International One-Minute Film Festival
London, United Kingdom
94
Tier AScreenings
New Filmmakers LA
Los Angeles, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
American Black Film Festival
Miami, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Sedicicorto - International Short Film Festival
Forlì, Italy
94
Tier AScreenings
Festival Premiers Plans D’Angers
Angers, France
94
Tier AScreenings
FIDMarseille
Marseille, France
94
Tier AScreenings
Rome Film Festival
Rome, Italy
94
Tier AScreenings
Festival del Cinema Europeo
Lecce, Italy
94
Tier AScreenings
New Horizons Film Festival
Wrocław, Poland
94
Tier AScreenings
Reykjavik International Film Festival
Reykjavik, Iceland
94
Tier AScreenings
OFF CAMERA
Krakow, Poland
94
Tier AScreenings
Brisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
Tropfest
Sydney, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
Queensland Queer Arts Festival Shorts
Brisbane, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
St Kilda Film Festival
Melbourne, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
Rotorua Lakes International Film Festival
Rotorua, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
Wellington Fringe Film Festival
Wellington, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
Dunedin Film Festival
Dunedin, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
Christchurch Film Festival
Christchurch, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Jewish Film Festival
Auckland, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
Revelation Perth International Film Festival
Perth, Australia
94
Tier AScreenings
Antipodean Short Film Festival
Palmerston North, New Zealand
94
Tier AScreenings
SXSW Film Festival
Austin, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Curtocircuito - Santiago International Short Film Festival
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
94
Tier AScreenings
Odense International Film Festival
Odense, Denmark
94
Tier AScreenings
Oslo/Fusion Film Festival
Oslo, Norway
94
Tier AScreenings
Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (CPH:DOX)
Copenhagen, Denmark
94
Tier AScreenings
Night Visions
Helsinki, Finland
94
Tier AScreenings
Iceland International Film Festival
Reykjavik, Iceland
94
Tier AScreenings
LA Comedy Festival
Los Angeles, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
NYC Web Fest
New York City, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Women in Film Festival
Beverly Hills, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Her Film Festival
Los Angeles, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Female Eye Film Festival
Toronto, Canada
94
Tier AScreenings
She Fest Film Festival
Denver, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
CineWomen Festival
San Diego, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
24fps International Short Film Festival
Abilene, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
American Conservation Film Festival
Shepherdstown, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Arab Film Festival
San Francisco, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Arizona International Film Festival
Tucson, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Artists Forum Festival of the Moving Image, The
New York, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Asian American International Film Festival
Brooklyn, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
Atlanta Underground Film Festival
Atlanta, United States
94
Tier AScreenings
FAQ
- What are the best indie film festivals?
- “Best” depends on genre, runtime, and premiere status. Start with high legitimacy scores in this hub, then confirm fit on each dossier.
- Are indie festivals easier to get into?
- Some are more accessible than majors; others are highly selective. High acceptance plus trophy upsells is still a red flag.