The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is back this November with its biggest lineup yet—250 films from 76 countries, representing the full spectrum of contemporary documentary filmmaking. Running November 13–23, 2025, IDFA continues to be a cornerstone for nonfiction storytelling and a vital hub for indie creators worldwide. Each year, IDFA showcases the diversity […]
Portland Film Festival 2025 Kicks Off
Five Days of Indie Voices in the Pacific Northwest Today marks the start of the Portland Film Festival 2025, one of the largest indie showcases in the Pacific Northwest. Running from October 1–5, the festival will screen more than 90 films from around the world while putting a special spotlight on local talent and underrepresented […]
Tropfest Returns to Sydney
$100K, New Foundation & Real Opportunity for Storytellers After six years away, Tropfest is coming back to Sydney. The world’s largest short-film festival will take place on 22 February 2026 at Centennial Park. For Jeffrey Ikahn and all indie filmmakers, this return is big. It signals renewed energy, real funding, and fresh chances. Here’s what […]
Norwich Film Festival: A Launchpad for Indie Shorts
The UK’s Norwich Film Festival is gearing up for its 16th edition this fall, running November 3–16, 2025. Known as one of the most filmmaker-friendly events in Europe, the festival has become a proving ground for indie shorts with ambitions of breaking into the mainstream. What sets Norwich apart is its BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying status. […]
San Francisco Teens Premiere Indie Dark Comedy “JAR”
Seventy-one teenagers in San Francisco have pulled off what many seasoned filmmakers struggle to achieve—conceiving, producing, and premiering an original film in a matter of weeks. The result is “JAR”, a surreal dark comedy packed with jailbreaks, glitter bombs, and shrink rays. Guided by filmmaker Joe Talbot and his summer program 48 Hills, 24 Frames, […]
Utah Indie Documentaries Face Major Setback Amid $1.1B Federal Cuts
Utah’s independent storytellers are navigating a new crisis. Congress passed a federal rescission package that pulls back $1.1 billion in funding for public media, hitting Utah’s CPB‑funded systems like NPR, PBS Utah, KUER and PBS Utah stations hard. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded ITVS, a key supporter of independent documentaries. With CPB money gone, […]
Sundance to Host Final Utah Film Festival
It’s the end of an era. The Sundance Film Festival is moving out of Utah. After nearly 50 years between Park City and Salt Lake City, the iconic film festival will be moving to Boulder, Colorado. Jeffrey Ikahn, American filmmaker and Director of Candy Flip discusses how Utah will be making their final Sundance something […]
Lighthouse International Film Festival 2025 Winners Announced
The votes are in and the winners of the Lighthouse International Film Festival have been announced! Jeffrey Ikahn, American Filmmaker and Film Director, was honored by the opportunity to watch exclusive screenings of the films from the festival. With the winners announced, Ikahn reflects on his favorite films from this year’s Lighthouse on the majestic […]