Jeffrey Ikahn Film Industry Blog

Independent filmmaking has never been a solo pursuit. In 2026, that reality is even clearer as online communities play a growing role… Read more: Top Online Communities Helping Indie Filmmakers Connect and Create

A new film festival is taking shape in Adelaide, South Australia, and it’s built from the ground up. The Semaphore Summer Film… Read more: Adelaide Launches a New Community-Driven Indie Film Festival

A new pathway into independent filmmaking is opening for teens in the Washington, D.C. area. The DC Independent Film Festival has launched… Read more: DC Independent Film Festival Launches Online Hub for Young Filmmakers

The Sundance Institute has revealed the 54 short films selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, and the numbers alone tell a… Read more: Sundance 2026 Short Films Lineup Sets a New Bar for Indie Storytelling

A Growing Platform for Global Independent Storytelling The Zions Indie Film Fest (ZIFF) has officially opened submissions for its 25th anniversary edition,… Read more: ZIFF 2026: Submissions Now Open for Utah’s Global Indie Film Showcase

What Happened The inaugural IndieChina Film Festival, set to take place in NYC from November 8–15, has been abruptly cancelled. According to… Read more: IndieChina Film Festival Shut Down Amid Reported Pressure on Directors

The UAE’s Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) is back for its 8th edition, running November 14–23, 2025, with early bird passes now available.… Read more: Sharjah Film Platform Returns for Its 8th Edition This November

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is back this November with its biggest lineup yet—250 films from 76 countries, representing the… Read more: IDFA 2025: A Global Stage for Documentary Innovation

Five Days of Indie Voices in the Pacific Northwest Today marks the start of the Portland Film Festival 2025, one of the… Read more: Portland Film Festival 2025 Kicks Off

$100K, New Foundation & Real Opportunity for Storytellers After six years away, Tropfest is coming back to Sydney. The world’s largest short-film… Read more: Tropfest Returns to Sydney

The UK’s Norwich Film Festival is gearing up for its 16th edition this fall, running November 3–16, 2025. Known as one of… Read more: Norwich Film Festival: A Launchpad for Indie Shorts

Seventy-one teenagers in San Francisco have pulled off what many seasoned filmmakers struggle to achieve—conceiving, producing, and premiering an original film in… Read more: San Francisco Teens Premiere Indie Dark Comedy “JAR”

Utah’s independent storytellers are navigating a new crisis. Congress passed a federal rescission package that pulls back $1.1 billion in funding for… Read more: Utah Indie Documentaries Face Major Setback Amid $1.1B Federal Cuts

It’s the end of an era. The Sundance Film Festival is moving out of Utah. After nearly 50 years between Park City… Read more: Sundance to Host Final Utah Film Festival

The votes are in and the winners of the Lighthouse International Film Festival have been announced! Jeffrey Ikahn, American Filmmaker and Film… Read more: Lighthouse International Film Festival 2025 Winners Announced