IFP (Independent Feature Project)
Encyclopedia
Independent Feature Project (IFP) is the name for a series of membership-based, not-for-profit organizations that produce programs that assist independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
makers in connecting with film-industry professionals and, ultimately, audiences. It was founded in 1979 by independent filmmakers. Under the IFP umbrella, the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
organization has over 5,000 members. Affiliated regional organizations are based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and Seattle. The IFP's executive director is Joana Vicente
Joana Vicente
Joana Vicente is an independent movie producer. A prominent figure in the New York film industry, Vicente has produced over forty films with her producing partner and husband Jason Kliot...
.
Independent Film Week
Produced by IFP, this is a four-day promotional campaign to help draw new audiences to independent film and independent theaters in New York City. It includes a first-of-its-kind reduced-price ticket promotion of $6 for all shows Monday–Thursday. Participating theaters in 2006 included LandmarkLandmark Theatres
Landmark Theatres is the largest art house movie theater chain in the United States. It is owned by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner through their 2929 Entertainment. The chain shows mostly first run independent, foreign film, and restored classics though some Landmark theaters also show more mainstream...
's Sunshine Cinema in the East Village
East Village, Manhattan
The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
and Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
's BAM Rose Cinemas
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
.
IFP Market
Founded in 1979, the IFP Market is a five-day showcase, held each autumn in New York, for new independent projects. It is unique in the U.S. for providing a forum for independent screenwriters, directors, and producers with projects in various stages of development to present their work directly to industry executives. To facilitate business opportunities, IFP schedules more than 1,800 one-on-one meetings annually for filmmakers with participating projects and high-level industry executives. Sections include emerging narrative, spotlight on documentaries, and the no borders international co-production market. In total, approximately 200 projects are invited to participate annually. The IFP Market takes place during Independent Film Week.Filmmaker magazine
Filmmaker is the leading publication (print, on-line, and through its blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
) providing an insider's perspective into all areas of the American independent filmmaking experience, which include articles covering the creative process, business, and technology. It is written by filmmakers for filmmakers and film lovers. Its editorial direction is governed by Sundance Award
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
-winning producer Scott Macaulay, the magazine's editor since 1992. The magazine is published quarterly and available as a benefit of IFP membership or through direct subscription, and at retail chains and newsstands internationally.
Filmmaker Conference
Content producers and those trying to reach them converge for five days in New York for over 40 panels, workshops, and networking. The focus is on the business of filmmaking with a dedication to exploring new trends in technological applications as well as financing and distribution structures. With more than 3,000 in attendance, the Conference venues include a ballroom that can accommodate 400, a gallery workshop space for 100, and a Liquid Lounge that serves by day as a lounge for informal meetings over coffee and transitions nightly into a venue to kick back and enjoy a live music performance. The Filmmaker Conference takes place in September during Independent Film Week.IFP Labs
A mentorship that nurtures diverse voices from across the country, which supports low-budget, independently produced films by emerging filmmakers. These are just a few of the objectives of IFP's Lab program. Since the program's inception in 2005, 27 films directed by first-time feature directors have taken part in these three-day intensive workshops, which focus on the final stage of film completion and readiness for the film festival circuit. More than 50% of these dramatic features and feature-length documentaries have women, LGBT, and people of color in key creative positions. Films from the Labs have premiered at major national and international festivals such as RotterdamInternational Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
(Inner Circle Line), LA Film Festival
Los Angeles Film Festival
The Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times is an event held annually in June in downtown Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Film Festival began as the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 1995. The first LAIFF took place over the course of five days in a single...
(Undoing), Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
(The Guatemalan Handshake
The Guatemalan Handshake
The Guatemalan Handshake is a 2006 comedy-drama film, written and directed by Todd Rohal. It is Rohal's feature film debut. The film premiered at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize.-Story:...
), and SXSW (Jumping off Bridges) and have garnered prestigious awards and industry recognition.
IFP International
This umbrella initiative connects U.S. independent filmmakers at festivals and markets in RotterdamInternational Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
, Berlin
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
, Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, and Pusan
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
. Programs such as IFP Producers Fellowships for mid-career producers to receive modest travel stipends to attend these festivals, markets, and promotion through IFP's marketing campaign at events such as American Directors at Cannes Press Conference, participation in the Cannes Producers Network, IFP Booth in Berlin, and other events during the Berlin Film Festival and European Film Market.