Indiewood Film Festival draws 400 films, awards more than 100 honors in Hollywood debut

The newly rebranded Indiewood Film Festival launched last month at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood, screening more than 400 films and handing out over 100 awards. The event is positioned as a showcase for independent filmmakers, with high-profile premieres, celebrity attendance and strong filmmaker feedback fueling its first edition under the new name.

Why it matters: - The Indiewood Film Festival is being positioned as a Hollywood platform for independent filmmakers. - The festival’s debut under its new name signals a rebrand intended to emphasize indie filmmakers’ impact on the industry. - More than 100 awards went to films and screenplays, giving a sizable share of participating filmmakers recognition. - Twenty percent of all films in the festival received an award.

What happened: - The Indiewood Film Festival made its debut last month at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood, California. - The festival was formerly known as the Silicon Beach Film Festival. - The event opened with a networking party on Thursday, September 10, at The Hollywood Rooftop Restaurant & Bar by Madame Tussauds. - Film screenings ran from Friday, September 11, through Thursday, September 16, on two screens at the theater. - An awards presentation took place on Friday, September 18, at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre. - Jon Gursha and Peter Greene presented over 100 film and screenplay awards. - The festival featured a record program of more than 400 films. - High-profile premieres included the documentary short Seniors, which drew attendance from Pierce Brosnan and Paris Brosnan.

The details: - The festival’s rebrand to Indiewood Film Festival was designed to highlight the positive impact independent filmmakers have on Hollywood. - Peter Greene said the festival screened an eclectic mix of films with a wide range of styles from younger and older filmmakers. - Jon Gursha said the festival is happy to serve the independent filmmaking community and was thrilled by the high ratings from filmmakers on FilmFreeway. - Highlighted films included A Blooming of Ivy, A Letter of Last Resort, Adventures of Miss Happy, Af One Eye, Chain, Fei Fei Gao Is the Best Kept Secret Pt 2, From Cult to Queer, Growing Up Movies, Hero's Journey, Holy Ghetto, Jelly Preserves, On Fatal Ground, Open House, Pretty, Safe Zone, Seniors, The Attitude of Being Subjectively Normative, The Demon Detective, The Iron Door, The Last Brown Beret, The Voice App, and What's Happening Out There? - The highlighted projects included both films and one screenplay, The Voice App by Tom Anastasi. - The festival was created by Jon Gursha as an annual Hollywood event for independent filmmakers. - Jon Gursha serves as Festival Director, and Peter Greene serves as Program Director. - More information is available on the festival website: the Indiewood Film Festival. - The festival also maintains social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The record-sized lineup suggests the festival is trying to establish itself quickly as a meaningful indie showcase in Hollywood. - The awards volume and filmmaker feedback point to a festival model that balances screenings with recognition and industry networking. - The celebrity presence at Seniors helped give the first edition added visibility.

What's next: - The festival is expected to continue as an annual event at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. - The rebrand gives the event a clearer identity as an independent-film showcase heading into future editions. - Strong participation in the first year could help the festival attract more submissions and attention in coming years.