Latest Indie Film News

Explore the latest news, press releases, film festivals, filmmaker interviews, movie production updates, and crowdfunding campaigns worldwide.

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Award-Winning Podcast ‘Now, Let’s Talk!’ Releases Ukraine Peace Episode

In its latest episode, the award-winning podcast brings Rutgers professor Alexander Motyl to discuss prospects for peace in Ukraine.

Podcast
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Indiegogo Relaunch for Suspense-Thriller ‘Cult Night,’ the Eighth Feature Film by Raya Films

Directed by James Smith and produced by Caroline Spence, Raya Films’ thriller ‘Cult Night’ has relaunched its Indiegogo campaign with new perks, exclusive clips, and plans for a 2026 worldwide release.

fundraising
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‘Huliyappa’: Sourabha Rao’s Award-Winning Documentary Explores Tiger Worship and Human-Wildlife Coexistence

Directed by Sourabha Rao, the Kannada short ‘Huliyappa’ captures Uttara Kannada villagers’ tiger worship traditions and resilience, earning global festival acclaim.

International
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Omnia Pictures Unveils Projects ‘Piece’ and ‘Starry Night’ as Part of Debut Slate

The new studio, backed by Penwheel Universe and Eyedeal Image Productions, will champion daring storytelling across film and television.

Production
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A24 Acquires KINO’s 'The Undertone' After Fantasia Festival Premiere

The psychological horror from Toronto-based director Ian Tuason, starring Nina Kiri, is the latest indie to join A24’s bold lineup.

Festivals
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Post-Apocalyptic Thriller ‘Run’ Launches Indiegogo Campaign to Complete Filming

The Blaze Brothers Production Company is crowdfunding the final two scenes of ‘Run,’ a post-apocalyptic thriller about survival and resistance.

fundraising
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Breakout Indie Thriller ‘Deadly Escape’ Debuts on Tubi With Houston Roots

Written and directed by Lakisha R. Lemons, ‘Deadly Escape’ blends raw emotion with gripping suspense, now available free to stream on Tubi.

New Release
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‘Five Flights’ Selected for NYWIFT’s Online Shorts Festival on iWomanTV

The powerful short ‘Five Flights,’ exploring childhood fears and domestic abuse, competes for the Audience Choice Award on iWomanTV.

Festivals
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Nachela Knox Rises With Thriller ‘Uneven Deception’ on Tubi

Uneven Deception is a gripping thriller with drama and just the right touch of comedy. Directed by Nachela Knox and starring Lester Greene, it’s now streaming on Tubi. Filmed in NC with local crews, it’s a must-watch that’ll have you talking to the screen.

New Release
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Christopher Eccleston Named Festival Patron for Bournemouth International Film Festival 2025

Bournemouth International Film Festival (BIFF) is proud to announce that acclaimed British actor Christopher Eccleston has joined as Festival Patron for its inaugural edition, taking place October 3–4, 2025 at the Hilton Bournemouth.

Festivals
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Kraken Film Festival Summer 2025: Rhoda and Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon) Lead a Wave of Global Talent

Kraken Film Festival crowns 2025 winners! UK short "Rhoda" wins big with Emma D’Arcy's electrifying performance earning Best Actress. A global treasure map of cinematic excellence from the USA to Korea.

Festivals
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New Queer Comedy from Writer-Director James Weisz Heads Into Production

Starring Kane Surry, Nadine Wild-Palmer, and Matthew Hartley, Adonis blends humor with heart as it tells the story of Nathan, a gay man confronting body image pressures.

Production
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Filmmaker Vinayak Nar Launches Dialogue-Free Mystery Series 'Woman: A Suspense'

Episode 1, “What Next…?”, follows a wife’s shocking discovery of her husband’s sudden death, setting the stage for a suspenseful and emotional journey.

New Release
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'Dylan Brody Project' Sweeps Through Fest Circuit

Award-winning filmmaker Dylan Brody's latest Active Voice Productions project sweeps indie festivals. The Stanley Drama Award winner continues his festival success with "You Are Here: A Dylan Brody Project" starring comedy icon Paul Provenza and Michele Martin (Howl, Blue).

Festivals
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New Fantasy Romance Film 'Starflare' Launches Crowdfunding Campaign on Seed&Spark

Backed by an all-women creative team, actor and writer Laura Ricci is bringing a romantasy short with an Academy-qualified director and award-winning producer to life through a Seed&Spark crowdfunding campaign running until Aug. 29.

fundraising
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'#blindhope': Belle Films Joins Bilingual Musical Drama from Charo Toledo

Belle Films has signed a substantial LOI for Charo Toledo’s '#blindhope,' a bilingual romantic musical drama blending love, music, and soccer. Timed to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the film promises a global cultural moment.

fundraising
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'Wonderworld: The Remixed Musical' Is a Gothic Fairytale Ready for the Big Screen

'Wonderworld: The Remixed Musical,' a gothic fairytale blending K-pop Demon Hunter energy with Tim Burton-inspired visuals, is being pitched as an animated feature film.

Production
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Halfway to Amarillo Secures Worldwide Release With Gravitas Ventures, Shout! Studios

Produced by Mike Binder, the heartfelt Western comedy was shot in just 11 days for under $60K and won Best Indie Feature at IFS LA and Audience Choice at Lake Travis.

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Inter-Racial and Inter-Cultural Marriage Drama 'The Last Fifteen Minutes' Screens at Playhouse West Film Festival

Directed by Edo Natasha, the award-winning short stars Runny Rudiyanti and Samuel Selman in a real-time story of love and loss, with a post-screening Q&A at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

New Release
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'Shericks' Wins Global Film Festival Awards and Launches Worldwide Buzz

'Shericks,' directed by Nurdulla Balmanov, took home Best Independent Film and Honorable Mention at the Global Film Festival Awards 2025, blending VHS and modern filmmaking into a powerful drama of time and forgiveness.

Festivals
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Award-Winning Documentary on Bat Conservation Launches Screening Tour

'The Invisible Mammal' begins its Bay Area screening tour Sept. 4, 2025 at the Smith Rafael Film Center, following its world premiere and Audience Choice Award win at the DocLands Documentary Film Festival.

New Release
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Sciarpa Productions Expands Indie Film Slate, Showcasing Northeast Ohio Talent

As a Northeast Ohio-based independent film company, Sciarpa Productions releases new projects annually and champions the region’s actors, crew, and creatives.

Production
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Visionary Filmmaker Jason Brown Debuts WWII Horror ‘Emerald Cottage’

A slow-burning psychological horror with A24-level dread, the film follows Nancy, an undertaker’s assistant who takes a job in rural England after World War II.

New Release
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‘She’s All the Rage’ Premieres on YouTube, Reimagines Spike Lee Classic for the Digital Age

Indie filmmaker Mehki Liggon’s latest 15-minute romantic comedy follows a Black influencer navigating love, identity and public scrutiny in the digital age, inspired by Spike Lee’s ‘She’s Gotta Have It.’

New Release
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DFM Creative Launches Gamer Film Campaign for ‘We Could Be Heroes’

Led by filmmaker Mark Elias, this fast-paced crime comedy blends gamer culture with the humor of ‘Booksmart’ and the grit of ‘Snatch.’

fundraising
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Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Chris Qonnor: The Hero’ Debuts From Filmmaker Yakov Kolontarov

After Earth’s fall, survivors on planet Zebra face a DNA secret that could save or doom humanity, now streaming worldwide on YouTube and BiliBili TV.

New Release
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Marlene Rhein Launches Crowdfunding Campaign for Comedy Feature ‘Who Is Joi Seracha?’

Blending dark comedy with a candid look at mental health, Marlene Rhein’s ‘Who Is Joi Seracha?’ is seeking Indiegogo backers.

fundraising
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Broadway’s Reese Bogin to Appear in ‘The Unburdened’ Short Film

Reese Bogin, known for her role in Broadway’s ‘Leopoldstadt,’ takes on the role of Ellie in Arnon Z. Shorr’s Holocaust-themed short, exploring memory, trauma and hope.

Cast & Crew
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Award-Winning Filmmaker Gigi Hozimah Premieres ‘And Then Comes Winter’ at Private Paris Screening

Gigi Hozimah will debut her fourth feature, ‘And Then Comes Winter,’ at an invitation-only screening Dec. 28 at La Filmothèque du Quartier Latin in Paris, ahead of its 2026 global rollout.

New Release
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Goreella Media Completes ‘Short Fuse,’ A Gritty Sci-Fi Urban Thriller

Goreella Media’s fifth feature, directed by Kevin Van Stevenson and inspired by his own teenage wrongful accusation, is set to ignite the festival circuit.

New Release
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Fantoche 2025: Start of Pre-Sales, Visitor From the Federal Government, a Shot at an Oscar

The 23rd Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, Sept. 2–7 in Baden, features work-themed and Estonian animation programs, 66 shorts in competition, and a new Oscar-qualifying Best Film award.

Festivals
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Seed&Spark Campaign Launches to Fund Documentary to Preserve Motown Music’s Legacy of Love

Spiration Films makes its debut with ‘The Spirit Moves Through Motown,’ a documentary celebrating Jack Ashford — the last surviving Funk Brother — and exploring how faith shaped Motown’s timeless sound.

fundraising
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Pix/See Productions Premieres ‘The Mystery of Emma Thorn’ at Iconic Chinese Theater in Hollywood

Gregory Blair’s mystery/drama ‘The Mystery of Emma Thorn,’ starring cult film legend Lynn Lowry, will make its world premiere Sept. 8, 2025, during the Silicon Beach Film Festival.

New Release
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‘Personhood’ Selected for Market World Premiere at 82nd Venice International Film Festival

Richard Jordan’s latest indie sci-fi unfolds on Spain’s Costa del Sol, where a man’s bond with an AI companion probes themes of love, loneliness, and free will.

Festivals
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'Shrapnel' Secures Official Selections at Cinestesya Film Festival and Lift-Off Sessions 2025

'Shrapnel' is a deeply personal exploration of migration, family, inherited fear, and the piercing impact of language. With its blend of poetic narrative and striking visuals, the film pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling.

Festivals
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Filmmaker Steve Strangio Launches Short Film Initiative to Spark Creative Collaborations

The films—ranging from comedy and parody to fantasy and drama—represent years of original storytelling. Each piece showcases Steve Strangio’s distinct voice, blending wit, emotional depth, and quirky character-driven plots.

New Release
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Grief Meets the Cosmos in New Sci-Fi Drama 'Colors We Made'

Award-winning Bronx filmmaker Amanda Morell “iiritu” explores love, loss, and memory in an intimate new short film inspired by true events.

New Release
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Award-Winning Director Richard Bazley Announces New Feature Film 'Bambola'

Emmy-nominated director Richard Bazley, known for award-winning shorts Censure and Confines, launches a crowdfunding campaign for his debut feature, Bambola.

New Release
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The Film Festival Doctor’s Live Podcast Tour To Kick Off At HollyShorts

The Film Festival Doctor Podcast, co-produced & hosted by Film Festival Strategist Dr Rebekah Louisa Smith, will be going on a live tour during August.

Podcast
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'Monsters Inc' meets 'The Office' in 'After Life Crisis' Now on Tubi TV

2025 Phoenix Film Festival Favorite Gets VOD Wide Release

New Release
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Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Documentary 'The House Next Door'

Documentary Focused on Effects of America’s Housing Foreclosure Crisis Sets Digital Debut for North American VOD Platforms and DVD on July 16, 2024‍

International
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The Rebirth of Max It Magazine

Long, long ago, on an indie film site far… Well, actually!

Max It
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For Professional Audiences: Think Bigger, Grow Bigger at Fantoche 2025

‘Think Outside the Frame’ takes center stage at Fantoche’s 11th Industry Day on Sept. 4, bringing animation professionals together for panels, artist talks, and the Swiss Animation Industry Award.

Festivals
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Fantoche 2025: International Animation Film Festival Announces 89 Animated Shorts

The 23rd edition of Switzerland’s premier animation event in Baden will present 66 competition films, 23 'Panorama' shorts, and highlights such as Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying contests, a country focus on Estonia, and the themed '9 to 5' series.

Festivals
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New Sci-Fi Pilot 'Soul Wars' Explores Astral Projection and Alien Worlds

Georgia-based filmmaker Deanna Rashell’s 'Soul Wars' had its first public screening in Marietta and is now on the festival circuit, with plans to expand the indie sci-fi into a full feature film series.

New Release
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'Perfect Purpose' Earns Seven Nominations at 168 Hour Film Festival

Co-directed by Bryan McClure and Kevin Saunders, the short follows a Grammy-winning artist whose seemingly perfect life unravels when a haunting secret from her past resurfaces, all filmed in just 168 hours.

Festivals
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'The Roast Pork Butt': From Worst Date Ever to Festival Winner

This romantic comedy short—based on a real date gone wrong—is racking up nominations and laughs on the indie circuit.

New Release
The Latest Indie Film News and Press Releases

Max It Magazine delivers the latest indie film news, independent cinema stories, and film festival coverage alongside exclusive filmmaker interviews, behind-the-scenes movie production updates, and crowdfunding campaign spotlights. Explore independent film projects, production campaigns, and festival highlights from around the globe, connecting you to the people and stories shaping the world of indie filmmaking.

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