Independent Lens . Inside Indies

Sometimes a Long(er) Notion: From Short Film to Feature

With online and mobile viewing becoming more prevalent, shorts are enjoying a renaissance they haven’t seen since the days newsreels were shown before the double feature. Most filmmakers hone their craft with short films; they start short and end long. Take a short trip down memory lane and see what films went the distance.

Read Sometimes a Long(er) Notion >>

Animation, drama, documentary and poetry in motion—shorts that pack a punch! Immerse yourself in an eclectic mix of stories and storytelling with this year’s batch of Independent Lens Online Shorts winners.

Check out the festival winners and view the shorts online >>

“I wasn’t interested in having to live with a camera—I have a hard enough time getting along with myself.”

—John Trudell

How do doc makers tell personal stories without being too intrusive? Read about the relationship between a young Native American filmmaker and her film subject; find out what it’s like to interview legendary journalists and discover how a sensitive approach led to compelling stories from the elderly.

Read Inside Filmmaking Volume 6 >>

Grey Gardens. Irma Vep, Casablanca. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang…
No, it’s not Film Appreciation 101, just a few of the titles recommended by Independent Lens filmmakers. Are your favorites on the list? Want to expand your film watching horizons?
Find out more >>

What are your three favorite films? Yes… just three.
Take the challenge and share the wealth in Talkback >>

When it comes to filmmaking, what does independent mean to you?
Tell us what you think >>

Can’t get enough independent cinema? From film fan and filmmaker to fund-seeker and trivia buff, there’s something for everyone in Indie Resources.
Get informed >>

Inside Indies celebrates the creative freedom, artistic achievements and unflinching visions of independent producers who make films that change the way we see our lives and our world.


	Can’t make it to the art house? Here are some recently released independent films for you to watch in the comfort of your home. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Biography/Drama by Julian Schnabel Starring: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josee Croze… Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Thriller by Sidney Lumet Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney… Jimmy Carter Man From Plains Documentary by Jonathan Demme Steal a Pencil For Me Documentary by Michele Ohayon Half Moon: A Musician's Last Journey Drama by Bahman Ghobadi Ismail Ghaffari, Allah Morad Rashtiani, Hedye Tehrani… Find these films to rent online >>

What is independent?
“A film or program is independent if more than fifty percent of its financing comes from sources other than the seven major U.S. studios.”
Source: The Independent Film & Television Alliance

What makes a film independent?
Tell us what you think >>