Film Festival

This is the 5th annual PopCon International Film Festival (PIFF) competition for PopCon, but we are in our 11th year as a physical convention. The film festival begins Friday, April 26, 2024 and concludes Sunday, April 28, 2024 and will feature films, post screening Q&A’s, celebrity panels, filmmaker panels and more.

PopCon prides itself as being Indy’s “only” locally owned and operated large pop culture fan event. PopCon will be programming a full-lineup film festival. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their short/feature film and short/feature screenplays in multiple genres. The film festival will be honoring films of several pop culture genres, including but NOT limited to: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comedy, Anime/Animation, Horror, Action/Adventure, Fan Film, Supernatural/Thriller, Documentary, Internet Culture & Gaming/Sports.

PopCon continues to bring some of the largest names in pop culture to Indianapolis each year, but the event’s true mission is to give creators – of all kinds – a platform to find new audiences. Instead of focusing on one specific fandom, PopCon flips the script on the typical con experience by focusing on all genres of pop culture fandom. The film festival is an obvious expansion of that mission.

The film festival will be in addition to all the other programming at PopCon over the event’s weekend. The 9th Annual PopCon Podcast Awards, the 11th Annual Ultimate Cosplay Championships, and dozens of fan panels and workshops will be alongside video gaming, laser tag, escape rooms, state-of-the-art virtual reality offerings, and 24-hour board gaming. PopCon will also continue to have the best selection of vendors for fans to enjoy.

Awards & Prizes

Upon filmmakers request and written consent, official selections can be submitted for distribution consideration to several of our domestic and international film distribution partners. NOTE- films already available free online are not eligible for submission to distributors.

Each Official Selection will receive the following:
One (1) Three-day Pass (in-person event admission) to Indy PopCon (full convention & film festival). Additional passes are easily purchased.

Award trophies will be given for the following*:
-Best Indiana Film
-Best Feature
-Best Short
-Best International Film
-Best Comedy
-Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
-Best Action/Adventure
-Best Thriller
-Best Horror
-Best Fan Film
-Best Animated Film
-Best Drama
-Best Documentary
-Best Music Video
-Best Student Film
-Best Director
-Best Actress
-Best Actor
* Please note that trophies can only be received at the in-person awards ceremony. These winners will also receive a certificate.

Award Certificates will be given for the following categories*:
-Best Sound Design
-Best 1st Time Filmmaker
-Best Story
-Best Costuming
-Best Production Design
-Best Cinematography
-Best Special Effects (SFX)
-Best Original Score
-Best Editing
-Best Ensemble Cast
-Best Villain
-Best Hero
* Please note that certificates can only be received at the in-person awards ceremony, but will be sent out digitally for self-printing.

Films can be nominated for multiple awards.