An Indy film is one produced for a small budget, and usually with higher artistic expression or intent than mainstream films. An indy film usually has less well known actors, though some big name actors will participate if they feel the film is exceptional.


Indy Film
Indy Film

Indy Film
An independent film, or indy film, is a film with a small budget. It is a film that is not produced out of a major motion picture studio.

An indy film may or may not include well known actors and actresses. If a well known actor or actress is performing in an indy film, chances are that actor or actress is not receiving substantial pay for the film. Well known actors or actresses who perform in films of this kind mainly do so for other reasons besides money. One common reason is that a producer, director or writer are putting out a film that the actor or actress believes in and that the actor or actress feels is a film that deserves attention.


An indy film has a higher artistic level than most mainstream films. This is because they are not produced to compete against movies that have mainstream sales. Rather, they are produced to convey an artistic direction that a writer/director and producer want to convey.

An Indy film can receive recognition for its quality at major movie awards, such as the Academy Awards and at ceremonies that focus on independent films, such as The Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Film Festival is an independent film celebration that takes place every year in Utah.

An indy film can also receive recognition at places such as the Independent Film Channel. The Independent Film Channel is dedicated to the indy film. The Independent Film Channel began in 1994. It is unedited and commercially uninterrupted. It runs 24 hours a day. Their focus is on films that are judged on their own merits and not on the latest trend in movies or on what sells.

It is possible for an indy film to receive enough viewers to make as much money as a mainstream film. Examples of indy films that made it big are Little Miss Sunshine and The Blair Witch Project.