When I arrived at the IFP Narrative Rough Cut Lab with The New Year Parade I knew very little about completing a film, let alone festivals or distribution.

Three years later, we’ve been fortunate to win 8 festival awards, release the film in theaters and on DVD, were nominated for an IFP Gotham Award, and are now honored with an Independent Spirit Award Nomination.  Each of these incredible events began at IFP.

The staff at IFP are selfless and passionate, dedicated to independent filmmakers as individuals regardless of budget size, market value, or name recognition while building a rich community of peers and mentors.

Read what Others are saying about IFP and its Programs

Filmmakers

“IFP kept opening doors for me based on the quality of my work and not on its marketability. There has to be a place for this kind of support in the New York film world so that the voices and visions of filmmakers stay true.” – Courtney Hunt, Writer/Director, Frozen River, Independent Film Week – Emerging Narrative, 2004, 2005, No Borders 2006; Sony Pictures Classics

“As filmmakers, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. The Lab gave me the opportunity to pick the brains of amazing people with informed experience. As a result, I was able to make a strategy for finishing my film and showing it to the world.” – Matt Wolf, Director, Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell, Independent Filmmaker Lab – Documentary 2007

“IFP’s Independent Film Week opened innumerable doors for me. I’m based in Baltimore, so it was invaluable to have access to people and resources that are typically hard to reach from outside New York and LA. The IFP team supported me every step of the way, from script to screen, providing story consultation and production guidance, facilitating pre-production meetings and equipment rentals, and aiding efforts to publicize our finished film across platforms. IFP affiliation goes a long way towards legitimizing a project in the eyes of the industry, and for a small, grass-roots effort that makes all the difference.” - Matt Poterfeld, Putty Hill

Countless times I have presented new feature documentaries at the IFP from ‘Nitrate Kisses’ in 1992 (selected for Sundance) to ‘Lover Other’ this last fall (selected for the Berlin International Film Festival and Director’s Fortnight, Museum of Modern Art, NYC) and I have always been rewarded by an enthusiastic audience whose “word of mouth” beats the best gossips in town. Thank you for being there IFP and for your focus on docs! - Barbara Hammer, Director, Lover Other: The Story of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, 2006

“The stories I want to tell and the stories I want to see are products of a rich independent film world. Being a part of IFP, I feel I can play a more active role in supporting this kind of filmmaking. “ – Richard LaGravenese, writer, director & producer

“Thanks to No Borders meetings, we found a sales agent [and have closed] on US sales for these two films, one with Magnolia and one with IFC. This alone would be great, but on top of that, we have opened up business relationships and discussions for future projects with a least a dozen No Border delegates. - Mark Herbert, Producer, This Is England; Independent Film Week – No Borders 2007

“No Borders is the IFP’s best kept secret. It is easily the best way to meet with all the legitimate New York companies (and beyond) in one fell swoop. The atmosphere is so conducive to great pitching it would be a big surprise if you weren’t able to find some serious interest. The level of talks/seminars was fantastic. Having people like John Hadity, Jeb Brody and Mark Ankner speaking frankly is invaluable.” - Jamin O’Brien, Producer, Sea of Tranquility, Independent Film Week – No Borders 2007

“All the positive comments [at the Market] gave me the boost of confidence I needed to push forward with the film, and to trust my instincts with the direction it’s taking. Once again, you had a great staff: friendly, well-organized, and plenty helpful. What more could a filmmaker want? I don’t know how you’re going to top yourselves, but I’m sure you’ll find a way.” – Rick Minnich, Director, Journey Through An Invisible Wall, Independent Film Week – Spotlight on Documentaries 2007

The IFP provided crucial support for our film “The Trials of Darryl Hunt.” We directly benefited from the Independent Film Week – which gave us several leads on international pre-sales for our film – and also from financing opportunities.  More importantly, the IFP Radziwill grant gave us a very valuable stamp of industry recognition at am early stage of production, which helped us to secure the rest of the financing for our film. IFP has been there from the beginning (or should I say resurrection?) to the world premiere of our film at Sundance.� - Annie Sundberg

Independent film Week was an important opportunity for our film, AMERICAN HARDCORE, as a calling card to the industry at large. – Paul Rachman, Director, American Hardcore

“With both ‘Troublesome Creek and our new film, ‘So Much So Fast’, Independent Film Week was a great way to get word out while they were still in progress and then launch them when they were done. The Market brings so many key people together, you can get a tremendous amount done in a short period of time.” Troublesome Creek Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award Winner at Sundance, nominated for the Academy Award, winner of the Prix Italia, Peabody Award and IDA Award winner. – Steven Ascher & Jeanne Jordan

“Our experience at the IFP Market in both New York and Berlin was amazing. The IFP gave us complete support and guidance, and made it possible for us to introduce our film to the industry. We don’t know how we would have gotten Mad Hot Ballroom off the ground without them. We are proud of our association with the IFP, and look forward to working with them again.” - Marilyn Agrelo, Director/Producer; Amy Sewell, Producer/Writer

“[No Borders] has become the most significant meeting point in North America to present new projects to key global financiers. Over four years of attendance, we have completed two features and are on our way to financing a third film with partnerships incubated at the IFP.” – Damon D’Oliveira, Producer, Poor Boy’s Game; Conquering Lion Pictures – Independent Film Week – No Borders 2004

“No Borders offers an opportune environment to meet a large swath of new and established companies seeking projects. The cocktail receptions and panels provide essential follow-up opportunities to build newly formed relationships. A fantastic place for seasoned producers to debut a project.” - Karin Chien, Producer, The Motel – Independent Film Week – No Borders 2002

Distributors / Broadcasters / Industry

“The IFP [Market] is one of the most important weeks of the year for P.O.V. It’s the place where we get up to speed on films in production and have the chance to get to know the filmmakers. We often pick up films [at the Market], and when we do, IFP becomes a key partner all the way through to broadcast on P.O.V.” - Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, American Documentary/P.O.V

“It was great to have the opportunity to talk to a lot of filmmakers with very strong projects in development. IFP becomes more and more important for us as a marketplace and as a meeting point with filmmakers.” – Hans Robert Eisenhauer, Commissioning Editor, ZDF/Arte

“No Borders is a superbly curated event that leads sales agents, potential financiers and distributors directly to the most creative and original filmmakers in America today. It’s a ‘must do’ on my circuit.” – Charlotte Mickie, Maximum Films International

“I spent three wonderful days at the IFP this year with the opportunity to meet a lot of great and courageous producers defending their project with passion. It was helpful for me for understand the independent [cinema] from New York and also other territories.” - Frederic Boyer/Programmer of Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival

“The consolidation of the film business and the myopia of its executives has created a treacherous landscape for those filmmakers who want to tell stories that can’t or won’t be supported by mainstream Hollywood. Throughout its history, the IFP has remained a source of information and inspiration to those filmmakers, and has continually adapted itself to serve their needs.” - Ira Deutchman, President & CEO, Emerging Pictures

With a large and very active documentary community and some of my major buying and co-production clients there, New York is for me one of the few documentary key cities. Having said this, the IFP, which I have attended since its early days, has always been a pivotal meeting platform for me. - Jan Rofekamp, CEO, Films Transit International

“The IFP is an invaluable resource for discovering new cinematic voices. There have been many documentaries and dramatic films that we’ve premiered at the Sundance Film Festival that either I or one of my colleagues first saw in rough cut form at the IFP. Besides being a breeding ground for exciting new talent and important work, the IFP is an incredible networking opportunity – a place that truly values filmmakers and challenges them to reach new heights.” – David Courier, Programmer, Sundance Film Festival

Producers Seeking New Writers

“I need to believe that true authentic voices from the streets will always be able to reach me. The IFP’s Emerging Narrative program offers me the opportunity to partner with this type of new talent. It is unique in its openness, consistent in its quality and daring in its choices. I look forward to the Market every year, where I know that this kind of passion will bring real talent to the table.” – Mike S. Ryan, Producer, Junebug, Fay Grim

“I was able to participate/listen to one of the Emerging Narrative pitch sessions and… I was really impressed – I think the caliber of projects and presentations has steadily risen and the organization of the event was terrific. – Yael Melamede, Producer, My Architect, The Inner Life of Martin Frost

“I’ve made several connections at the Emerging Narratives program that have proven to be long term relationships with writers and directors. I think it is a great way to connect filmmakers with producers who are interested and inclined to putting in development time into projects. Each year I have attended, I have come away with relationships that turn into working relationships, and in one case, a project that is now part of my development slate.” – Jamin O’Brien, Producer, The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club, Just Like the Son