Indie Film Festival Awards

What Indie Film Festival Awards does

Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City. It operates an annual independent film festival and awards platform serving indie filmmakers globally with no genre or language restrictions. The organization runs a 3-day live festival at Quad Cinema (34 West 13th Street, NYC) complemented by a virtual Award Nomination Festival running mid-February through April on its Indie Films World OTT streaming platform. Submissions flow through FilmFreeway, ticketing and donations are processed via Zeffy, and selected films are distributed globally via partnerships including Amazon Prime Video and the white-labelled TheAlly OTT infrastructure.

IFFA's core products span event operations (the annual festival and 50+ award categories judged by a 12-member international jury), the Indie Films World streaming platform (films available at $1.49 per stream with 50% of revenue shared with filmmakers), the FilmFreeway-powered submission portal with HD upload up to 50GB via Dropbox, festival pass and VIP ticketing, the audience-driven People's Choice Awards, global distribution assistance, and educational outreach (film literacy workshops, school screenings, funding and grants). Brand ambassadors in Florida, New Jersey, New York, and India extend filmmaker acquisition.

IFFA's business model combines four streams: (1) film submission fees scaled to film length and category, (2) transaction-based streaming revenue at $1.49 per film (50% passed to filmmakers), (3) one-time festival pass and VIP package sales, and (4) tax-deductible donations channeled through Zeffy. The organization reinvests 100% of proceeds into the filmmaking ecosystem per its non-profit mission. Leadership comprises founder/director Mukesh Modi, VP Sudha Deora, secretary Yash Modi, programming director Ivan Rana, and festival manager Manish Sinha, supported by a 1–10 person team.

Name

Indie Film Festival Awards

Legal name

Indie Film Festival Awards

Website

https://indiefilmfestivalawards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Indie Film Festival Awards is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an annual independent film festival and awards platform at Quad Cinema in NYC, serving indie filmmakers globally through live screenings, virtual streaming on Indie Films World, and distribution partnerships including Amazon Prime Video.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Film Festival & Awards

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting) (MPAGAOAN), Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG), Hybrid Conferences & Conventions (In-Person + Streamed) (MPAGAOAC), Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)

Keywords

• Independent film festival
• Indie filmmaker awards
• Film submission platform
• Virtual film screening
• OTT streaming platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Festival Passes and Tickets: Revenue from selling festival passes and VIP packages through Zeffy ticketing platform for in-person events and screenings
2. Streaming Revenue: Films available for $1.49 streaming fee during nomination festival, with 50% shared with filmmakers
3. Film Submission Fees: Submission fees charged to filmmakers to enter films, with fees varying based on film length and submission category
4. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, accepting donations to support independent filmmakers and keep arts and culture alive

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs an annual 3-day independent film festival in New York City (at Quad Cinema), accompanied by a virtual Award Nomination Festival streamed on its Indie Films World platform. Filmmakers submit films through the FilmFreeway portal, pay tiered submission fees, and share in 50% of streaming revenue; selected films compete across 50+ award categories, with winners gaining global distribution support including Amazon Prime Video.

Product overview

Indie Film Festival Awards (IFFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating as a film festival and awards platform for independent filmmakers. The core offering is the annual IFFA film festival (3-day live event in New York City), complemented by the Indie Films World streaming platform for the online Award Nomination Festival, the FilmFreeway-powered film submission portal, festival pass ticketing via Zeffy, global distribution support (including Amazon Prime Video), People's Choice Awards, and educational outreach programs including funding/grants and free film literacy workshops. The portfolio spans festival operations, streaming/OTT, submissions management, ticketing, distribution, and non-profit education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IFFA Annual Film Festival Annual independent film festival celebrating excellence in independent filmmaking worldwide, with live screenings, opening and closing ceremonies, and an awards night at Quad Cinema, New York City. Open to filmmakers globally with no genre or language restrictions; features 50+ award categories.
• Indie Films World Streaming Platform Exclusive streaming platform operated by IFFA for the Award Nomination Festival, where nominated films are showcased online for global audiences during the mid-February to mid-April nomination cycle. Films are available for a $1.49 streaming fee, with 50% of revenue shared directly with filmmakers.
• Festival Pass & VIP Packages Ticketed access to the IFFA festival experience, including opening night, screenings, award ceremony, and networking events. Sold via the Zeffy payment gateway for attendees and filmmakers.
• Global Distribution Support Distribution assistance program connecting selected filmmakers with global distribution partners, streaming platforms (including Amazon Prime Video), broadcast deals, and theatrical runs, with dedicated rights management support.
• Educational Outreach & Workshops Non-profit educational programs including free film literacy workshops, school screening programs, and funding and grants for debut and micro-budget filmmakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of streaming revenue shared directly with filmmakers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZeffycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicketing and donation platform used for festival passes, VIP packages, and donation collection. Filmmakers and attendees use Zeffy to purchase festival access.
• FilmFreewaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary film submission portal for IFFA. Filmmakers submit films through FilmFreeway which serves as the official submission gateway for the festival.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal distribution partnership for selected IFFA films. IFFA assists filmmakers in securing global distribution through major platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
• Indie Films WorldcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive streaming platform for IFFA's Award Nomination Festival. Nominated films are showcased on Indie Films World streaming platform with 50% revenue sharing with filmmakers.
• Quad CinemaminorOthersNYC venue for IFFA events including opening ceremony, screenings, and award ceremony. Located at 34 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Raindance Film Festival: Independent film festival offering film submissions, awards, and filmmaker education — comparable indie festival programming and educational outreach.
• Slamdance Film Festival: Independent, filmmaker-run festival focused on discovery of new voices, with submission-based competition and award categories — comparable indie-first positioning.
• Sundance Film Festival: The flagship U.S. independent film festival and awards platform serving emerging and indie filmmakers with global distribution pathways — closely comparable offering for the same indie filmmaker segment.
• SXSW Film Festival: Multi-disciplinary festival featuring a film competition with indie film screenings, awards, and distribution deal-making — comparable festival model and indie filmmaker audience.
• Tribeca Film Festival: Major New York City-based film festival celebrating independent and emerging voices, with comparable physical screenings, awards programming, and filmmaker services — direct head-to-head competitor in the same city and category.
• Indie Short Fest: Online indie film competition and awards platform serving independent short film creators globally with streaming-based voting — comparable indie-focused awards and virtual screening model.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Major international film festival with independent film programming, awards, and industry distribution support — comparable festival-driven indie film platform.
• New York Film Festival: Long-running NYC film festival featuring curated independent and arthouse screenings at Manhattan venues — direct overlap in geography and exhibition function.

Others

• FilmFreeway: Dominant film submission platform used by festivals worldwide, including IFFA as its primary submission portal — adjacent ecosystem infrastructure rather than direct competitor.
• Withoutabox (now part of FilmFreeway): Historical film festival submission platform providing indie filmmakers with festival discovery and submission tools — adjacent ecosystem enabler for the same audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Indie Film Festival Awards