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Cincinnati’s
Home for Independent Filmmaking
ID: A group of people dressed nicely for a premiere stand outside Memorial Hall on a red carpet posing for the camera.
Cincinnati’s Independent Film Scene Grows Stronger as Two Major Organizations Unite
On April 9, 2026 Cindependent and the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival announced its merging. Originally organized by LADD Inc., a disability services and advocacy nonprofit, the OTR International Film Festival was the nation’s first film festival led by people in the disability community.
Cindependent has always believed in the power of film to inspire, delight, challenge, and build a vibrant community. Diversity is essential to our region, and we are dedicated to amplifying voices and stories regardless of race, culture, gender, orientation, and ability. For this reason, we are thrilled to announce: Cindependent presented with LADD
"We're so excited to officially join forces with LADD to bring a festival to Cincinnati that truly reflects our community—one that celebrates independent film while championing inclusion and accessibility at every level. This unification gives us the foundation to grow in ways that neither organization could achieve alone, and we couldn't be more excited about what's ahead." - Allyson West, Founder/Executive Director
Next at Cindependent
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Tickets for the upcoming Cindependent Film Festival are officially on sale. Choose from single-block CindeTickets, GA Day Passes, or VIP experiences and secure your spot at Cincinnati’s home for independent film.
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All tickets are sold through Memorial Hall’s official ticketing system. Clicking “Buy Now” will take you to Memorial Hall’s website to complete your purchase.
Watch this video for quick breakdown of different ticket types.
Festival tickets are on sale!
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Cindependent is a filmmaker-focused festival, dedicated to empowering and providing career development resources for accepted artists during our event. We welcome storytellers at all levels of their careers including student, emerging, mid-career, professional, experienced and celebrity.
We host live screenplay readings for accepted screenplays and 12 hours of film exhibition each day.
Submit here: https://filmfreeway.com/Cindependent
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At Cindependent, every submission is watched in full by our programming team - no shortcuts, no robots, no “eh” piles.
We provide a careful, human-centered review process designed to champion bold voices and emerging storytellers.
All official selections are announced on August 1 at our annual Cindependence Day lineup pool party, where we unveil the full festival slate for our community. You are welcome to attend but we understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
From there, selected filmmakers receive a detailed welcome packet, access to their dedicated hospitality liaison, invitations to filmmaker-only events, and early planning guidance for screenings, Q&As, travel and press.
We’re here to make your festival experience feel thoughtful, supportive, and genuinely memorable from the moment you hit submit.
Now Accepting 2026 Submissions
Become a Sponsor
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Be seen in front of a growing regional audience (and national filmmakers) who care about storytelling, creativity, and community.
Your support helps us bring in incredible talent, elevate underrepresented voices, and create unforgettable cinematic moments.
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Sponsorship dollars don’t just power a weekend of film—they help grow year-round programming, support emerging filmmakers, and build infrastructure for independent cinema in Cincinnati.