Press Room
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Cindependent Film Festival launches summer youth filmmaking camp.
Cincinnati, OH ( Monday, July 7, 2025 ) - Cultivating the local filmmaking community is a cornerstone of Cindependent Film Festival’s mission statement, and we’re proud to announce our very first youth filmmaking camp: CindeNEXT!
CindeNEXT gives high school students the skills, tools, and confidence to turn big ideas into bold films. It’s where tomorrow’s storytellers start today.
The two-day camp runs from 9am-4pm on July 31 and August 1 at The University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music in the Media Production Division facilities.
Each student or student team will be guided by local industry professionals to learn hands-on filmmaking techniques and produce a short film to be celebrated at a family-friendly screening at the end of the camp. Students will learn shot composition to create emotion, the basics of editing, film production roles, and more. Lunch will be provided both days.
All final films will be featured in a Masterclass at the 2025 Cindependent Film Festival!
“As an educator and a film lover, I’m so excited to help students learn how to lead projects, make decisions, and bring creative ideas to life,” says CindeNEXT Founder Christina Hardebeck. “The skills our CindeNEXT students learn will prepare them for success in college, film careers, or any collaborative industry.”
CindeNEXT is most appropriate for ages 14-17 and costs $300 to enroll for the two-day session.
Details (including a camp schedule class breakdown) and the link to enroll can be found at cindependentfilmfest.org/cindenext
ABOUT THE CINDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVALThe Cindependent Film Festival is presented by CIFF, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a home for independent filmmaking in Cincinnati, Ohio. CIFF strives to bring professional resources to filmmakers so as to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking. CIFF will provide community camaraderie, drawing filmmakers from around Ohio, the US, and the world, educating the community in the art and craft of filmmaking.
The 2025 Cindependent Film Festival is September 18, 19, and 20 at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine.
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Contact: Jack Crumley 513-675-6814 / Jackson McKeever 513-470-2536 or at Press@CindependentFilmFest.org
CINDEPENDENT AND OVER-THE-RHINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNITE
Two of Cincinnati's largest independent film organizations join forces in a united effort to expand the impact of film in the city.
Cincinnati, OH (April 9, 2026) — Two of Cincinnati's largest independent film organizations are joining forces. The Cindependent Film Festival and the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival (OTRIFF) are merging into a single, unified home for independent film in Cincinnati. Cindependent Founder Allyson West will serve as Executive Director of the combined festival, with LADD (Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled) — the nonprofit behind OTRIFF and a leading advocate for people with developmental disabilities — providing administrative and development support.
This announcement comes amidst a string of milestones for Cindependent — including assuming stewardship of the historic Mariemont Theatre and, for the first time, having a film screened and awarded at Cindependent go on to win an Academy Award with The Singers taking home the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film last month.
The partnership is built on shared values: the unified festival will be inclusive, accessible, and representative — reflecting both Cindependent's commitment to independent filmmakers and LADD's mission of empowering people with disabilities. The two organizations have collaborated before; this formalizes what the teams already knew worked.
"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." says West.
The newly unified Cindependent Film Festival, presented with LADD, will make its debut September 17–19, 2026, at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine. Tickets are on sale here.
ABOUT THE CINDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
The Cindependent Film Festival is presented by CIFF, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a home for independent filmmaking in Cincinnati, Ohio. CIFF strives to bring professional resources to filmmakers so as to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking. CIFF will provide community camaraderie, drawing filmmakers from around Ohio, the US, and the world, educating the community in the art and craft of filmmaking.
The 2026 Cindependent Film Festival is September 17, 18, and 19 at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine.
Download photos, video and more in our 2026 Press Pack