Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville’s Indie Short Film Festival is set to return from March 21st to 23rd, bringing a celebration of independent filmmaking to the Downtown Mall. Festival director Ty Cooper, a familiar voice to local audiences, shared the excitement surrounding this year’s event. “We highlighted and celebrated independent filmmaking, and particularly in the short form,” Cooper said. With short films gaining popularity through programs like the Oscars, the festival aims to give emerging and seasoned filmmakers a platform to showcase their work. 

The festival welcomes films no longer than 30 minutes, though Cooper acknowledged the challenge of balancing longer shorts with programming constraints. “Film festivals do not like taking long shorts because it takes away… you could put four other shorts in there,” he noted. However, the event remains committed to supporting filmmakers of all experience levels, including those creating shorts as an entry point into the industry. 

While the festival is a launching pad for new talent, it also attracts experienced filmmakers with award-winning feature films who enjoy the creative freedom of short-form storytelling. “You have filmmakers who have award-winning feature films, and sometimes they do a short, it’s fun. Shorts are fun.” Cooper explained. The upcoming event promises to offer a diverse selection of films and an opportunity for audiences to engage with independent cinema. 

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