Co-presented by The American Pavilion (AmPav)

Imagine the impact of an experience at one of the top film festivals in the world. IndieWire Future of Filmmaking offers programs at the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals and at South by Southwest in Austin and London... this could be your game-changer!

Create an Instagram reel that captures how this opportunity could (or did) fuel your career, inspire your work, or open doors you’ve only imagined. 

There’s no script to follow for your Instagram reel as long as you stick to the contest rules. It can be a testimonial, a slideshow, or something uniquely yours… let your creativity shine! 

Be sure to follow and tag our new Instagram @indiewirefof in your post. Go to indiewire.com/intensives for more info on all of our programs.

Please refer to contest rules and guidelines that follow. Videos are judged on creativity and will be voted on by a jury of industry professionals.

Important Dates:

‣ Contest ends on Wednesday, December 9, 2026. Your reel must be posted no later than 11:59pm PT on 12/09/26 and your contest entry form must be submitted no later than 11:59pm PT on 12/10/26 to be eligible.

‣ Winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 22, 2026. Winners will be alerted by being tagged in IndieWire FOF’s Instagram announcement and by direct message. Winning reels will be shared on IndieWire FOF’s Instagram and website.

‣ Prize is nontransferable.

‣ Prize is only valid for 2027 programs.

‣ Travel to and from program location and meals (besides breakfast) are not included. Housing upgrades are not included.

‣ Winners must be 18+ by start of chosen program in 2027.

‣ Winners must have a valid passport by start of program (excluding Austin for US citizens). Non-US citizens are solely responsible to obtain any visas required for them to be permitted to travel and for the payment of any associated fees.

‣ Winners must submit an application/registration for their chosen program through Swoogo, as instructed by IndieWire FOF following announcement of the winners. Winners will go through the application process, but application fee is waived and acceptance is guaranteed. Application must be submitted no later than January 18, 2027. 

‣ Any 2027 program fees, including application fee, paid for chosen program by winners will be refunded OR scholarship may be applied to another program. Only pertains to fees paid after 9/1/26.

‣ You understand that this promotion isn’t in any way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram or any other social media platform that may be used throughout the contest. By entering this contest, you confirm that you have read, understand, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use and Instagram’s promotion guidelines and release Instagram of all liability associated with your participation in this contest.

‣ By entering this contest, you agree to abide by these contest rules and represent and warrant that: (i) you are eligible to participate based on the eligibility requirements set forth in these contest rules; (ii) the content you submit (“Your Content”) is original and it doesn’t infringe upon or otherwise violate the intellectual property, personality or privacy rights of any third parties; (iii) Your Content does not disparage IndieWire, the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, South by Southwest, or any other person and it does not contain any material that IndieWire, in its sole discretion, or any person could reasonably deem to be indecent, lewd, pornographic, obscene, hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous; or that IndieWire deems to promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual, or activities that are unsafe. You further agree to immediately take down Your Content should IndieWire require you to do so, for any reason.

‣ You also agree to accept IndieWire’s decision as final and binding and release IndieWire of any liability related in any way to your participation in this contest.

‣ By entering this contest, you grant IndieWire the perpetual right and license to use Your Content (including your name, likeness, photograph, voice and any other personality rights and personal information as they appear in Your Content): (i) as necessary to evaluate and judge your entry for participation in the contest, as set forth in these contest rules, and (ii) for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without payment or consideration to you.

‣ You agree to indemnify, defend and hold IndieWire, its affiliates, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, contractors, representatives and agents (the “IndieWire Parties”), harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, liabilities, damages, costs or expenses (including legal fees and court and administrative costs) of any kind whatsoever that you or anyone on your behalf may now or hereafter have arising out of or in connection with (a) your participation in the contest, (b) your violation, breach, or alleged violation or breach, of these contest rules including, without limitation, any and all representations, acknowledgments and agreements herein, or (c) IndieWire’s use, in whole or in part, of Your Content in accordance with these contest rules.

‣ You acknowledge that IndieWire will collect and use your personal information in accordance with the terms set forth in IndieWire’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By participating in this contest, you hereby agree to IndieWire’s collection and use of your personal information and acknowledge that you have read and accepted each of the foregoing.

By participating in this contest, you agree: (i) that any and all disputes you may have with, or claims you may have against the IndieWire Parties relating to, arising out of or connected in any way with this contest, the awarding or redemption of the prize by IndieWire, and/or the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS and conducted before three (3) arbitrators in accordance with the rules of JAMS; (ii) this arbitration agreement is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce, and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§116; (iii) the arbitration shall be held in Los Angeles County, California; (iv) the arbitrators’ decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of these contest rules and any of the other agreements referenced herein; (v) the arbitrator shall apply California law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitation; (vi) the arbitrator may not consolidate or join the claims of other persons or parties who may be similarly situated; (vii) the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages against you or IndieWire; (viii) if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of JAMS, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein. For more information on JAMS and/or the rules of JAMS, visit their website at www.jamsadr.com.