How to Identify Indie Films

Indie films, or independent films, are films that were funded by the director or investors instead of a major studio. Given the fact that a major studio has not invested can mean several things for the film. Keep reading to find out what to look for in a film to help you identify it as an indie film.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pay attention to where the indie film is being shown. Indie films are shown at independent movie festivals, such as Sundance and Cannes. When they are released theatrically, they are often tested in only a handful of theaters in larger cities. Some indie films even get a straight to DVD release.

2. Watch for the overall theme of the film. Many indie films reach out to only a small select audience and tend to be less commercial than studio films. Indie films often embrace controversial story lines, as well.

3. Look for signs of a small budget. Many indie films have small budgets. A small budget can mean that the storyline is character-driven instead of action-driven. There is also likely to feature a small cast and only a few sets.

4. Check out the film quality to see if the movie was taped on film or videotape. Not all indie films are taped on videotape, but the majority of them are. This means a slightly lower quality in the film.

5. Keep your eyes on the credits for clues that it is an indie film. Indie films are not funded by studios, so if you see a studio name in the credit, it is not an indie film. Indie films are usually financed by investors or the director of the film. You can also look to see if people in production of the film played dual roles in the indie film. This often means that the budget was small.