Indiefest Film Festival & Market, will begin its annual Film & Script Market on August 6th and 7th from 12pm – 3pm at Le Meridien Hotel, the official hotel sponsor of Indiefest 2005. The Market, which is an industry networking event, held August 6th and 7th, will give distribution executives, producers, investors, and the general public a first look at dozens of film projects. The festival will commence on August 7th with an awards ceremony followed two special screenings, first, The Independent Film Channel’s presentation of “Punk: Attitude”, followed by a screening of the Indiefest Audience Choice Award winner, to be announced at the awards ceremony.

Regular film screenings continue through August 7th. Screenings will take place at the exquisite Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.) and the special "Screening Room" at Le Meridien Chicago (521 N. Rush St. (@ Michigan Ave)) in Chicago. This year's Indiefest features fifty independent films, including: seventeen world premieres, four U.S. premieres, and forty-nine Chicago premieres. The film selected as the recipient of the Audience Choice Award, given at Indiefest 2005's Awards Ceremony, will be presented as a special screening immediately following the awards ceremony, which takes place at 8pm on August 7th.

Indiefest 2005 sponsors include: Le Meridien Hotel, Officemax, Eatzi’s, Cyclone Productions, Discmakers, IndieWIRE, et. Al. For more Indiefest information, and a festival program, go to the festival's website at www.indiefestchicago.com.

Indiefest Film Festival and Market, kicks off on July 29th and runs through August 7th . Screenings will take place at the exquisite Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.) and the special "Screening Room" at Le Meridien Chicago (521 N. Rush St. (@ Michigan Ave)) in Chicago.

Indiefest 2005 opens on July 29th with the world premiere of "Blood Deep", a thriller directed by Todd Kniss. Lead actor Jordan Belfi (HBO's "Entourage") will attend the festivities with the director and other cast members. Other highlights of the festival include Independent Feature Channel's "Punk: Attitude", the world premiere of "Debating Robert Lee", starring Dale Midkiff ("The Crow"), Kaley Cuoco ("8 Simple Rules..."), and Beau Bridges ("Jerry Maguire"). Also the world premiere of "Paranoia Recurrent Dreams", a Mexican film by Jose Allende, and "Catching Kringle", an animated short film starring Danny DeVito ("Be Cool") and John Rhys-Davies ("Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade").

This year's Indiefest features fifty independent films, including: seventeen world premieres, four U.S. premieres, and forty-nine Chicago premieres. The film selected as the recipient of the Audience Choice Award, given at Indiefest 2005's Awards Ceremony, will be presented as a special screening immediately following the awards ceremony, which takes place at 8pm on August 7th.

Indiefest has many other special events including ten nights of parties and a Film and Script Market. The Market, which is an industry networking event, held August 6th and 7th, will give distribution executives, producers, investors, and the general public a first look at hundreds of film projects. The Market will be held at Le Meridien Hotel (The Official Hotel Sponsor of Indiefest 2005) on Michigan Avenue. Each evening of the festival will conclude with an after-party at a Chicago "hot spot", see the program or website for party schedule.

Indiefest 2005 sponsors include: Le Meridien Hotel, Officemax, Eatzi’s, Cyclone Productions, Discmakers, IndieWIRE, et. Al. For more Indiefest information, go to the festival's website at www.indiefestchicago.com.

Indiefest, Film Festival & Market, is pleased to announce their 2005 call for entries. Indiefest celebrates the "vision without compromise" spirit of the independent filmmaker. Incorporating a competitive film festival, a screenwriting contest, an independent film and script market, and a ten day party, Indiefest brings the world's film community to the beautiful city of Chicago. Indiefest 2005 is scheduled to take place July 29th though August 7th.

Indiefest 2005 will showcase the best of independent film to the general public, filmmakers, the media, and to distribution executives. With more films, events, seminars, parties, and the increasing support of major corporations, the media, and the independent film community, Indiefest 2005 will be the "must attend" festival of the year.

Indiefest is eager to showcase emerging talent, therefore there are no strict eligibility requirements. There is one major requirement: films financed or produced by major studios or their affiliates are not eligible. Films and videos of all lengths and genres will be accepted. Screenplays, scripts, novels, and short stories will be accepted into the writing competition, which is presented by the renowned Screenwriter's Project.

The deadlines for entry are as follows: First Look Deadline: February 1, 2005; Early Deadline: March 1, 2005; Regular Deadline: April 1, 2005; and the Late Deadline: May 1, 2005. Additional information and application forms can be obtained at www.indiefestchicago.com or send a SASE to Indiefest, PO Box 148849, Chicago, IL 60614-8849.