After a pandemic year-plus of uncertainty that saw major changes in the film festival world, Indie Memphis will return to Overton Square for its 2021 edition, which will take place October 20th to 25th. After last year’s COVID hiatus, the outdoor block party will return, which takes place in a giant tent on Cooper Street between Union and Madison, hosting in-person events and musical performances.
The annual festival, which dates back to 1998, will kick off with the fourth installment of the Black Creator’s Forum. The program, which is free with required pre-registration, will consist of two days of online seminars and programs October 16th and 17th, and an in-person gathering on October 22nd. The main festival will begin with a premiere event on Wednesday, October 20th. In addition to in-person screenings at Overton Square venues, Indie Memphis films will also be returning to the Malco Summer Drive-In, which was employed in 2020 as a social distancing measure and ended up being popular with members. Also returning will be virtual screenings of Indie Memphis offerings through the Memphis-based Eventive cinema services platform.
Festival passes are now available at the early bird price of $85, which includes ten in-person film tickets and access to special events, both IRL and virtual. The early bird pricing will expire on August 23, when pass prices will rise to $100. VIP passes will include virtual screen tickets and other perks. For those whose health status or travel situations preclude in person attendance, full virtual passes will be available for $25. In-person screenings will be sold at limited capacity to allow for social distancing, and masks will be required for all screenings.
The first round of films will be announced at the preview party, which will take place in September.
