The Indie Best Films Festival (Ibestff) was founded by a group of independent filmmakers from Santa Mónica (California) and New York City for independent filmmakers from around the world.

Everybody has a story, and we want them to share it with the world.

Our mission is to help talented film artists, who create meaningful films that are worth seeing and sharing, but lack the backing of studios, expensive marketing campaigns or famous personalities.

Everybody has a story, and we want them to share it with the world.

Our first edition took place in 2018.

Due to the alert status of Covid-19, in this second edition we reinvent ourselves and bet on online premieres on the new live TV platform that the distributor Alexa Films LLC in the United States is preparing. This option will only be eligible for semi-finalists and finalists.

Semi-finalists and Finalists

Optionally, all semi-finalists and finalists will be invited to broadcast their work live on the new Alexa Films LLC online television.

The emissions will be agreed with the owner of the work.

All works issued may be voted on by the audience.

The most voted work will obtain the recognition of “Most voted work by the audience” Laurel, and a Certificate.


– “Best Indie Short Film” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Best Music Video” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Best Ficction Short Film” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Best Animated Short Film” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Best Documentary Short Film” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Best Experimental Short Film” Laurel, and a Certificate

– “Most voted work by the audience” Laurel, and a Certificate


Other recognitions that the jury deems appropriate

Rules & Terms


- Short films, Series and music videos of any genre are accepted. In this second edition feature films are not yet accepted.

– Fiction films, animation, documentary and experimental films of any genre and subject are welcome.

– The scope of the competition is international. An open competition with works of any country in the world produced from January 1st 2010 onwards.

– The festival accepts films in any language from around the world.

– All films in a foreign language (not English) must have subtitles in English.

– The content must be submitted by a creator/producer aged 18 or older.

– Multiple projects may be submitted for consideration provided that an additional submission fee is paid for each entry.

– We are an online competition. Our mission is to recognize the talent of the filmmakers with our laurels and certificates.

– This festival will be judged by award-winning filmmakers and industry experts.

– All winners will have laurels and a digital certificate sent to them in jpg file format. No physical certificates, medals, or trophies will be handed out in order to keep entry fees as affordable as possible.

– All submitters must submit their content to Ibestff through our festival registration platforms listed in the Film Submissions section of our website.


– After a film has been officially selected, the filmmaker will be notified. Official selection does not mean that the filmmaker’s film will be screened, broadcast, or awarded at the festival.


– All submission fees are non-refundable.


– The submitter must have obtained legal copyright to publicly screen their submitted content and all intellectual property contained therein including, but not limited to, music, lyrics, written work, photos, video content, artwork, and media excerpts. – By submitting your content, you represent that you have acquired all legal rights to publicly screen all content within your submission.



– The festival is not responsible for any copyright infringement of the filmmaker’s material.





Official Selection


– If your film has been officially selected, you agree to provide us with a poster or promotional images and/or stills, as well as a logline and/or synopsis, for promotional purposes.

– If your film has been officially selected, you agree that we are permitted to use excerpts from the film, up to a maximum of 60 seconds, worldwide, for promotional purposes.

– If a submitter’s content is selected, a Notice of Official Selection shall be emailed to the to the email address provided by the submitter in their registration form on the notification date.


– Announcements identifying the Official Selections will be posted online on the Ibestff website and social media channels.



Simi-finalists and Finalists

Optionally, all semi-finalists and finalists will be invited to broadcast their work live on the new Alexa Films LLC online television.

The emissions will be agreed with the owner of the work.

All works issued may be voted on by the audience.

The most voted work will obtain the recognition of “Most voted work by the audience” Laurel, and a Certificate.