We never get tired of getting the email from FilmFreeway with the subject, “Congrats on your Top 100 status!”
“According to reviews from real FilmFreeway users, your festival ranks in the top 1% of more than 14,000 film festivals and creative contests around the world. No doubt, this ranking is a testament to the countless hours of hard work and care that you and your staff have devoted to creating such a wonderful event.”
The Sherman Oaks Film Festival is held at the Look Cinema in Glendale, CA. State of the art DCP projection with leather recliners, food & beverage service, and top of the line sound!
Sherman Oaks Film Festival is proud to present expert panels on subjects that matter most to our indie film community. For the 2025 festival, we held two panels, Indie Film Distribution and Music In Indie Film.
Indie Film Distribution
If you want your film to reach audiences then you need to know as much about distribution as you do about filmmaking.
Panelists – Glen Reynolds, Marc Clebanoff & Danielle Schoenecker
Glen Reynolds
With 25 years in the indie film biz, he has produced, executive produced and co-produced 20 films and sold over 500 films. He founded Circus Road Films in 2006. (circusroadfilms.com)
Marc Clebanoff
As a Sales Agent, Marc Clebanoff has sold films to clients including Lionsgate, Sony, Fox, Showtime, Shudder, Netflix, Starz, Tubi TV, Peacock, Vertical Entertainment, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Well Go USA, and distribution clients in 100+ countries worldwide. (odysseymotionpictures.com)
Danielle Schoenecker
Danielle is with YOW.tv, Hollywood is consolidating, legacy studios are being swallowed whole, and streaming giants are gutting their indie divisions. To combat these shifts, a group of filmmakers and industry professionals have joined forces to launch YOW.tv, a new streaming platform where independent film finally gets the spotlight it deserves. (YOW.tv)
Music in Indie Film
“What is the one thing you would like filmmakers to know about music in film before they start their next project?” That’s the question we are asking these movie music professionals.
Panelists: Catherine Joy, Robinton Hobbs, Tim Slowikowski & Aaron Hagele, Merchandise Music
Catherine Joy & Robinton Hobbs, Joy Music House. A next-generation score production company redefining the craft of music for film, television, games and other media. Founded and led by women, we provide the expertise, resources and collaboration needed to bring musical visions to life.
Tim Slowikowski & Aaron Hagele, Merchandise Music . Our love of storytelling + sound inspired us to launch Merchandise Music—a music supervision and consulting company pairing original, underused music.
“Aaron Hagele and Tim Slowikowski delivered one of our most engaging panels at the Sherman Oaks Film Festival. Their ‘Music in Indie Film’ discussion was packed with actionable advice and insider perspective that filmmakers could use immediately. Merchandise Music continues to be an invaluable resource for the indie film world.”
— Jeff Howard, SOFF Festival Runner
Best Feature Film – Abigail Before Beatrice
Best Featurette – Focal Point
Best Short Film – How The Rose Reaches
Best In Fest – determined by the festival’s official selection committee, this category was added to pander to important organizations that demand a festival give out awards not specific to genre/category.
Sherman Oaks FIlm Festival has combined forces with its sponsor YOW.tv to create an online presentation of our Official Selections from Dec 7 to Dec 22.
Full access is $9.99 to the public and can be accessed here.
This is when we mention that if you or your friends/family/collaborators pay ten bucks to view the 29 films that Opted In, then a nonprofit charity for the arts gets a little help with its annual budget.
Please share the link https://yow.tv/studio/discover-indie-film with anyone who loves excellent indie films!
2025 Official Selection: Featurette – Experimental/Arthouse
Welcome to chapters 1-5 where love transcends into the other side , so trust us and vote YES on the “Soft Exit.” ;). *** This message is generated by your government assisted AI network 5th Wall***
Director(s): Brett Willis
Writer(s): Brett Willis
Producer(s): Anthony Saldana, Adolfo Espinosa, Sarah Curry, Brett Willis
Key Cast: Eric Lutz, Grant Merritt, Mary Garet, Angel Garet, Andrew Tamarkin, Seth Goodfellow, Carissa Rhea Tajudeen, Christopher Sanchez, Jacklyn Dardarian, Kevin Evans Johnson, Priscilla Valldejuli
A trans teen and her mom must survive a night of winter camping after being challenged by her politically incorrect uncle.
Director(s): Michael D. Cohen
Writer(s): Michael D. Cohen
Producer(s): Felix Mack, Michael D. Cohen
Key Cast: Erinn Hayes, Sophie Giannamore, Michael D. Cohen, Chris Cornish
Death comes for a bitter, depressed widow who doesn’t fight back – he’s happy to die but before he goes he wants to have one last “magic” adventure with the daughter he never got it right with.
Director(s): JT Doran
Writer(s): JT Doran
Producer(s): Hao Li
Key Cast: Joe Chan, Emily Fan, Dominic Wong, Xiao Ping Wang, Mia Yu
Country: United States
Did you know there are more dead people than living people here in Queens?
Music in Indie Film
