Film Festivals for Indie Films

What happened to the film festivals that used to discover true indie films?

Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and similar festivals no longer seem to showcase scrappy, low-budget indie films the way they once did. Looking at Sundance’s lineup today, it’s filled with “independent” films that have budgets well over $1 million.

I find it hard to believe that if filmmakers like Sean Baker, Joe Swanberg, or the Duplass brothers were making their first features in 2025, they would be getting into those festivals.

Are there any credible festivals still championing the indie filmmakers of the future? What do you think?