Founded in 1987, the Independent Feature Project (IFP)/Chicago, originally called IFP/Midwest, was started as a 50-member organization that met in a local pub, having neither offices nor staff, and programs limited to member-made films. In 1992, the first annual IFP/Midwest Independent Filmmaker's Conference was held with a modest schedule of events and list of speakers. From 1993 through 2000, the IFP strengthened its annual conference and began hosting filmmaking workshops and screenings of independent films. The backbone of the organization was the working board of directors. In 2000, Rebekah Cowing was hired as Executive Director part-time, resulting in increased membership and a cash reserve that afforded the organization enough stability to develop a full time staff. The IFP/Chicago hired full-time executive director Elizabeth Donius in May 2004. The past three years have brought transformational growth in the form of increased staff, membership, programming, board investment, foundation support and a 40% increase in income in 2006. Long-term strategic planning through the Chicago Community Trust Smart Growth program is helping IFP/Chicago to ensure its future as the centralizing organization for Chicagos vibrant independent film community.

IFP/Chicago is a non-profit organization committed to the idea that independent film is an important art form and a powerful voice in our society. We provide resources, information and avenues of communication for independent filmmakers, industry professionals and independent film enthusiasts. We encourage quality and diversity in independent production and assist filmmakers at all levels of experience in realizing their unique vision.

Key programs at IFP/Chicago include: the three-day annual Midwest Filmmakers Summit, comprised of screenings and seminars with some of the most acclaimed artists and influential decision makers in the field; the Producers Series, a comprehensive,four-day workshop that explores every aspect of producing a $500,000 independent feature film; the annual Production Fund, which provides $100,000 in support and services to one short film each year; and the six-week Summer Production Program, which takes 15 high school students from Chicago Vocational Career Academy through the script-to-screen process of producing a short film. Additionally, IFP/Chicago presents workshops on various aspects of the filmmaking process and hosts more than forty screenings each year through our screening series: Rough Cuts/Short Cuts, Cine Club (co-presented with the Alliance Francaise) and the Meet the Filmmaker series.