Welcome to OIF – Organization of Independent Filmmakers

Organization of Independent Filmmakers

2024 Annual Awards, Ceremony held Dec. 2025 — 2024 Annual Awards

For new members

OIF was founded by a husband-and-wife team intent on learning how to produce films. OIF has since grown to have a National presence, with the founders holding on to their humble mission of bringing opportunities in film to anyone with a willingness to learn, to gain experience, and to improve their talent and skills.

Candidacy for membership in our Facebook group is free and open to those living in one of the OIF chapters areas. Local participation by its members has always made it easier for people to grow their own network-within-the-network, connecting with like-minded others.

Currently, much of our networking and online conversations take place within our Facebook Groups. To join any of our private Facebook Groups, you must be local to that area. Please be sure to answer the candidacy questions and submit your request to join the appropriate group:

Orlando Group (Flagship. Launched March 20, 2016) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/OIFOrlando
Tampa Group (Launched 2024): https://www.facebook.com/groups/oiftampa
Los Angeles Group (Launched June 21, 2025): https://www.facebook.com/groups/oiflosangeles
New York Group (Launched January 2025): https://www.facebook.com/groups/oifnewyork
Atlanta Group (Launching 2026): https://www.facebook.com/groups/oifatlanta
Miami Group (Launching 2026): https://www.facebook.com/groups/oifmiami/

Our Story

OIF had its start in Orlando, Florida in 2016. Back then, the Acronym “OIF” stood for the Orlando Independent Filmmakers.
We had an interest in getting into filmmaking, so started a small group of like-minded people. We wrote a social media post titled “who wants to make a movie”, which led to a meeting with five initial members joining our new group. Fast forward to today and OIF has evolved into a multi-city film community with thousands of active members participating in all aspects of filmmaking.

Shortly after inception, OIF evolved into a platform that began conducting periodic Script-to-Screen Challenges that members may choose to participate in. Writers and production leads send in scripts according to the current Challenge’s guidelines (genre, running length, format, etc.). Upon acceptance, they assemble a production team, which is relatively easy to do since a good number of anxious cast and crew members were easily approachable and ready to join. Producers, cast and crew are able to gain valuable experiences to grow their craft, network with others and even create film production enterprises to dive deeper into the film production industry.

Actors gain experience and film credits, which lead many of the more serious members to gainful employment in the industry. Each Challenge ends with a private Theatrical Screening of all the selected films. The screening is followed by an Awards Ceremony and Networking Party. Gowns and suits grace the red carpet as guests pose for photos. Then the parties allowed for more connections to be made or solidified. This process repeats itself several times a year, with each Challenge showing clear progress in the overall quality of the productions. The personal growth and experience of participating cast and crew members is very noticeable.

We are elated to have grown a platform that allows any creative with a spark of ambition to be able to better realize their dreams. For many, our group today has become more of a “film family” which we expect to continue to nurture and grow.

Lenny and Tzvia Lorusso,
Founders/Producers,
OIF

FAQs for New Members:

Members get the most out of the group by networking and participating in one or more of the productions taking place during one of the group’s “Challenges”. The Challenges allow teams to form where people come together to produce a film.

Most of the productions allow anyone to join, be it someone with little to no experience to some one with extensive experience for a talent or crew position. These challenges are a great way for “newbies” to learn and break into the field of film production. They are also a great “hands-on” way for people to practice and improve their skills allowing for an invaluable FREE education in film production.

These productions further allow people who wish to the opportunity to try different positions on a production team. This makes it so much easier for them to know which position they’d like to settle in going forward.

Additionally, OIF may hold special events and gatherings in certain areas to further enable making those connections that can help your career.

You can expect to become a member of the “OIF family” a large community of like-minded people that have grown together.

You can help the group and yourself by becoming an active participant and join one or more productions. Whether you’d like to write and/or direct that short film you’ve always thought about, want to give acting a shot, or have that fancy dance move shown to the public, OIF is the perfect community for you. All productions are judged by a panel of Independent judges. This helps measure and validate your progress. OIF attempts to have several Challenges each year, and screen the qualified productions at a large commercial theater for you, your family and friends to see.

These screenings are followed by an Awards Ceremony where the OIF Crystal Awards are given to those the judges believed merited them. Hundreds of short films have been screened with thousands having attended. OIF offers you an unparalleled opportunity to participate in star-studded settings and experience a bit of the glamour and emotions exploding at these events. Many of our members have gone on to work in the Industry alongside famous actors, producers and directors. All this starts with you being willing to working with others so together we all move forward.

OIF is a community of like-minded people who love being part of a movie production.

The best way to get help from others is to first help them on their production. Connect with people on set there and establish those precious relationships.
OIF provides, “polls” and other listings for talent and crew that is interested in being part of a production. These are people that are willing and able to jump on a set. Some may contribute their time and effort for free (plus customary credits, food on set, etc.), others may ask for some sort of pay.

The OIF platform is one of the most efficient places to establish a production team. Through the years OIF has been a central incubator, spawning dozens of production companies.
Join, network, participate, and keep rolling forward.

For new members

Follow us on Social