We are cincinnati's home for independent film.
We are building a lasting cultural home for cinema in Cincinnati — a place where audiences gather, artists grow, students learn, and stories are shared across generations.
Our Story
Cindependent began in 2017 with a simple belief: Cincinnati deserved a stronger home for independent film.
What started with the Cindependent Film Festival grew into a community of filmmakers, movie lovers, artists, volunteers, partners, and supporters who believe that great stories deserve to be seen—and that movies are better when we experience them together.
The first Cindependent Film Festival launched in 2018, bringing independent filmmakers from Cincinnati and around the world together with local audiences. Over the years, the festival grew in size and reputation while Cindependent expanded beyond its annual event to offer year-round screenings, filmmaker development, education, community partnerships, and programs like CindeNEXT and Reels on Wheels.
Through it all, one idea kept getting bigger: What if independent film had a permanent home in Cincinnati?
A Historic Theatre. A New Chapter.
In 2026, that idea found its home at the Mariemont Theatre.
Cindependent stepped forward to reopen the historic cinema and preserve it not simply as a place to watch movies, but as a year-round gathering place for film, storytelling, creativity, and community.
The Mariemont Theatre allows Cindependent to bring nearly a decade of work under one roof: first-run and independent cinema, the Cindependent Film Festival, filmmaker premieres and conversations, CindeNEXT youth programs, classes and workshops, special events, community partnerships, and opportunities for artists to make and share their work.
In 2026, the Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival also joined with the Cindependent Film Festival, bringing its nationally recognized commitment to accessibility and inclusion into Cindependent's growing vision for the future of film in Cincinnati.
From Film Festival to Film Home
The Mariemont Theatre represents the next chapter of a story that began almost a decade ago.
2017 was the idea.
2018 was the first festival.
The years that followed built the community.
2026 gave that community a home.
Today, Cindependent is building something bigger than a festival and bigger than a movie theatre.
We're building Cincinnati's year-round home for independent film—a place where audiences discover something unexpected, filmmakers find opportunity, young people learn to tell their stories, and a historic cinema continues bringing people together for generations to come.
Welcome to the Mariemont Theatre by Cindependent.
Come see what happens when the lights go down.
Film Festival
Today, Cindependent Film Festival , presented with LADD runs September 16-20, 2026, welcoming thousands of attendees annually, and has earned recognition from filmmakers and audiences alike, including being named one of FilmFreeway’s ‘Top 100 Best Reviewed Film Festivals,’ out of 14,000+ contenders.
The film festival merged with Over-the-Rhine International Film Festival in 2026 and is now Cindependent Film Festival, presented with LADD.
Fiscal sponsorship
A signature of our work is supporting filmmaking artists - whether creating and strategizing media around their Oscars candidacy or resourcing locally to help our local storytellers finalize their projects. Cindependent creates media, connects, resources and supports a number of local artists and peer organizations including Women in Film Cincinnati, Black Cincinnati Cinema Collective, OutReels Cincinnati, Vessels Dance Film and Caribbean Eye.
CindeNEXT
A major part of our mission is investing in the next generation of storytellers through CindeNEXT, our youth filmmaking initiative designed to support and inspire emerging filmmakers.
Through workshops, mentorship, screenings, and hands-on learning experiences, CindeNEXT helps young creators build confidence, creative skills, and meaningful artistic community.
The Mariemont Theatre
Now, with the stewardship of the historic Mariemont Theatre, Cindependent is entering its next chapter.
The reopening of the Mariemont Theatre was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of foundations, families, civic partners, and community members who believe in the future of independent cinema in Cincinnati.
With special thanks to The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, ArtsWave, The Ohio Arts Council, The Mary Emery Foundation, The Ohio Valley Foundation, The Hatton Foundation, the H.G. H.F. & Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, the Goetz/Budke Family Foundation, the Schroer Family Charitable Fund, the B and C Family Fund, the Elaine and Bob Blatt Fund, the Charles D. Fales Family Fund, the Henry Lyman Greer Fund, the Dana Maher Strauss Fund, and the Katherine and Tim Stautberg Family Fund.
We are especially grateful to Jim Evans, Cindy Senefeld, Mark and Marilyn Wendling, and our community partners in Mariemont, Fairfax, and Columbia Township and The Friedlander Family Fund for helping make this next chapter possible.
Our sincere thanks also go to Laurie Johnston, Lee Carter, Cheryl Rose and Jeff Chapman, Doreen Stanley, Allyson West and Philip Kurtz, David and Stephanie Zimmerman, Michaelson Homes, Marcy Lewis, Phillip Long, Dr. Stephen Meyers, Dinsmore Compliance, Flavia Bastos, Kevin Taylor, John Harder, the Mariemont Preservation Society, Rachel Kirley, Jack E. Brown, Christina Hardebeck, Michele Carey, John M. Shepherd, Doug and Mary Anne Newman, Marylou and John McIlwraith, Robert and Elizabeth Mathews, Barbie Griewe, Ron Sargent, Joe Peters, Kevin and Jennifer McManus, and Nancy Miller.
And to the hundreds of Cindependent members - our 'Friends of the Mariemont Theatre' and individual donors who helped bring this theatre back to life: thank you. Your names are proudly recognized as part of our onsite pre-show, a lasting reminder that this cinema reopened because a community chose to show up for it.
This theatre belongs to everyone who believes movies are better when we experience them together.
Our Mission
We are here to turn strangers into friends. Our mission is to create a home for independent filmmaking in Cincinnati, Ohio. We strive to bring professional resources to filmmakers so as to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of filmmaking. We will be providing community camaraderie; drawing filmmakers from around Ohio, the US, and the World; educating the community in the art and craft of filmmaking and stimulating the Cincinnati economy.
Cindependent is governed by a volunteer non-profit board that consists of Jack Crumley (Board President,) Cheryl Rose (Board Treasurer,) and Jim Crooks (Board Secretary. Additional members include Jeff Chapman, Molly Smyth, Susan Smith, Allyson West, Christina Hardebeck, David Charles and Laney McCormick.
Our Advisory Board includes Rachel Kirley, Joe Peters, Flavia Bastos, David Zimmerman and Ben Press.
Allyson West is the Founder and Executive Director of Cindependent.
