A Companion to American Indie Film

Indie films have carved a striking niche in the American cinematic landscape in recent decades, but what exactly is an indie film? How can it be understood both as a distinct phenomenon and as part of broader American cultural trends? A Companion to American Indie Film presents a comprehensive collection of original essays offering a state-of-the-art examination of key aspects of the indie film sector-from its origins and evolution to a range of broader cultural contexts. Featuring contributions from distinguished film scholars and emerging voices in the field, this Companion examines the indie film from several perspectives, with a unique focus on what is signified by the term 'indie', as opposed to broader uses of 'independent'. Central to the book is an understanding of indie as a specific film culture, an issue with which this volume begins and that informs many subsequent chapters. Other topics include: key historical moments and movements in indie film history; relationships between indie film and other indie media; and issues including class, gender, regional identity, online fundraising, and stardom in the indie field. Timely and thought-provoking, A Companion to American Indie Film is a significant contribution to the literature on American indie cinema.