Indie Memphis 28th Edition Returns Under Brandon Harris
The Indie Memphis Film Festival returns for its 28th edition from November 5-8, 2026, led by Artistic Director Brandon Harris.
The Indie Memphis Film Festival returns for its 28th edition in November 2026 under the leadership of Artistic Director Brandon Harris. The festival will run from November 5 to 8 at the Halloran Centre and Malco Powerhouse in Memphis.
Brandon Harris stated that the festival had to return with purpose after a year away. He emphasized the need for a slate that speaks urgently to a fractured present.
Festival vision and programming
Harris has programmed the event to reflect a restless, boundary-pushing spirit. He looked for films possessing a certain southern grit, formal audacity, and an unflinching eye for the complexities of modern life. "Stepping into the Artistic Director role for this 28th edition feels like coming home to a city that simply refuses to be ignored or categorized," Harris said.
Key films and sections
The festival opens with Sam Pollard's documentary 'The Lorraine' and closes with Ira Sachs's 'The Man I Love'. Key sections include Documentary, Narrative, and the more experimental Departures lineup. Notable films include the Oscar-contending documentary 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' by William Greaves and the Fantasia breakout 'Sour Minnows' by Harrison Atkins.
Runtime details for selected films across major sections are listed below.
| Film | Section | Runtime (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| The Lorraine | Opening Night | 87 |
| The Man I Love | Closing Night | 96 |
| Once Upon a Time in Harlem | Documentary | 100 |
| Sour Minnows | Departures | 83 |
| Aanikoobijigan | Departures | 85 |
| Chronovisor | Departures | 100 |
| When a Witness Recants | Documentary | 112 |
| Who Killed Alex Odeh? | Documentary | 84 |
| Hallelujah Station | Hometowner | 45 |
| Act One | Narrative | 104 |
| Bagworm | Narrative | 96 |
| The Best Summer | Sounds | 84 |
Special presentations and awards
The festival will present the Brent Renaud Career Achievement Award. This presentation precedes a special 30th anniversary screening of 'Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills' by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. A separate event features Mark Cousins's epic 'The Story of Documentary Film', a 16-hour, 16-chapter history of the form from its late 19th-century origins to the present day.
Darlene Love serves as the Honorary Chair for the concurrent Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. The Indie Memphis program is built from sections including Opening Night, Closing Night, Departures, Documentary, Hometowner, Narrative, Sounds, and Throwbacks. The festival runs from November 5 to 8 at the Halloran Centre and Malco Powerhouse in Memphis.
