It wasn't too long ago that feature films could only be seen with a projector.
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John L. Simpson, the festival director for the upcoming Indie Gems Film Festival, looked back fondly on those days as a child filmmaker.
He thought about how rewarding it was to see the fruits of his labours projected onto the wall in a dark room with surround sound.
"Now it's come full circle," he said. "And it's my turn to start giving back to the new generation of filmmakers."
The film festival is a three-day love letter to filmmakers and to the independent arm of the movie industry.
The festival has three components — the first screening of gems such as the awarding-winning short-film Un Seul Corps or the documentary Gayby Baby about same-sex families.
The screenings will be then be followed by Q&A sessions with the films' directors and producers, either in person or via Skype.
And the third component will be the annual student film competition for filmmakers between 8 and 18.
"Kids are now making films on the iPhone or iPads and loading them on YouTube.
"But there's something a little different from sitting in the dark with your fans and fellow filmmakers.
"I know how meaningful that can be and I wanted to give back and encourage them. What can start off as a hobby can turn into a lifetime profession."
He said indie films, or independent films, were not just defined as such by the source of their funding but also by their spirit.
"They're slightly more sophisticated than popcorn movies. They're coming from directors or small teams who want to appeal to how we think or to challenge us.
"I believe indie films push boundaries and indie artists take bigger risks because their budgets are smaller. They don't have the same pressure and can often take it to edge of the art form."
The indie film festival will run from Friday to Sunday, September 11 to September 13, at the Riverside Theatres, at the corner of Church and Market streets at Parramatta.
For the full program and schedule, click here or call 8839 3399.
See our interview with the director of Gayby Baby here.
