For cineastes, this weekend has been eagerly anticipated all year; a blockbuster Hollywood super-event jam-packed with unlikely heroes whose amazing feats of strength have been dazzling movie audiences for years. And right now, you’re probably thinking: “Well, he’s obviously not talking about The Avengers. Clearly, the event he’s referring to is the 2019 Film Independent Forum, which kicks off tonight and runs all weekend, April 26-28”—and you’d be 100% correct!

Returning for the first time since 2017, the Forum seeks to equip working, aspiring and mid-career filmmakers with the knowledge, resources and expert advice needed to get their projects both made and seen. Which, if you know anything about independent filmmaking, is way more impressive than picking up a big dumb hammer or just shooting a bunch of arrows at shit—though admittedly the haircut does up the degree of difficulty. No need to cosplay (unless you want to), just get your full weekend or single-day passes here.

In addition to keynote conversations with filmmaker Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) and Lilly Singh (separately) HBO’s Len Amato, there are screenings of Annapurna’s new comedy Booksmart, including a Q&A with director Olivia Wilde, and Oscilloscope’s Ms. Purple, including a Q&A with filmmaker Justin Chon. Not to mention: filmmaker networking events, financing clinics, case studies and in-depth panels about everything from documentaries to podcasts to music videos.

But! How can you follow along aside from actually, y’know, attending? First: be sure that you’re following @FilmIndependent on all the usual suspects: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for up-to-the-minute live panel coverage.

Additionally, full-length blog coverage of select panels will be available to read on Film Independent’s blog throughout this weekend and following weeks, with full-length video of panels, keynotes and more on our YouTube channel.

Not a Fi Member yet? Become one today and receive a Members-only discount on both all-weekend Forum passes and single-day tickets. There’s still plenty of time, so hop aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier today and fly on over to our Forum page to learn more!

The 2019 Film Independent Forum takes place April 26-28 in the heart of Silicon Beach, at the new LMU Playa Vista campus. Click here to learn more.

Buy your 2019 Forum pass today by clicking here. The 2019 Film Independent Forum is supported by Premier Sponsors SAGindie, Cast & Crew and University Partner Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television.

(Header: Film Independent’s Senior Director of Education & International Initiatives Maria Raquel Bozzi introduces the Fi Forum in 2017.)