History

Filmmakers in northern Indiana were limited in finding cast, crew and networking support. Chris Sopczynski, Screenwriter contacted Jane Rulon, Director of the Indiana Film Commission about these concerns. Between 1999 and 2000, Chris held 3 networking receptions for filmmakers and screenwriters from northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan. In the fall of 2000, Ivy Tech State College hosted another reception and here the filmmakers and screenwriters decided to begin a monthly salon. Salons for filmmakers were starting across the country. This group decided to meet regularly; eventually they set direction and grew into a formal organization.

By summer 2001, they developed bylaws, began an annual membership fee, established a bank account and voted on the name of Mid America Filmmakers or MAF. Membership was opened to anyone. The monthly salons began to include a casual membership meeting. In 9 months, MAF developed a mailing list of over 100 individuals and had 26 members from Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and California. Today the membership has doubled. Now MAF has a website, screenings, actors resource list and a screenwriters group. Some MAF members films have been in the Hollywood Black Film Festival and Austin Film Festival. MAF received nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service in October, 2005