Independent Features, a Web-based business that focuses on getting indie movies into distribution, has deals for two winners in its first film festival, which will be held later this month in New York. Started by two under-30 entrepreneurs from St. Paul's West Side, Independent Features is a Web site (www.

independentfeatures.com) where filmmakers post their work for a small fee and people watch online for free. If the viewers like the movie, they can buy a DVD copy through Independent Features, with a share of the money going back to the filmmaker.

Online votes determined which 21 of about 200 films on the site would go to the festival at the Tribeca Cinemas - the same theater where actor Robert De Niro holds his Tribeca Film Festival. Originally, Independent Features was going to award one distribution deal to the movie with the majority of votes online and at the festival. But early response to the festival was encouraging, so Phillip Nelson, 29, president and CEO of Independent Features, and his childhood pal and company vice president, Jose C.

Ruiz Jr., 27, decided to give another movie a shot at the big screen. Independent Features' first deal will go to the movie that got the most votes in an online contest held earlier this year.

That winner, a comedy from Chicago called "Alleyball," will be shown in independent movie theaters in seven cities on Sept. The theaters include the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis and the Portage in Chicago, home of the Chicago Silent Film Society. Other cities are Austin, Texas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

The second deal will go to the movie that gets the most votes from the attendees at the July 27-30 festival. That distribution deal is for Nov. 21 release in the same seven cities, Nelson said.

Nelson and Ruiz are graduates of Humboldt High School. Three Minnesota filmmakers posted movies on the Web site for consideration but none of the films made the cut. Leslie Brooks Suzukamo covers telecommunications, technology and energy.

He can be reached at lsuzukamo@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5475. Return to Top The Pioneer Press is pleased to let readers post comments about an article at the end of the article.

Please increase the credibility of your post by including your full name and city when commenting. Please note: It may take several minutes before your comment appears. Independent Features, a Web-based business that focuses on getting indie movies into distribution, has deals for two winners in its first film festival, which will be held later this month in New York.