festival circuit to the major theater circuit. They were made by artists who put their budget second and their vision first. Persistence and an undying passion to make movies was the fuel that drove them, and it paid off in the end. Big studios bought their films and went on to make millions with them. It does not matter that the studios made most of this money, for the publicity that these filmmakers received was enough to launch their careers in Hollywood. In both cases the makers of these movies went on to create sequels, but with major studio budgets backing them financially for the second episodes of their stories. Their exploits in the world of independent film was a springboard to the big time. It worked out well for them.
It is good to see that every once in a while a really independent film makes it to the big time. Most films that are entered in festivals