Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is an event that was founded as a celebration of independent film, in a variety of forms, and to provide a forum for independent filmmakers with differing global perspectives. The festival places a particular emphasis upon new filmmakers with a diversity of ideas, as a means to not only provide public exposure for festival content and its creators, but to also inspire and enlighten audiences. HIFF is usually an annual five-day event in mid-October and is held in theatre venues located in the Long Island area of New York, United States (US). Approximately 18,000 visitors attend each festival and close to a hundred films are featured each year, including an annual representation of at least twenty countries and an awards package worth over USD$200,000. The festival has presented films that have subsequently been considered highly successful productions; the 2008 event featured eventual winners of the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Independent Spirit Award "Best Picture" accolades, and the 2011 season consisted of 24 Academy Award nominations.