1980年代以来，独立电影的繁荣是当代美国电影业最为重要的变化之一。独立电影作为在投资和制作中未被好莱坞主流娱乐集团介入的电影，在与占据美国电影业统治地位的好莱坞大鳄博弈的过程中，发展出了一整套行之有效的产业运作机制，探索出了一条不同于好莱坞电影的发展道路，也改变着美国电影业的面貌。因此，本文希望通过对当代美国独立电影产业状况和运作机制的深入分析，一方面充实中国电影界对美国电影业的认识，另一方面也希望从美国独立电影的发展经验中，提出可供中国电影业参考的建议。本文首先从历史的维度回顾了美国独立电影兴起的历程和背景。本文认为，当代好莱坞的“集团化”、“全球化”和“高概念”转型为独立电影留下了市场空间；电影媒介技术的进步为独立电影提供了更多的发行和盈利渠道，也降低了制作和发行的门槛；而后现代社会中人们日益多元化的文化消费需求也推动着独立电影的繁荣。其次，本文详细分析了美国独立电影业各个环节的运作机制，包括融资渠道、制作模式、发行方式及窗口、营销原则及策略，以及行业内外的辅助机制。这种分析是在与主流电影业的比较中进行中。通过分析，本文认为，当代美国独立电影确实发展出了一套行之有效的产业运作机制，与主流电影业奉行着不同的生产和消费的逻辑。最后，本文分析了当代美国独立电影的发展对于美国电影业的影响和意义，并总结了其发展的经验，提出了可供中国电影业参考的建议。本文认为美国独立电影不但引领着美国电影业在题材上的开拓创新，培养和储备着电影人才，更为美国电影稳定的市场结构提供了支撑。而它对于中国电影业的启示在于，在做大做强主流电影业的同时，也要重视低成本电影业的发展，而在中国低成本电影业内部尚未形成有效产业机制的状况下，政府和主流电影业有必要提供相应的支持和帮助。因为一个健康、繁荣的低成本电影业，是中国电影业可持续发展的重要保证。

The prosperity of American independent film since 1980s is one of the most significant changes in contemporary American film industry. Independent Film means the film made by (mostly) young filmmakers away from the influence and pressures of the few major conglomerates that control the American film industry. In the game process with Hollywood conglomerates, American independent film developed a whole set industry institution, found an effective way different from Hollywood films to grow up, and also changed the general state of American film industry. This paper tries to give some searching analyses to the industry status and institution of contemporary American independent film. These analyses will enrich our knowledge of American film, and will also provide some useful experience to the development of China’s film industry.In the first part, this paper reviews the rise process and background of contemporary American independent film from a historical perspective. In the second part, this paper thoroughly analyzes the industry institution of contemporary American independent film, including financing patterns, production modes, distribution pipelines, marketing strategies, and the assistant institution inside and outside of the industry. These analyses are based on comparison with the institution of Hollywood mainstream film industry.In the third part, this paper analyzes the impact independent film brings to the American film industry. It is American film’s laboratory, proving ground and launching pad. In all but big-budget scenarios, independent movies lead the development of American film. This part also summarizes the development experience of contemporary American independent film industry, and gives some suggestions to the development of China’s film industry. This paper holds that when we keep a robust growth of China’s mainstream film industry, we should also insist the development of low-budget film industry. In the context that the institutional framework of low-budget film industry is still fragile, the Chinese government and mainstream film industry should give more help and support to it. Because a healthy and flourishing low-budget film industry will be supportive for sustainable development of Chinese film.