Begun in 2004 to give independent artists a collective chance to be heard or have their work seen, San Diego Indie Fest has become one of the biggest events on the annual music calendar. Now in its seventh edition, the two-day 2011 festival has jumped ship to the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station after four years in North Park. This year’s showcase takes place Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13. Organized by local musicians Danielle Lo Presti and Alicia Champion, Indie Fest is an ambitious event meant to introduce the public to a range of art forms, including music, dance and film. Saturday’s musical artists will perform on five stages. The eclectic lineup features more than 50 acts, including indie rockers We Are Scientists, local favorites Republic of Letters, world music combo Todo Mundo and folk icon Gayle Skidmore. Although there is a charge for the main event, there is also a free component, with a busker’s (street performers) corner stage open to anyone to view or perform. Although there will be film programs as part of the mix on Saturday, Sunday will be completely devoted to cinema — complete with a red-carpet opening. Several films will have premieres at Indie Fest, including comedies “The Little Matchmakers” and “Gone Hollywood,” with cast and crew on hand. The day also includes a program devoted to music videos and the debut of fantasy/comedy short “Dungeon Master.” While there are other local music festivals on the annual calendar, Lo Presti said that for Indie Fest, there is a different philosophy in place. “We have a goal of offering people a place to make discoveries,” said Lo Presti. “A lot of festivals are about seeing the biggest, most popular bands. Indie Fest tries to turn you on to as many remarkable artists as possible in different fields; artists that you may not have not heard about. So in one weekend, you can make a massive number of ‘discoveries’ of all different kinds of art that wasn’t on your radar.” She also notes the event’s championing of “mom-and-pop-type” independent businesses. “This whole idea of supporting the little guy is a way of being active in your community,” Lo Presti said. Previous locations for Indie Fest have included Hillcrest’s Abbey, with the main stage the last few years located in a parking lot behind the North Park Theatre. Lo Presti is clear on why she prefers the move from an urban setting to a park setting. “The grass,” she laughed. “People can bring a beach blanket this year and camp out near the stage. They can play Frisbee, kids can run and play and the bay is right there.” She cautions that because of the wind off the water, a jacket is probably a good idea for the outdoor parts of the festival. At press time, Lo Presti and crew were knee deep in preparations for this year’s event, but plans are already under way for 2012. The idea is to keep growing Indie Fest, she said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep getting more established so sponsors are coming to us (and) it’s not such a struggle to pay bills,” Lo Presti said, “although the real hard part of doing this sometimes is trying to whittle down who gets to be on the bill from our 500 favorite acts,” she joked. While promoting Indie Fest is currently in the “labor of love” stage, Lo Presti said she would like to see greater involvement from the community. “With a little support from sponsors, we can add more stages and screenings,” Lo Presti said. “That’s one of the beautiful things about moving the event to our new location. There’s lots of room to grow, so the sky’s the limit.” San Diego Indie Fest 7: noon to 11 p.m. on March 12 and March 13 at the NTC Promenade at Liberty Station, 2640 Historic Decatur Road. All ages. Tickets are $22 -$25; children under 12 are admitted free with paid adult. Visit www.SanDiegoIndieFest.com.