Introduction to the film festival
Now in its 13th Year, the Katra Film Series is an award-winning international film festival and screenwriting competition dedicated to championing the next generation of talented emerging and established filmmakers and content creators from around the world. Hailed by Tribeca Films for its "honorable mission to spotlight new and emerging cinematic talents…where some of their top alums have since gone on to great things in the indie world and beyond" while the New York Times agrees “From the bottom up an amazing and excellent festival that has made it in New York,” and Remezcla Media writes “An innovative new model pushing for the future of its filmmakers,” while Time Out NY states “Nothing but the best.” A few years ago ‘LLERO magazine summed it up succinctly “A memorable film fest like no other. The Katra Film Series has become a hub for up-and-coming filmmakers.”
Our prizes are provided by Universal DCP, Canon USA, Urbn-TV, JMR Rentals, Rhino Films, Screenblade Studios, International Screenwriters' Association, New York Women in Film and TV, BKLYN Commons, Bowery Film Festival and more. Every season we curate a selection of independent works where audience participation is central in choosing the winners. Some of our past alums have landed theatrical and streaming distribution and have gone on to write, produce and direct feature films and TV shows for HBO, CNN Films, FOX, Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, Showtime, ESPN, Vice Media including festival stops at Sundance, Tribeca, Berlin and Cannes Film Festival.
RECENT SUCCESS STORIES:
Amir Arison - Partners with ReachTV and Lightbeam to create original TV series
Courtney Camerota - Featured in DEADLINE magazine for her debut narrative feature film, starring Michael Shannon, Eva Longoria, Luis Guzman, Judy Greer, Rory Culkin and more.
John Campbell - Featured in the Hollywood Reporter for his documentary “Who’s Behind Black Art?”
Gabriella Moses - Won the Nora Ephron Award for her debut feature film, Boca Chica, at TRIBECA FESTIVAL this year.
Judd Ehrlich - Sundance institute awards $1 million in documentary funding to his next project
Katra Film Series has been featured in the The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NY1, Time Out Magazine, CNN, The Huffington Post, Daily News, NY1, NBC, Women & Hollywood, Metro NY, The New Machine, Bklyner, and many other local, national internationals publications.
Sfilmmaker is our exclusive platform for cooperation in China, and we look forward to review your film.
Awards
Over $100,000 in prizes, the 2024 Grand Prize Winner of The Year will be awarded with a meeting with acclaimed Producer Stephen Nemeth from the Academy-Award Nominated The Sessions and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and a brand new state-of-the-art CANON CAMERA
Rules
Previous Shortlisted And Award-winning Films
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Kliot |  |
JASON KLIOT is a producer of over 50 feature narrative and documentary award-winning films by such acclaimed directors as Jim Jarmusch, Brian De Palma, Steven Soderbergh, Miguel Arteta, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, Alex Gibney, Amir Naderi, and Todd Solondz. His films have been selected to and won several awards at the Sundance Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, The Cannes International Film Festival, and the Venice International Film festival, including two Sundance Grand Jury Prizes and Venice’s Silver Lion for Best Director, among others. His films have also been nominated for over 25 Independent Spirit awards. He has been nominated for an Academy Award. |
| Stephen Nemeth |  |
STEPHEN NEMETH formed and heads up Rhino Films, the independent film company that originated as a division of iconoclastic record label Rhino Records. He has produced ten films and executive produced fourteen others. He is also working with Amnesty International through Artists for Amnesty on developing and producing human rights related motion picture and television projects. His Producer credits include the Academy-Award Nominated The Sessions, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (starring Johnny Depp and directed by Terry Gilliam), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (starring Halle Berry), Dogtown and Z Boys, What We Do Is Secret, You and I (starring Mischa Barton and directed by Roland Joffe), and Radio Free Albemuth (the last Philip K. Dick novel). Nemeth was the recipient of 2009′s Vision Award for Documentary Producer and 2009′s Artivist Award for his advocacy and production of socially conscious films. He was named one of the “Top Ten Most Prolific Producers in Hollywood” by The Hollywood Reporter, and one of the “Ten Coolest People in Hollywood” by an online survey of 500 agents, managers, journalists, and lawyers. Prior to forming Rhino Films, Nemeth worked as an independent producer and as a motion picture agent at the William Morris Agency. |
Authorization type
Authorization Letter
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-06-12
Submission start time
2025-09-20
Late Deadline
2025-10-10
Extended Deadline
2025-10-31
Final Deadline
2025-10-31
Submission end time
2026-02-11
Finalist notification start time
2026-02-11
Finalist notification end time
2026-03-16
Award ceremony start time
2026-03-19
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 70 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 90 Dollar
Student： 80 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
Student： 30 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 60 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 90 Dollar
Student： 70 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 100 Dollar
Student： 80 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 120 Dollar
Student： 90 Dollar
2025/09/20
Late Deadline
Standard: 70 Dollar
Student： 40 Dollar
2025/10/10
Extended Deadline
Standard: 80 Dollar
Student： 50 Dollar
2025/10/31
Final Deadline
Standard: 90 Dollar
Student： 60 Dollar
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