About the Film Festival
We are the largest short film festival on the East Coast, featuring nearly 300 short films, special events, talks, retrospectives films, and tributes with honored guests, establishing New York Shorts International Film Festival as one of the finest exhibitions of short films in North America.
A non-profit organization that provides a showcase for emerging filmmakers from around the world.
New York Shorts is a qualifying film festival for the Canadian Screen Awards, presented by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. We are the only short film festival in New York on the Canadian Screen Awards eligible festival list.
The festival has become a career stepping stone, establishing a tradition of discovering and promoting filmmakers who have gone on to become Academy Award® Nominees.
New York Shorts International Film Festival is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America and an ideal platform for filmmakers to screen their films and gain recognition in New York City.
New York Shorts events include receptions, as well as workshops with industry experts and filmmaking professionals sharing their practical advice to attending filmmakers.
New York Shorts believes short-form cinema and its filmmakers should have their own premier film festival in New York deserving similar recognition given to feature films.
The heart of the festival is the quality and scope of extraordinary film programming to enthusiastic audiences in the vibrant filmmaking enclave of New York City.
Canadian Screen Awards Qualifying
Grand Prize
Best International
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Sci-Fi
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Web Series
Halyna Hutchins Cinematography Award
Subject ：
Video Format ：HDV MPEG4 DCP
Films must not screen in New York's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) prior to our festival.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2025.
Non-English language films must have English sub-titles.
Works-in-progress will be considered, provided they will be completed 3 weeks prior to the festival.
Categories and fees
Shorts
Video length ：0 - 40
Open to all filmmakers based outside New York City (including filmmakers outside the U.S.A.). All genres are accepted with total running time 40 minutes or less
Made in NY
Video length ：0 - 40
Open to filmmakers based in New York with shorts filmed (principal photography) in one of New York's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island). All genres are accepted with total running time 40 minutes or less
Live Event
