Programming consists of remarkable independent films, of all lengths, genres and subjects from around the world screened to the public over a ten day period.
Our programmers look for the best in truly independent films. All films selected come from independent filmakers that put their blood, sweat and tears into their productions. No film selected has backing from a major film studio.
Festival of Cinema NYC is the only film festival in New York City to be supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Support from these nationally recognized foundations is a testament to the hard work our team has put into advancing the careers of filmmakers. Festival of Cinema NYC is a fully rounded film festival that looks to nurture and help develop the careers of emerging filmmakers and writers. The festival particularly seeks feature films from 1st, 2nd, and 3rd time feature filmmakers, as well as shorts and episodic filmmakers that are looking to develop their work into features or series.
Our programmers look for the best in truly independent films, series, music videos, animation and scripts of all lengths and genres. All films selected come from independent filmmakers that put their blood, sweat and tears into their productions. No budget is too big or too small.
Our exquisite press team works around the clock to get the most media coverage for your film at the Festival. Past film selections have been covered by Page SIX of the NY Post, Time Warner Spectrum NY1 News Channel and CSNBC.
Our budding reputation has lead various independent film distributors to send their scouts to our festival, in hopes of acquiring the next big Indie Hit. To date Festival of Cinema NYC has helped over a dozen films land a distribution deal.
Festival of Cinema NYC hosts a variety of workshops, panels and industry Q&A's that are free for everyone to attend. Past workshops have included presentations by SAG-AFTRA, Seed & Spark and Kitsplit. Speakers have included distributors from Cavu Pictures, Artsploitation Films, and Soundview Media Partners.
Festival of Cinema NYC is not just movies! The festival offers opportunities to escape from the theater by inviting locals and attending filmmakers to join us for our Happy Hour get together, Karaoke Night, Trivia Night, Comedy Night and our popular Mid-Week Red Carpet Event Afterparty!
2024
Festival of Cinema NYC
Jury Panel
Natalie Shmuel is a seasoned filmmaker, born and raised in Forest Hills. Natalie immerses in film theory and history, and has a keen eye for cinematic aesthetics in scripted narratives. She helped produce a number of features and shorts over the years, and is currently producing a short slated for Fall 2024. Natalie is also an established Archival Producer for scripted films, documentaries and docu-series projects, including network productions by EPIX, PBS, MSNBC, and A+E/HISTORY. She is currently working with CNN Films at Warner Bros, along with an independent documentary feature on a local gem - Forest Hills Stadium.
Natalie is an active member of the Producers Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America East, the Documentary Producers Alliance, and the Archival Producers Alliance.
Raye Levine (SAG Actress & Writer) born & raised in New York City. A William Esper Studio grad. Her current spec pilot: The Fortune Teller’s Daughter, was accepted into Gotham Week, Series Mania Fest, and was a semifinalist in the Sundance TV labs.
Film (Selected): Merry Good Enough (Caroline Keene & Dan Kennedy) *Best Narrative feature award at NHFF* & Pink Flags (Misha Calvert). Theatre (selected): Extinction by Gabe McKinley at Guild Hall (dir. Josh Gladstone), Leviticus by Mandi Riggi (Ensemble Studio Theatre, 59E59 & Zoo Venues @ Edinburgh Fringe), The Vote in Orange (French Embassy), Parkslope (Cherry Lane Theatre), Wetiko (The Actor's Studio), Man in Snow (The Actor's Studio), Freeway by Jen Rudin (Theatre 54/dir. Terry Milner).
www.rayelevine.com @rayelevine
A native of the Bronx, New York, Kevin Corrigan has been acting and writing since the age of 15. He made his film debut in Lost Angels (1989) and around that time, when he was just 17, his original play "The Boiler Room" was produced by the Young Playwrights Festival of New York. He has gone on to star in countless independent films and has made quite an impression. Kevin is also an experienced guitarist and has played in several New York City bands.
Kevin's credits include Uncle Eddie on the sitcom Grounded for Life (2001–2005). His film appearances include supporting roles in Goodfellas (1990), Rhythm Thief (1994), Walking and Talking (1996), Henry Fool (1997), The Departed (2006), Superbad (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), Seven Psychopaths (2012), The King of Staten Island (2020), and co-starring roles in Big Fan (2009) and Results (2015). He has been twice nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.
Kevin A. Lopez is a New York based independent film and documentary director, editor, and producer known for his work on The Inquisition of Camilo Sanz (2014), Mind Up (2014), The Hudson Tribes (2016), Paradise City (2019), Primera (2021), and La salsa vive (2024). Kevin also passionately advances film and media arts education. As a New York City Public School Principal and Project Director of Motion Picture Technical High School in Queens, NY, Kevin is uniquely positioned to create enduring pathways between CTE Classrooms and the expansive world of Film & Television.
Sofia Rubin is an NYC-based director and cinematographer. A graduate of Northwestern University's Radio/TV/Film program, Sofia has worked on countless projects as a producer, assistant director, sound designer, production designer, and more. She has been freelancing as a cinematographer/assistant camera since 2022, and has shot music videos, live events, short films, and one feature film. Sofia has directed three short horror films: Body God, her Northwestern thesis; Heshereheseesyou.mp4, a no-budget found footage film; and Honey..., a micro-short that exists as part of an anthology. She is currently in pre-production for her next body horror venture, Cub, about her childhood as an MMA fighter.
Simon Sohel TaufiQue is a British-Indian, Emmy-nominated and award-winning producer and composer based in NYC. His films have been distributed by Lionsgate, Universal, Amazon, and HBO and screened or won awards at Sundance, Berlinale, Venice, SXSW, Tribeca and Telluride, Independent Spirit Award nominations and shortlisted for the Academy Award.
Simon has programmed and been a juror at Oscar-qualifying film festivals, was a recipient of multiple industry fellowships such as the Trans-Atlantic Producing Program, ASCAP/Columbia University Film School Composing fellowship, and The Gotham Episodic Lab. He is Co-President of HRTS Associates-NY, created NYU’s SPS Producing curriculum and teaches there as well as at the Sundance Institutes CO//AB program. He is a member of BAFTA’s Diversity Committee, the PGA (Producers Guild-East), the Television Academy and host of the popular Squalor NYC filmmaker salon.
Simon is represented by IAG.
Click on the images below to be taken to a larger gallery
Images from our Awards Dinner Celebration
Check out the cars that arrived on our red carpet!
Photos from past presentations and workshops
Pics from events during the festival
See the opportunities provided to filmmakers who attend
“ I can tell you that festival of cinema NYC is right up there with the best ones that I attended”
Cory Choy- Filmmaker
Submissions are now open for the 2024 Festival of Cinema NYC taking place from August 2 - 11, 2024
Final Extended submission deadline is April 30, 2024
Connecting films and Festivals.
Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Tires
Short Draft
Kogershin
Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Tires
Short Draft
Kogershin
Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Ties
Short Draft
Kogershin
Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki
Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki
Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki
The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest
The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest
The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest
Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren
Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren
Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren
Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street
Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street
Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street
Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello
Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello
Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello
The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway
The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway
The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway
Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge
Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge
Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge
Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad
Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad
Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad
Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay
Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay
Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa
Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me
Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me
Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me
Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris
Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris
Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris
Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan
Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan
Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan
Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg
Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg
Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg
Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)
Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)
Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)
Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop
Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop
Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop
Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay
Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay
Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay
Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!
Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!
Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!
Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Patrick Devaney
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton
Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Patrick Devaney
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton
Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Laurence Shanet
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton
The Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart
Jason Pell's Pinpricks
Sucks to be the Moon
Blind dateThe Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart
Zeria
Man with Shadow
Vultures
A Feast That Never Comes
Cookaphony
Reminiscence
Snakes of Russia - Heart Caves In
Todo
The Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart
Winner
A Feast That Never Comes
by Ex-Fiance
Winner
A Feast That Never Comes
by Ex-Fiance
Winner
Static
Directed by Jamin Mears
Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home
Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home
Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home
Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh
Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh
Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh
Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy
Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy
Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy
Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello
Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello
Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello
Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth
Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth
Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth
Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet
Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet
Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet
ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound
ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound
ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound
Real Heroes
Written by Richard Hohenrath
Real Heroes
Written by Richard Hohenrath
Real Heroes
Written by Richard Hohenrath
Audience Choice for
Best Feature Film is....
Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root
Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root
Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root
Audience Choice for
Best Short Film is....
Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez
Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez
Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez
Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel
Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel
Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel