Update: NYFF57 Submissions are now closed!

Deadlines:
March 22, 2019 – Earlybird Deadline
May 3, 2019 – Regular Deadline
May 24, 2019 – Late Deadline
June 7, 2019 – Withoutabox Extended Deadline


ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The New York Film Festival was founded in 1963 and is produced by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The festival has a Main Slate of at least 25 feature films, and sections such as Spotlight on Documentary, Projections (avant-garde film), Convergence (interactive storytelling), and Revivals (restorations and rediscoveries). The 57th New York Film Festival will take place September 27, 2019 to October 13, 2019.

NYFF is non-competitive and all sections are carefully curated by the selection committee and supporting programmers.

Questions about submissions? Call 212-875-5610 or e-mail [email protected]

TYPES OF FILMS ACCEPTED

Projections (Avant-Garde)
Projections presents an international selection of film and video work that expands upon our notions of what the moving image can do and be. Drawing on a broad range of innovative modes and techniques, including experimental narratives, avant-garde poetics, crossovers into documentary realms, and contemporary art practices, Projections brings together a diverse offering of work by some of today’s most essential and groundbreaking filmmakers and artists. For NYFF57, work up to 40 minutes will be considered for the shorts programs in this section.
Short Film: Narrative
Narrative shorts include the work of both established and emerging filmmakers from around the world. Films of under 40 minutes in length are considered “shorts” at the New York Film Festival.
Short Film: Documentary
This shorts section features films from around the world that capture the versatility and depth of short nonfiction. Films of under 40 minutes in length are considered “shorts” at the New York Film Festival.
Short Film: Genre Stories
Genre Stories focuses on the best in horror, thriller, sci-fi, twisted noir, pitch-black comedy, and fantasy shorts. Films of under 40 minutes in length are considered “shorts” at the New York Film Festival.
Short Film: NYC
This shorts program showcases recent work from some of the most exciting filmmakers living and working in New York today. Films of under 40 minutes in length are considered “shorts” at the New York Film Festival.
Virtual Reality
The New York Film Festival’s interactive section, Convergence, celebrates the best in cutting edge immersive storytelling. The Virtual Reality sidebar seeks new narrative and documentary projects that explore the boundaries of this exciting new form. Please note what platform your VR piece runs on – mobile, oculus, vive, etc – as part of your submission. While we are specifically interested in 360, Oculus Go, Samsung Gear, and Google Daydream formats we do want to hear from creators with tethered experiences as well. Please contact [email protected] to tell us about your project.

GENERAL RULES

1. Film Society of Lincoln Center defines a short film as any film with a running time less than 40 minutes.

2. All films submitted to NYFF must be New York premieres. “Premiere” is defined as any film having not screened for the public in the greater New York area, or having received a run in a festival operating within New York.

3. Films having received any theatrical or home video distribution of any kind beyond festival screenings or that have been broadcast on television or the internet will be deemed ineligible for NYFF.

4. Films that have had private, unpublicized screenings are eligible for submission to NYFF.

5. Films that have been previously submitted to NYFF or Views from the Avant-Garde are ineligible.

6. Films must have been completed in the current or previous year (2018, 2019).

7. All applicants must complete the official festival submission form located on withoutabox.com.

8. NYFF reserves the right to disqualify any film not submitted through these websites without refund of any application fees.

9. The applicant holds the sole responsibility of copyright clearance of any copyrighted material in the film. Films including unauthorized copyrighted material are ineligible.

10. Films not in English must be subtitled in English unless dialogue is minimal and not necessary for the comprehension of the Film.

TERMS

1. Films submitted will not be returned.

2. Multiple versions of the same film will not be considered.

3. Only the first submitted version of a film will be considered for NYFF.

4. If the submitted film does not play, NYFF will make an attempt to contact the applicant based on the contact information supplied at the time of submission in order to obtain a replacement. If a replacement is not available, NYFF reserves the right to disqualify the film without refunding the submission fees.

5. NYFF will attempt, but is under no obligation, to view a submission that arrives after the designated deadline without refund of the submission fee.

6. Submitted films that qualify based on the regulations and eligibility requirements stated here will be seen by NYFF programming staff and be considered equally with all other submissions.

7. NYFF reserves the right to disqualify any film for non-payment of the submission fee. NYFF will attempt to contact the applicant based on the contact information supplied at the time of submission in order to resolve non-payment status.

8. NYFF is under no obligation to provide comments regarding submitted films to any applicant. The festival is not responsible for any internal comments obtained by the applicant regarding their film.