Film at Lincoln Center announces a call for short film submissions beginning today for the 64th New York Film Festival (NYFF64), taking place from September 25 to October 12, 2026.

Presented by Film at Lincoln Center in partnership with Rolex, the New York Film Festival (NYFF) is an annual celebration of the most significant international films of the season. NYFF has played a pivotal role in shaping film culture since its inception in 1963 and continues its enduring tradition of introducing audiences to bold and remarkable works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent.

Short film submissions will be accepted via FilmFreeway through May 26. The entry fee is $60. This fee will contribute to funds for a seasonal staff of short film submissions screeners as well as additional festival operations, including artist support. NYFF64 is noncompetitive, and all sections are curated by the selection committee with support from an international roster of programming advisors and screeners. Only short films (40 minutes or less) are accepted through FilmFreeway.

Short films submitted via FilmFreeway are considered primarily for NYFF’s Currents section, though selected titles may also be invited to screen in other sections of the festival, including the New York Shorts program within Spotlight. A complement to the NYFF’s Main Slate, Currents presents a diverse offering of short-, medium-, and feature-length work by filmmakers and artists working at the vanguard of narrative, documentary, and experimental modes.

NYFF’s call for short film submissions provides an opportunity for new and emerging filmmakers to share their work. In addition to short film submissions collected via FilmFreeway, the NYFF64 selection committee considers recommendations from alumni and industry colleagues, as well as work that has premiered in international festivals and galleries since the previous edition of NYFF. Submitted films will be evaluated by NYFF64 programming staff and considered equally with all other prospective entrants. All films submitted through FilmFreeway will be notified of their status by August 17. 

FILM AT LINCOLN CENTER
Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) is a nonprofit organization that celebrates cinema as an essential art form and fosters a vibrant home for film culture to thrive. FLC presents premier film festivals, retrospectives, new releases, and restorations year-round in state-of-the-art theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. FLC offers audiences the opportunity to discover works from established and emerging directors from around the world with a passionate community of film lovers at marquee events including the New York Film Festival and New Directors/New Films.  

Founded in 1969, FLC is committed to preserving the excitement of the theatrical experience for all audiences, advancing high-quality film journalism through the publication of Film Comment, cultivating the next generation of film industry professionals through our FLC Academies, and enriching the lives of all who engage with our programs. 

Rolex is the Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece of Film at Lincoln Center. 

Additional support is provided in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit filmlinc.org and follow @filmlinc on X and Instagram.

For press inquiries regarding Film at Lincoln Center, please contact: 

John Kwiatkowski, Film at Lincoln Center, [email protected] 

Eva Tooley, Film at Lincoln Center, [email protected]