Every film begins with a story and storytelling in the filmmaking process is the essence of the New York State Writers Institute’s Albany Film Festival.

The fifth annual Albany Film Festival will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025. This community event will draw thousands of film lovers of all ages and help to highlight the work of alumni, local/regional filmmakers, and student filmmakers from across the Capital Region. This annual spring event is a natural outgrowth of the Writers Institute’s mission to be one of the nation’s preeminent literary presenting organizations. We host filmmakers and screen films that explore the craft of diverse storytelling in cinema, foster a deeper understanding of social justice and celebrate the human experience in all its dimensions.

The Festival includes in-depth panel discussions with writers, screenwriters, filmmakers and film industry professionals, film critics and authors who have adapted their books into films. The program provides an intensive immersion into the intersection between writing and filmmaking.

Full-length and short film screenings of new work from aspiring student filmmakers to acclaimed directors will be shown, along with conversations and Q&As that encourage audience participation. Classic films will also be part of the Festival, augmenting the Writers Institute’s long-running and highly regarded Classic Film Series.

The forum for the Festival is the University at Albany, an academic institution that is one of the most diverse public research universities in the country, with over 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Since 1983, the Writers Institute has been the place where readers, writers and filmmakers meet. The Albany Film Festival expands and continues those conversations.

Awards/Certificates and monetary prizes will also be given out for the following awards:

Best Overall Short Film--$500

The Brendan Fahy Bequette Student Short Film Award--$300
*The award for Best Overall Student Short film is sponsored by The Brendan Fahy Bequette Fund, per Patricia Fahy & Wayne Bequette.

Best Comedic Short Film--$200

Best Dramatic Short Film--$200

Best Experimental Short Film--$200

Best Documentary Short Film--$200

Best Animated Short Film--$200

Best Horror Short Film--$200

Honorable Mention may be awarded in some categories - $100

*Short film submissions must have a connection to New York State, defined as 1) film shot primarily or significantly on location in New York and/or 2) a film where one or more of the film’s principal/creative personnel is one of the following: a) born in New York, b) a current or former New York resident for one or more years, or c) an alumnus or current student at a school located in New York.

*For Student Short Film Submissions: Must be a student in New York State. Student Verification Required: applicants required to attach a copy of their valid student ID (either upload a copy of your student ID to FilmFreeway or send it in an email to writers@albany.edu). All other entries will be disqualified from this category.

*All Genres accepted
*Submissions must be 25 minutes or less in length, including titles and credits
*Entries must be original works
*All short film submissions must be submitted through FilmFreeway
*Digital submissions only, either on VIMEO, YouTube and/or other online sources
*No DVD or Blu-rays accepted
*One submission per category
*Submitted films should have been completed on or after January 1, 2023
*No premiere requirements
*Infomercials and public service announcements will not be accepted
*The Albany Film Festival reserves the right to decide which films are screened. A prescreening committee will evaluate each entry to determine the official selections for screening at the festival.
*The Albany Film Festival will not be paying screening fees for official selections.
*Entry fees are non-refundable.
*All elements of submitted films, including music, stills, archival footage and images, etc. to which someone other than the filmmaker holds copyright must be licensed for use by the filmmaker, and proof of such license may be requested prior to any public screening of the work should the film be selected for entry.

*RELEASE: The New York State Writers Institute Albany Film Festival (NYSWIAFF) is granted permission and the right by the submitter to use excerpts, quotes, stills, titles, photos and footage for promotional purposes prior to, during and after the NYSWIAFF 2025. The NYSWIAFF is granted permission and the right to use photos, footage and other materials gathered during the event for promotional purposes in perpetuity. Promotion may include, but not be limited to, New York State Writers Institute and Albany Film Festival websites, e-communications, social media, TV, internet, radio and print sources. The submitter provides NYSWIAFF with indemnity and release from any/all liabilities, losses, damages, claims and expenses relating to any trademark, copyright, credits, publicity and screening.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Excellent Fest. The team running the festival are engaging and care about film and the arts. Great films were shown along with some fun special guest speakers ending with a fun awards ceremony.

    April 2025
  • We were glad to be part of Albany Film Festival!

    April 2025
  • I've been attending film festivals for ~15 years and this is the first festival I have ever attended that had a full house for ALL of the screening blocks. It may have something to do with the event being free, but I suspect it has more to do with how well run it is, how fantastic the selections of films was, how interesting the talks (Kelly Carlin!!!) were and how friendly, inviting and warm the staff was. I would attend this festival again, even without my film screening, because it was such a good time. I can't recommend this little festival enough!

    April 2025
  • Albany Film festival was AMAZING!!! The only bad thing is it was one day. It was so well organized and they packed in great films and incredible networking. It was an honor to Screen with such great films. Highly recommend this festival!!!

    June 2023
  • Diana Devlin

    Having a short film at the AFF was a truly rewarding experience! From the communication pre-festival to the number of staff on hand to direct and answer questions, to the awesome people that I met, this was a truly welcoming, well-organized, and totally enjoyable experience. Thank you to all the organizers and staffr!

    April 2023