AltFest at NewFilmmakers is New York's only locally programmed Gay and Lesbian film festival.

After many years in theaters, we have taken an exciting new direction with AltFest and NewFilmmakers called NewFilmmakersPlus which will move our festival into the digital age and allow us to reach international audiences.

While theaters have been closed, our online audiences have greatly exceeded those in theaters. With NewFilmmakers Plus we have added audience participation missing in most online screenings with GroupView, which allows filmmakers, cast, and crew as well as audience members to watch and comment on films together.

In addition our films will now be available for one month and screenable any time of the day instead of only one night. This allows more people to see our films and makes it easier to set up a screening event with friends and colleagues. As requested we are switching to filmmaker hosted files utilizing unlisted links which will eliminate the need to transcode and to send us large files as well as giving filmmakers control over their film.

In today’s world online screenings, whether in a film festival or on NetFlix, give filmmakers worldwide audiences instead of limited local ones. With NewFilmmakers Plus filmmakers not only reach worldwide audiences but can interact with them as they would at a traditional theater.

Awards & Prizes

We award a AltFest PATHFINDER Award to one person annually who blazed the trail for a younger generation of Gay and Lesbian filmmakers.

We also award AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS as a part of our NewFilmmakers sister fest.

Rules & Terms

NewFilmmakers New York (“AltFest” “YoungFilmmakers” henceforth “sections”) are hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless NewFilmmakers New York and its sections from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

By submitting your film to NewFilmmakers NY or its sections you commit to a possible public screening of your film with NewFilmmakers NY. Films submitted may be moved, at the programmer’s discretion, within sections

NewFilmmakers and its sections are not liable for the return of films which have been submitted for screening or adjudication.

NewFilmmakers and its sections do not pay screening fees.

NewFilmmakers and its sections reserve the right to cancel and/or change screening dates without prior contact.

All submission fees to the festival and/or sections are nonrefundable. Filmmaker understands that submitting to multiple sections does not improve their chances of screening.

By being accepted into the NewFilmmakers or one of the section programs you agree to send a Digital screener within the stipulated deadline or forfeit your screening date. NewFilmmakers and its sections are not responsible for rescheduling films which have been pulled from consideration by the submitting party or have not furnished an accompanying digital screener within reasonable time.

NewFilmmakers and its sections are not responsible for the costs of receiving or shipping DCPs and all DCPs must be accompanied by a digital screener.
6 Reviews
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Networking
  • BETSY REGUS

    As this was an online fest, it wasn’t much networking however I enjoyed watching other films in the shorts program. I will definitely be sharing my work here again. It was such a pleasure showing and hope that everyone else had such a good experience!

    January 2025
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    Altfest steprepeat
    Response from festival:

    Thanks for your support. It makes it worthwhile for us to put it together every month.

  • Michael Epps

    Thanks for selecting my short film, Room 831!
    It's a great to be a part of this festival.

    October 2021
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  • Job Ethan Christenson

    Thank you, AltFest! I appreciate all you have done for this first time filmmaker. Thank you for the recognition. Bravo!

    July 2021
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  • Angie Rowntree

    Wonderful festival. Communication is good. Our interactions were all very informative.

    April 2021
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  • martin del carpio

    Great festival to be a part of! Thanks again.

    January 2021
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