Film Festival in the Kaufman Arts District in Astoria NY
Films are screened in the famous Kaufman Astoria Studios, at Heart of Gold Bar in Astoria, and Online via the festival's YouTube Channel throughout the month of October 2021.

Includes the regular festival, a Halloween Horror Film Festival, a Dance Film Special Session, and the Astoria Youth Film Festival for filmmakers 18 & Under

In 2021, we are adding FEATURE FILMS & PODCASTS to the submissions

For more information visit astoriafilmfestival.org

Awards & Prizes

The Zukor Award
(named after Kaufman Astoria Studios' founder, is awarded to a film that brings positive attention to an underrepresented topic or group)
Best Feature Film
Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Dance Short
Best Horror Short
Best Quarantine Short
Best Youth Short (ages 14-18)
Best Drama Web Series
Best Comedy Web Series
Best Documentary Web Series
Best Podcast
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Best Editing
Audience Awards (4)
Honorable Mention (4)

Rules & Terms

Submissions for shorts no longer than 20 mins in length (30 mins for documentaries and 90 for features)

*To be sure that your films/web series are accessible to everyone, please include closed captioning.

For Web Series and Podcasts, please submit only ONE episode of the series that you think captures the essence of the series.

Categories:
Drama Short
Comedy Short
Documentary Short
Experimental Short
Dance Short
Youth Short
Drama Web Series
Comedy Web Series
Documentary Web Series
Experimental Web Series
Podcasts
Feature Films (all genres)
29 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Brendan Lee Hickey

    Cool festival. Would love to attend in person when safe.

    February 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so very much for this review and for your wonderful film. Look forward to it being safe again as well. It's been such a loooong year <3

  • Michaela Zannou

    Such a wonderful festival! Perfectly organized, offering creators amazing opportunities and supporting them before, during and after the festival. Highly recommend to any filmmaker.

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much Michaela!! Your work is amazing and I’m thrilled we were able to highlight it. So happy to get to know you as well. Look forward to all your future success!!

  • Chase Bolnick


    Astoria Film Festival had amazing communication, and, though it was were affected due to COVID-19, have treated filmmakers with regard and respect. I am grateful to be a part of this film festival and will certainly submit again. I hope to attend in person someday.

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Chase! Without filmmakers there would be no festival so we are very grateful for everyone who participates in the festival process. Your film is wonderful and we very much look forward to seeing more of your work and hopefully meeting you in person someday soon. In the meantime please stay safe and creative :) Thanks again!

  • Colleen Brady

    Fantastic festival and fantastic experience. The team did a great job this year on seamless communication and organizing the line up despite the obstacles. I felt like my film was in great hands, and my team is so grateful to have won Best Documentary Web Series. Will definitely be submitting next year!

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you very much Colleen. You did such wonderful work on your series. It was our honor to showcase it. We wish you all the success in the world and hope to see you again!

  • Nathalie Frederick

    Astoria Film Festival is a fabulous and incredibly welcoming local festival. The organizers went above and beyond to create opportunities for both digital and (safe) in person screenings during COVID-times. There was a ton of local press, a great social media presence, discounts at local restaurants and more. Would definitely submit again to get to experience the fest when the in person aspects can be in full swing.

    November 2020
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much Nathalie!! It was such a pleasure to meet you in our zoom interviews and screen your film online and in person. I’m thrilled that you took part in all we had to offer - from the interview to our interactive online panels, to the in-person events, and now as part of our tv show on QPTV. I look forward to getting back to “normal” someday in the near future but definitely appreciate and plan to continue all the virtual events even then. They went a lot better than I even expected they would. Thank you again so much for being a part of Festival 2020!!