The Best Actor & Director Awards – New York is an International Bi-Monthly IMDb Qualifying Competition with Annual Screening Event, celebrating Actors and Film Directors from all over the world. Our Mission is to recognize talent and passion and to award the Best Performances in Acting and in Film Directing of independent cinema. Only the Best Films of a whole year will be selected by the Jury for the Annual Screening Event in New York City.

(Best Actor Award® & Best Director Award® - New York are registered Trademarks | © 2019-2024)

During the Bi-Monthly Competition, our Jury will only award the Best Actors and Film Directors through private screenings. We may award Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, depending on the judgment of the performance. There may be Honorable Mentions to those Actors and Directors who haven’t won their category, but whose skills deserve to be celebrated. Moreover, we award the very Special “Outstanding Performance Award” in acting and in film directing. All the Winners of the Bi-Monthly Competition will receive a Winner Laurel, our Official Certificate (digital format) ready for printing, will be listed on our web site and may upload their credits on IMDb. Only the Best Films of a whole year will be selected by the Jury for the Annual Screening Event, that will take place in New York City in Fall 2024.

What we’re looking for: Feature Films, Short Films, TV/Web-Series, Indie Films, Student Films, Music Videos, Commercials, Animations, Experimental Films, Documentaries. We accept films of any length, genre and language. Non-English films must have English subtitles.

We do not accept: 1. Amateur videos. 2. Extremist or propaganda content from religious or political organizations. 3. Pornography. 4. Films with a poor production standard (bad sound, lack of subtitles/captions for non-English films, video resolution lower than 720p HD). 5. We don’t accept scripts. 6. We don't accept excerpts/scenes from films: you must submit the entire film.

BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR PROJECT PLEASE READ ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
By submitting your film, take note that:
The Best Actor & Director Awards – New York is hereby granted the rights to utilize an excerpt (trailer/teaser/poster/stills) from any film submitted for promotional purposes. The films will not be available online. Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be submitted to multiple categories. The winning categories vary every month depending on the submissions we receive and on the performances. If we think the categories submitted are not to a standard of the Best Actor & Director Awards – New York win, they will be removed. If you submit your film to the category ‘Best Acting Debut’, it must be your first or second time acting in a film (any kind of film); If you submit your film to the category ‘Best 1st time Director of a Short’, it must be your first or second time directing a short film; If you submit your film to the category ‘Best 1st time Director of a Feature’, it must be your first or second time directing a feature film: otherwise, your film will be disqualified from that specific category. Trophies are optional, are not included in the submission fee and all Winners may order the trophy by paying production costs and shipping costs. The Competition reserves the right to refuse entries and the Jury can remove the movie from the competition at any time. Entry fees are non-refundable. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for possible screening (private and/or public) and understands and accepts these requirements, rules and regulations. Only the Best Films of a whole year will be selected by the Jury for the Annual Screening Event. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Best Actor & Director Awards – New York, 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 or damage of the screening videos entered.
By submitting your film, you acknowledge you have read, understood and accepted all rules and regulations.

Overall Rating
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  • Absolutely wonderful festival! It was an incredible experience as a filmmaker and I cannot recommend this festival highly enough.

    March 2024
  • JOSEPH WHITE

    Love the feedback and the festival---one of the best.

    March 2024
  • Great Festival! Great Experience! Thanks

    March 2024
  • It was an honor to be selected and participate in your festival. Truly a great experience!

    March 2024
  • Stephen Bushnik

    Thank you, so very much for this incredible honour. Best Voice Over Performance (GOLD) & Best Director of an Animation (Platinum) for my freshly baked short...The Donut Mob. I'm incredibly grateful for these awards. Incredibly grateful. My humble thanks, Stephen.

    March 2024