The Child Welfare Film Festival (CWFF) is a NYC-based film festival highlighting works that portray a realistic depiction of issues faced by youth in the child welfare system.

Child welfare topics may include but are not limited to:
1. child abuse and neglect
2. foster care and adoption
3. family separation
4. the impact of parental incarceration, mental health issues or substance abuse on children and families

The CWFF is co-hosted by the Foster Care Film & Community Engagement Project (FCFCEP) and City Living NY, a non-profit which serves youth aging out of the child welfare system. The festival, which will be held in May during during National Foster Care Month, is dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding youth in the child welfare system by sharing their stories and perceptive.

Mainstream media's portrayal of the system is often rooted in stereotypes and stigma. The festival’s main goal is to increase awareness and understanding of the child welfare system while giving those involved in it an opportunity challenge mainstream media’s often misconstrued portrayal of foster care. Films will be reviewed for selection by a jury of filmmakers and child welfare advocates & alumni. Jury feedback will be offered to all submitters after the completion of the festival.

Each screening will be followed by a discussion panel on related topics. Visiting filmmakers and film subjects will be given the opportunity to participate in an audience Q & A or on a panel.

Awards & Prizes

All films entered will automatically be considered for nomination in any award categories that the film might qualify for during the selection process.

CWFF awards include but are not limited to:

Best of Fest
Best Documentary Short 
Best Narrative Short  

Rules & Terms

The CWFF is open to any film about issues that impact child welfare. Submitting your film to the CWFF is not a guarantee of selection.

A film will only be eligible for the CWFF jury competition if fees and forms are submitted with the film. Films submitted without the correct fees or proper submission media may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of the CWFF team. The CWFF will not refund any fees if the filmmaker fails to submit a suitable exhibition copy in an acceptable format.

Once a film is accepted and becomes an official selection in the festival, a film may not be withdrawn by the filmmaker. CWFF will not consider screening fees of any kind. If accepted to the festival, the applicant grants the CWFF the right to show the submitted film publicly during the duration of the festival unless written notice is provided to CWFF.

If a film is selected, exhibition media must be provided as a downloadable link in the requested format and should also be clearly labeled with the film title and director’s name. 

Filmmakers are encouraged to attend the festival and promote screenings. Screening time, date, venue and format determination is at sole discretion of the CWFF. The CWFF is granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the festival and for promotional purposes. The individual or business submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless the CWFF 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 media entered.