The East Village New York Film Festival is a vibrant monthly competition dedicated to showcasing the best in independent filmmaking from around the globe. Each month, a selection of finalists are screened in the heart of New York's iconic East Village, offering a unique opportunity for filmmakers to present their work to an enthusiastic and diverse audience. Open to filmmakers worldwide, the festival celebrates a wide range of genres and styles, providing a platform for both emerging and established talents. Whether you're an aspiring director or a seasoned professional, the East Village New York Film Festival is your stage to shine. Among the stars we have awarded, we would like to remember Fanny Ardant.

You can see the updated movie night schedule on the website and also purchase tickets there.

★ NEW CATEGORY: AI FILM ★

★ Monthly Screenings ★

★ IMDb-Qualifying Film Festival ★

Movie nights schedule 2026:

January 25th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
February 22nd canceled due to snowstorm, rescheduled March 15th 10:00pm - 11:30pm
March 29th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
April 26th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
May 31st, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
June 28th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
July 19th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
August 30th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
September 27th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
October 25th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
November 29th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm
December 27th, 10:00pm - 11:30pm

Awards & Prizes

Best Picture
Best Feature Film
Best Feature Documentary
Best Indie Feature Film (low budget)
Best Short Film
Best Indie Short Film (low budget)
Best Short Documentary
Best Super Short Film
Best Web/Tv Series
Best Music Video
Best Student Film
Best First Time Director
Best AI Film
Best Experimental
Best Animation
Best Short Script
Best Feature Script

The following awards can be assigned for short or feature films, any genre:
Best Producer
Best Director
Best Actress 
Best Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound Design

Rules & Terms

We accept:
- Short and feature films, in the form of narrative (fiction), documentary (non fiction), experimental or animated film.
- Music Videos
- Web/TV Series (also pilot)
- Feature Scripts, Short Scripts
By submitting your film, take note that:
- You agree to use parts of your film  (including trailer/teaser/film poster/stills) for promotional purpose.
- Entry fees are non-refundable.
-Each month, a selection of winner films are screened in the heart of New York's iconic East Village,
- Multiple entries are allowed for each filmmaker and each entry may be entered in multiple categories.
- The films must include English subtitles (unless the spoken language is English).
- If we not receive enough entries for some category, we can change category of a project submitted.
- You agree to receive promotional email from us and our festival partners.
- Votes and decisions of the jury members are indisputable and final.
- You can submit again your work how many times you want.
- The scripts must be in English.
153 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Eugene Hattingh

    I had a fantastic experience with the East Village New York Film Festival, where my feature screenplay Escape to Alcatraz—which anchors a planned trilogy—was recognized with an Honorable Mention. The communication throughout the season was professional, clear, and engaging.

    It's clear that this festival truly values indie storytelling and gives writers a highly respected platform to gain visibility.

    I highly recommend the East Village New York Film Festival to any writer or filmmaker looking for a well-organized, prestigious platform to showcase their work. I will absolutely be submitting here again, likely my parallel sequel, "Escape to Catalina"!

    July 2026
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  • Jason Sherman

    I had a great experience with the East Village New York Film Festival. The communication was professional, and I was honored that Before the Moon was selected as a Finalist. It's always encouraging to see festivals recognize independent documentary filmmaking. Thank you for supporting filmmakers and providing a platform for meaningful stories!

    July 2026
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  • Sean Alexander Carney

    My animated film, "Remembering Nearfield" was nominated as a Finalist (for Best Short Documentary) in this year's East Village New York Film Festival. Thank you for the honour and recognition of my film which helps bring wider awareness and visibility of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), a neglected disability issue that affects over 5% of the global population today.

    June 2026
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  • Trix StarT

    Displaying awesome visual craft - the exact kind of fierce, independent risk-taking we love to champion.👾 Check out: https://www.youtube.com/@TrixStarT 💥

    June 2026
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  • Akshita Vashisht

    I am very thankful to the festival for giving me the chance to share Paani and talk about water scarcity and how it affects women’s health and children’s education. I am honored that Paani received an honorable mention. This recognition means a lot to me and encourages me to continue this work. With gratitude, Akshita Vashisht

    June 2026
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