Film Diary NYC is a festival for experimental non-fiction that captures the personal history and daily experiences of the filmmaker and the world they encounter.

Please see the 2024 program on our website if you are unsure about the kind of films we're looking for: https://filmdiary.info/fd3-coldest-winter

“An organization unparalleled in our current moment within the New York film world.”
- Devon Narine-Singh, filmmaker, educator (CU Boulder)​​​​​​​

“A community of artists committed to cutting through the bullshit, excited to use any and all media to increase our understanding & create authentic connection.”
- Julie Perini, filmmaker, educator (Portland State University)

“This festival is what real artistic community can look and feel like, and these filmmakers give me hope for the future of art on screen”
- Ife Olujobi, artist, writer

“Exciting ideas...Very much in the spirit of the kind of film community that my father helped to foster and support.”
- Sebastian Mekas

Rules & Terms

Last year we screened 190+ films in-person, across 8 days, at 3 different NYC venues (Spectacle, DCTV's Firehouse Cinema, Millennium Film Workshop) and 10 satellite venues around the world. The scope of this year's festival will be similar (details TBA).

Due to time constraints, theatrical screenings will mostly be given to shorter films, however we accept submissions of any length. For the purposes of submissions anything over 30 Min should be submitted as feature, under 30 min can be submitted as short.

This is a self-funded DIY festival organized and run entirely by 2 low-income artists with no sponsors, grants, or outside funding. As such, we are unable to pay screening fees or travel expenses for filmmakers.

Follow us on Instagram for updates.

34 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anto(n) Astudillo

    This is a festival with a well curated line-up, programming films from all over the world in NYC and different international satellite screenings. Festival organizers put great attention to building community and making filmmakers feel welcomed and appreciated by creating engaging spaces where filmmaking becomes and act of expression, defiance and liberation with thought provoking conversations. This is the top experimental /personal cinema/ film diary film festival in NYC.

    May 2026
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  • Desirée Tolchin

    The level of care Saint and Sage puts into every detail is more than evident. You can really feel how much the team cares about supporting artists and personal experimental film. I couldn’t recommend this festival enough, it’s truly something special. :)

    April 2026
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  • Matt McKinzie

    One of the best film festivals in NYC. What Saint and Sage do to support artists, cultivate community, and keep experimental / diary film culture alive is truly special.

    March 2026
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  • Colby LG

    saint and sage are wonderful! this is an awesome and important festival that platforms a range of work with home videos

    March 2026
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  • Dick Blau

    I was really happy to be part of Film Diary NYC. The curators were enthusiastic, accessible, and, very well organized. It is clear that they love what they are doing and that they are doing it for all the right reasons. Many many thanks, Saint and Sage, for your great -- and generous -- service to the field.

    March 2026
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