Follow Your Heart Film Festival

Participants and guests in 2025 will experience a unique event. Immersion into the world of art. Exciting short films and a competition of artistic photography. In the heart of New York, near the Empire State Building,

Follow Your Heart Film Festival is an international short film festival.
The selected winners of the year will be screened in front of a live audience at the annual event. We organize a show that gives filmmakers a chance to win individual laurels, a certificate, advertising on our social networks, and a special prize from our partners. The winning films will be screened at the annual Follow Your Heart Film Festival, where they will compete for the main prize in each nomination.

The mission of the Follow Your Heart Film Festival is to promote talented filmmakers of all ages whose films touch the heart.
All foreign films must have English SUBTITLES
Winners will be announced on social media pages and the film festival website, and will also be notified individually through this platform.

Awards & Prizes

Awards and prize-winners
Each season, our jury will carefully select the filmmakers and their projects that our committee considers the most attractive. Awards will be presented in several ‘Main Categories'. In addition, each application can add an unlimited number of ‘Additional Subcategories'.
Each Winner of the Award will receive your Official Certificate and a Bay Leaf by email. The certificate will be ready for printing, posting on social networks and advertising on the website.
The winners will be advertised on our social networks with posters, photos from the film, promotion of directors and producers.
Each winner of the "Best of the Year" contest will be listed on our website throughout the next year and will be promoted on our social media platforms.
Awards:
The best film. Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Special jury prize. Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
The best film according to the audience of the film festival (live voting) Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Short Drama.Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
The best short thriller. Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
For the best short comedy. Awarded a digital certificate + bay leaf
The best super short film. Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
The best animation. Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
The best student film.Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
The best young director under the age of 21.Awarded a digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Actor. Awarded with digital Certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Actres. Awarded with digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Young Actor. Awarded with digital Certificate + Bay Leaf
The best young actress was . Awarded a digital certificate + Bay leaf
Best operator. Awarded a Digital certificate + Bay Leaf
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Special nominations. Awarded a Digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best video blog. Awarded a Digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Show Host. Awarded a Digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Female Show Host. Awarded a Digital certificate + Bay Leaf
Best Show

Rules & Terms

All films are rated according to the category specification. Submission to a subcategory should be added to the main category. A subcategory without a main category will not be considered.
Films can be presented in several categories.
You can submit multiple projects.
We don't need the status of the prime minister.
Please send the director's statement and an image, a description of the project with all technical characteristics, promo photos/ videos of the project.
If you decide to make any changes to your movie, you will have to go through the submission process again.
If the film gets into the official selection, the director will be notified about it using the contact method specified in the application form.
The films should be shot in 2020 or after that date.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart accepts films in all languages. If the movie is not in English, it must have English subtitles by the time it is sent. Film Festival Follow Your Heart does not cover any expenses for subtitles.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart takes the quality of films very seriously. We only accept HD movies, so any movies with a resolution below 720p and poor sound quality will not be considered.
Applications for participation in the festival must be accompanied by a registration fee and a completed online application form. Movies must be submitted via online streaming services such as Youtube, Vimeo, etc. (using a private link) or via the FilmFreeway submission platform.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart encourages all filmmakers to send us promotional materials such as posters, stills, trailers and teasers so that we can fully promote the film. Film Festival Follow Your Heart reserves the right to use any promotional materials on our website, social media and press releases.
Applicants are responsible for having all rights and permissions to all third-party materials in their films, including, but not limited to, music, trademarks, logos, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.
By submitting a film, you grant us the rights to show it in front of a live audience during the festival, if it is selected for the program.
The films of the "Official Selection" will be notified by e-mail specified by the applicant.
After sending the project, the application cannot be canceled or returned.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart does not waive any application fees. This rule applies to all applicants.
Film Festival Follow Your Heart has the right to add, change or remove any part of the guidelines at any time without prior notice.
The Festival reserves the right to determine the compliance of any project with any Festival program or category of applications.
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1 Review
Overall Rating
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  • Alexander Sparinsky

    Pleasantly moved: I just received great news about the official selection of my work at Follow Your Heart NY festival. Let's spread Ukrainian creativity all over the world: people should know what war is like in Ukraine today!

    June 2023
    Helpful