International Film Festival Manhattan (IFFM), now on it's 10th Milestone Year, offers a quality selection of world-class films that will be showcased in a theater in Manhattan New York City, USA. Our programming encompasses all different genres of diverse program. Narrative features, documentaries, shorts and student films from all over the world. We also have a focus on social relevance as part of our programming and our goals.

We are visionaries who believe in the possibilities of New York, the greatest city in the world. We have seen how film, as a powerful medium can make a direct impact on lives or facilitate change. We also have seen the unique diversity of New York's culture and its people. The city's appreciation for film and ability to make things happen. Our vision is to help merge the two, creating an opportunity for filmmakers and artist to showcase their works in New York. Support will be given to all filmmakers to help find their audiences.

IFFM is committed in showcasing entertaining and diverse films in all genres and scope to equal the diversity of New York. It is also committed in exploring all opportunities to promote the artists, his work, his vision, and his cause if he has any, during the showing of the films and the events during the festival.

We are a festival that gives importance to a full Question and Answer (Q&A) portion after each film screening. We believe that filmmakers who attend their screening should be heard and celebrated on stage. We also pride ourselves in having red carpet interview moments during the festival, IFFM is also known for it's full scale Black Tie Opening Night - Awards Night. We give out 15 or more trophies to major awardees during the year.

Awards & Prizes

We will give more than 15 plaque awards or more each year including:
Best Narrative Feature USA, Best Narrative Feature Global, Best Documentary,
Best Short, Best Music Video, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Actor Short, Best Student Film, The Gerry Balasta Award for Best Advocacy, Most Popular Film in IFFM and many more.

Rules & Terms

1) All films must be not older than year 2014.

2) It is encouraged that films be in English or else, Non-English language films must have English subtitles.

3) IFFM New York will be screening at a theatre in NYC.

4) IFFM New York, does not require World Premiere, but appreciates if you notify us if you are either a World Premiere, International Premiere (your first premiere outside your country of origin), North American Premiere or New York Premiere.

5) Entry fees are in U.S. dollars, per film entry and are non-refundable.
Entries without entry fees will be disqualified. IFFM does not give fee waivers. Please refrain from emailing us about fee waivers. Thank you.

6) IFFM will be doing multiple screenings in 2020. Submitting filmmakers/individuals will be notified by e-mail and thru filmfreeway anytime in the year 2020.

7) Regarding shipping to IFFM New York, the submitting filmmaker will be responsible for the mailing/shipping cost of the work, both for the submitted cut for consideration screeners, and final screener copy for screening at the film festival.
IFFM also accepts screening copy - mp4 via filmfreeway, wetransfer, downloadable via vimeo or google drive.

If need be Ship entries to:
IFFM
6911 Roosevelt Ave Woodside NY 11377

But we encourage your film entry be submitted here thru filmfreeway via vimeo.

8) Submit your entry in DVD format (NTSC Region 0 and 1 for US) or online screener (encouraged). Please mark the specific category submission outside your envelope, mailer or package. Inside, the DVD screener must be labeled with the contact info (name/phone/email), the work’s title, the name of the director, the running time. Please do not put sticker on the dvd. No need to send printed press kit. It wil be required after getting accepted.

9) All submitted entry materials will not be returned.

10) A filmmaker with multiple entries (titles) must submit each entry and entry fee on a separate DVD.

11) Regarding our IFFM Film Festival Director Awards, a committee will be selecting nominated films but the final awardees will eventually be selected by the International Film Festival Manhattan Film Festival Director. There will be an awards night where the awardees will be honored and IFFM Film Festival Director Award Plaques will be given out that night. All nominated films/filmmakers will be notified to attend the Awards Night. (Date and Venue: TBD)
13 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Ella Mage

    The IFFM was one of the most exciting experiences I have had. It paved the way for our film to be in other festivals. If there was one festival that started it all, it’s this one! Looking forward to the next years with you. Cheers and kudos to the team and Luis Pedron!

    November 2019
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  • Melissa Del Rosario

    International Film Festival Manhattan was a wonderful film festival to be apart of! Hope to be able to screen at this festival every year going forward. The organizers behind the festival are wonderful; very accommodating, helpful, and responsive. My one criticism is that I wish I had more time to spend at the film festival. Our film's reception was so great, and the marketing was on point. Networking opportunities and fantastic personalized spotlight on filmmakers at Q&A. Highly recommend submitting!

    October 2019
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  • Algis Kemezys

    I so love the "International Film Festival Manhattan" for selecting and screening our movie "The Messenger Hermes Remembers" BAK Productions.
    It meant so much to me considering that two of my best friends, Lord Byron Ayanoglu, my Husband, My Lover, Producer, Writer & Actor playing Zeus in the movie. We have also been married for the last 35 years. Then Paul William Roberts, writer, and Oxford Scholar who plays me as Hermes Sr in my movie and was a man of keen intelligence and wit. He has written some of the most influential books I have ever read and am so thankful that he saved my movie by being in it.
    Both Uber Menches died at the beginning of summer. I personally have been in a non-stop panic attack since the loss of two of my two best friends that meant more than anything in this world to me.
    I was so thrilled that the final edit of the movie had the chance to be shown in the BIG APPLE one more time for good measure, so I feel like there has been closure.
    Both Byron Ayanoglu and Paul William Roberts loved NYC, so I am so pleased that this screening occurred.
    There is nothing better than being shown at a Film Festival with Manhattan in its name and has been producing its festival for the last 9 years. May they live long and prosper and I THANK Luis Perdon with everything in my heart.
    From what I understand, because I was not able to attend they had a wonderful reception and the hospitality and professionalism were indeed Great.
    I bless and Thank the International Film Festival Manhattan for allowing my film to be shown one last time in NYC, even before my own death, which shall be soon; like even today.
    I so Pray for our souls and this Festival! So if you care for original work screened in the biggest Apple in the world select this Festival for the Best of all possible worlds.

    October 2019
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  • Andrew Froening

    If you want an amazing film festival experience and you don't submit here, you're doing it wrong! Luis, Jeanette, and Co. worked some kind of magic to make a large international festival feel like a personalized experience. Great venues, great food, and even better people. You need to submit your project here today!

    October 2019
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  • Jameelah Rose del Prado Lineses

    From Best Student Film to Most Popular IFFM Promo to Honorable Mentions and finally, winner of Best Cinematography. The International Film Festival Manhattan surely has paved the way for me in becoming a recognized filmmaker in multiple countries such as my hometown Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and the United States.

    In Saudi Arabia alone, I was featured in multiple media outlets - 3 newspapers (2 which are leading English newspapers namely Saudi Gazette and Arab News). I also had the opportunity to be guested on a famous radio show in Saudi Arabia called, MIXFM-KSA Laish HipHop with Big Hass. I also had the opportunity to screen 2 of my films at a local film festival held at the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts Jeddah Literary Cultural Club where I was the only Filipino national and female filmmaker who has ever done so.

    In the Philippines, I was awarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Ani Ng Dangal/"Harvest of Honors" for Cinema for one of my works because of my achievement at the International Film Festival Manhattan. Ani ng Dangal/"Harvest of Honors" is a state recognition given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts under the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Along with other IFFM awardees, I was also featured in multiple media outlets such as but not limited to: Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Film Academy of the Philippines.

    My alma mater, the New York Film Academy has also featured all my achievements at the International Film Festival Manhattan on their website.

    The film festival director/co-founder/programmer, Luis, is very welcoming, friendly, responsive and helpful along with his team - Jeanette and Chiara. They make sure that you are comfortable and are all set before the film festival period starts. IFFM not only gives you the opportunity to screen your films but they are also very generous with their time during the Q&A. I have met a lot of really talented people through IFFM and have collaborated with a few through the years.

    If you are a filmmaker (especially new and upcoming filmmakers), and you want to have the same opportunity that I had in being able to have the chance in screening your film at film festival in New York City, I highly recommend you submit to IFFM!

    I have always wanted to screen my film at a film festival. It has been one of dreams and it came true because of IFFM. The International Film Festival Manhattan was also the first ever film festival I submitted to after graduating from film school. I'm glad I did. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

    My experiences at the International Film Festival Manhattan is something that I will treasure. Thank you very much IFFM for everything! Wishing you the best and more succeeding years to come!

    April 2019
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