Now in its 12th Year, the Katra Film Series is an award-winning international film festival and screenwriting competition dedicated to supporting the next generation of filmmakers and content creators. Hailed by Tribeca Films for its "honorable mission to spotlight new and emerging cinematic talents…where some of their top alums have since gone on to great things in the indie world and beyond" while the New York Times agrees “From the bottom up an amazing and excellent festival that has made it in New York,” and Remezcla writes “An innovative new model pushing for the future of its filmmakers,” while Time Out NY states “Nothing but the best.” A few years ago ‘LLERO magazine sums it up succinctly “A memorable film fest like none other. In over 6 years, the Katra Film Series has become a hub for up-and-coming filmmakers.”

Our prizes are provided by Canon, Final Draft, UKW Media, JMR Rentals, Rhino Films, Screenblade, International Screenwriters' Association, NY Women in Film and TV, Museum of the Moving Image, and more. Every season we curate a diverse selection of independent works where audience participation is central in choosing the winners.
Some of our past alums have landed theatrical distribution and have gone on to write, produce and direct feature films and TV shows for HBO, FOX, Netflix, Showtime, ESPN, Vice Media including festival stops at Sundance, Tribeca, Berlin and Cannes Film Festival.

We have also been featured in the The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Huffington Post, Daily News, NY1, NBC, Women & Hollywood, Metro NY, The New Machine, Bklyner, and many other local and national publications.

Awards & Prizes

Over $50,000 in prizes. The 2022 Grand Prize Winner of The Year will be awarded a top of the line Canon camera and a one-on-one meeting with acclaimed Producer Stephen Nemeth from the Academy-Award Nominated The Sessions Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Rules & Terms

All genres/forms accepted. Seeking Features, Shorts, Web Series, Documentary, Music Videos, Experimental Works, Animation, Video Art and screenplays. Please note: we accept works-in-progress.

THERE IS NO PREMIERE POLICY (Although not mandatory we prefer NYC premieres. Many of our alums have gone on to screen at the biggest festivals worldwide). Works must have been completed after January 1, 2020. From no budget to big budget. JUST SIMPLY BLOW OUR MINDS! All foreign-language films MUST be subtitled in English.

1. Submission Eligibility
- All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2020.
- There is no premiere policy.
- Works-in-progress are accepted.

2. Exhibition Format: Theatrical DCP Format

3. Submitters understand that submission of their work authorizes the Katra Film Series to screen the work, and use the work for any exhibition, education and/or publicity purposes related to Katra Film Series. Katra Film Series is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work. Submitters may receive future correspondence from the Katra Film Series.

4. Submission Fee
The submission fee is non-refundable.

91 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kyung-Ja Lee

    It was a great pleasure to have my film KANG BLUE premier (east coast) at the KATRA Film Series this Fall. Special shout out to Shakilya and other festival staff for their warm welcome and hard work! Very honored to be awarded as “Outstanding Female Filmmaker!”

    November 2022
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  • Moonlight Media

    We really like the way they curate their films & their Q&A afterwards is well done too. Plus the theater your film is played in is magnificent. Amazing festival, plan to submit again next year.

    November 2022
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  • Michael Manese

    Thank you Geoffrey and Katra Film Series for a great screening. It's an honor, a privilege and a pleasure to be a part of your festival. Thank you for helping us tell our Filipino American story during Filipino American History Month. I only have great things to say about this festival. The quality, venue, hospitality, communication and networking were all top notch. I look forward to submitting again in the future.

    October 2022
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  • Charles Nunley IV

    The Katra Film Festival was an incredible experience. This was not only my first festival in New York, but my first ever trip to NYC. This was very a much premier festival to be a part of with the red carpet interviews, the in-depth Q&A after the screenings, and of course, to have your film screened in the middle of Union Square at a top end visual and sound Regal Cinema.

    It is major presentation with independent care for its filmmakers. They care what's on the screen and who's behind the camera. Furthermore, they care to build a community out of it, which is what I enjoyed as well. So many talented and good souled people I met at this festival. This was a joy to be a part of and I recommend any filmmaker be a part of it as well.

    October 2022
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  • Al Nazemian

    Katra Film Series is a high quality film festival in New York. It was an honor to have our film, For I Am Dead, screened at Regal Union Square, thanks to Katra Film Series. Their pre-screening red carpet and post-screening Q&A are also great. Everyone on the Katra team is very professional. This is an excellent film festival in NYC. It was great to have a live screening in a great movie theater. I highly recommend Katra Film Series.

    October 2022
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