The NYC Last Shot Film Festival provides a showcase for independent filmmakers whose main income is from service and hospitality, and use this to further their artistic calling. From NYC and around the world, we invite passionate artists who work non-stop to bring their visions to life.

Our judges include a variety of industry professionals (Actors, Writers, Directors, Filmmakers, Sound Engineers, Cinematographers, Agents, Managers & Casting Directors) who have received recognition and awards for their work. This years incredible team of judges includes Nick Demos, Regina Blandón, Sam Underwood, Valorie Curry, Zach Miko, Emmy James, Emily Vere Nicoll, Rob L. Hubbard, Marco De Ornellas, Liz Ortiz, Evgeniya Radilova, Nadiv Molcho, Alison Rinzel and more.

Our screenings are hosted in a variety of bar/restaurant settings across NYC, where throughout a week-long celebration we screen the best indie films, as well as offer educational panels and presentations led by industry professionals.

Each year the festival will award the top films across numerous categories, provide filmmakers with opportunities of collaboration, funding, and distribution, and the chance to network and mingle with press, fans and supporters.

Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Writing
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Editing
Best Documentary
Fan Favorite - Audience Pick

Please include English Subtitles with your film.

Certification of Film Entrant: I, the undersigned, acknowledge and agree as follows:

I have read, understand and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry and Entry Eligibility requirements;

To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true;

I am authorized to submit this Production to the Festival;

The Short Film I am submitting as my entry is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation;

I hold The Last Shot Film Festival harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry;

I hold The Last Shot Film Festival harmless from any damage to the print(s) or tape(s) or media en route or otherwise during the course of the Festival;

I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the Production;

I give permission for The Last Shot Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the Production for promotional purposes;

I give permission for The Last Shot Film Festival to use excerpts of up to three minutes of the Production for promotional purposes;

I give permission for The Last Shot Film Festival to screen the Production at The Last Shot Film Festival Event as well as at ancillary Festival presentations, programs, and/or events;

I own or have authorization to all necessary copyrights and licenses; will be able to provide model/actor release verification if requested; will be able to provide music, product and other copyright licensing verification if requested. As the Submitter/Producer, I agree to take on all copyright liability in regard to the submitted film.

Entry does not guarantee acceptance into The Last Shot Film Festival or other Last Shot Film Festival Events.

Film Submissions:

SUBMISSION FORMAT: All Festival submissions should be sent vie a Web Link.

SUBMISSION LENGTH AND GENRE: All Festival submissions should be under eighteen minutes in length; we accept all forms and genres that would be deemed within a G, PG, PG-13, R, or NC-17.

Submissions WILL NOT be returned.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES are not allowed for the same film. Multiple films may be entered by the same Producer/Filmmaker.

PRODUCER / FILMMAKER / COPYRIGHTS: Submitter (filmmaker or producer) will be referred to as “Producer or Submitter.” Producer must own all copyrights; must be able to provide music, product and other copyright licensing verification if requested. Producer agrees to take on all copyright liability in regard to submitted film.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES: Submissions received after the deadline will not qualify for entry into the Festival.

ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are non-refundable. If your entry fee is not received with or prior to your submission, your entry may be deemed disqualified at the discretion of the Last Shot Film Festival.

PREMIERE/DISTRIBUTION STATUS: We accept submissions that have premiered elsewhere; submissions may have distribution agreements already in place.

LOSS OR DAMAGE: Every precaution will be taken to prevent damage to materials while in the possession of the Festival.

LAST SHOT FILM FESTIVAL MARKETING: By submitting, Producer is consenting for use and copying of accepted projects for the purpose of promoting The Last Shot Film Festival. Producer is giving The Last Shot Film Festival permission to use up to three minutes of submission to promote the Festival.

LAST SHOT FILM FESTIVAL EXHIBITION AND SCREENING: By submitting, if chosen as an official selection, Producer is hereby granting permission for The Last Shot Film Festival to exhibit Producer’s submission in The Last Shot Film Festival Event.

General Waiver Guidelines:

General. By entering this Contest, entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Festival. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

By entering the Festival, entrants release, waive any claims with regard to, and hold harmless the promoter and the host from and against any and all claims of any kind that are or could be asserted with respect to any matter relating to the festival. Entrants further agree to indemnify, defend and hold the promoter and host harmless from any and all damages, liabilities, fees and cost incurred in defending against any third party claims or threats of claims asserted against promoter and/or host arising from any entrant’s participation in or conduct associated with the Festival.

Nonperformance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the nonperforming party.

Governing Law and Waiver of Damages. The Festival and these Official Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, without regards to its principles of conflicts of law. For any dispute not subject to arbitration according to the above, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in New York County, New York, United States of America, and waives any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts.

Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in the Contest), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

Privacy. Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the Site’s Privacy Policy, provided that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail. All Contestants and Team Members hereby acknowledge and agree that Promoter will have access to some or all of their personally identifiable information, including but not limited to registration information collected by the Host.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • A BIG thanks to Amy, Matt, Sean & Annie for their persistence and support of indie filmmakers. We truly appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the festival and hope to be back next year!

    September 2021
  • Reva Zane

    Thanks to The Last Shot Film Festival for great communication and updates !

    August 2021
  • Last Shot Film Festival deserves a round of applause for choosing to run their festival in these crazy times! No one saw what was going to happen (unless you're a Bill Gates conspiracy theorist) and they adapted well with the circumstances. The communication was excellent from the start and you could tell they cared about your project. For many filmmakers the interaction with the programmers, is all they have - so this goes a long way in my book. This festival is worthy and I'd love to stay connected!

    November 2020
  • Deanna Schultz

    Thank you for selecting my documentary short to screen in the Last Shot Film Festival!

    November 2020