NFFTY is the world’s largest, most influential film festival for emerging filmmakers 24 years old and younger. In 2020, we screened over 250 amazing short films representing 26 states and 29 countries. We provide a first-class festival experience that includes four days of film screenings, parties, networking events, panels, and more!
To help address systemic inequity and underrepresentation in film, we’re offering a 50% discount to all films submitted to our 15th edition by Black and Indigenous directors, as well as to films created by directors with disabilities and/or featuring performers with disabilities using the following codes:
BLACKSTORIES2022
INDIGENOUSSTORIES2022
DISABILITYSTORIES2022
We also consider additional discount and waiver requests on a case-by-case basis. To make a request, please fill out this short form: bit.ly/NFFTYSubmissionAssistance
The 15th edition of the National Film Festival for Talented Youth will be held in Seattle, Washington, April 28th - May 1st, 2022.
Jury Awards - We are committed to awarding the best short films created by filmmakers 24 and under from around the world, and we will be awarding a $500 cash prize to both student and non-student films in the Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Experimental Short, and Music Video categories, as well as best overall Episodic, for a total of eleven Jury Prizes and $5,500 in cash.
TheNextFilmFestival Award - Two filmmakers from the Pacific Northwest will be selected to attend TheNextFilmFestival International in Odense, Denmark during the summer of 2022 with flight and hotel costs covered thanks to the generous support of the Scan Design Foundation.
Other Festival Prizes & Awards - We’ll be announcing specific Audience and Special Recognition Awards closer to the festival. We'll also have awards and recognition for best films in the age categories of "14 and Under" and "15-18". This includes the JDogg Scholarship, available to rising high school seniors to attend the college-level film program of their choosing. In 2020, we gave out over $7,500 in cash awards, over $5,000 in software and gear, and over $240,000 in additional scholarships.
Distribution - All NFFTY official selections are eligible for distribution deals. We work with some of the most prestigious shorts platforms in a variety of first look deals and work closely to pair with curatorial sensibilities which will best grow an audience. NFFTY involves curators and buyers from these platforms as workshop leaders, panelists, jury members, and more, so getting selected for and attending NFFTY can net you valuable industry contacts!