NFFTY is the world’s largest, most influential film festival for emerging filmmakers 24 years old and younger. In 2023, we screened over 200 amazing short films representing 32 US states and 28 countries. We provide a first-class festival experience that includes four days of film screenings, parties, networking events, panels, and more!

We’re offering a 50% discount to all films submitted by Black, Indigenous, Asian & Pacific Islander and Latinx directors, as well as to films created by directors with disabilities and/or featuring performers with disabilities using the following codes:

BLACKSTORIES2024
INDIGENOUSSTORIES2024
LATINSTORIES2024
APISTORIES2024
DISABILITYSTORIES2024

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 17th edition of the NFFTY (National Film Festival for Talented Youth) will be held in Seattle, Washington, April 25th - 28th, 2024.

Awards & Prizes

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 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.

Audience Awards - Each showcase, or screening block, is eligible for its own Audience Award, and our festival features about 25 official selection showcases at each edition. Showcases are programmed based on the submissions we receive to NFFTY curatorial sensibilities, organized by themes, moods, subject matter, genres, social issues, and more.

Other Festival Prizes & Awards - We announce additional Special Achievement Awards and Special 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". In 2023, we gave out $8,000 in cash awards, over $10,000 in software and gear, and over $100,000 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!

Rules & Terms

Rules & Terms

- The film’s director(s) must have been 24 years of age or younger at the time of production.

- To be considered for a Jury Award in the Student category or other Middle/High School-specific Awards, films must be conceived, produced, and finished by filmmakers 24 years old or younger with teachers and other mentors acting in advisory roles only. If students across multiple grade ranges worked on film, the film may be ineligible for certain awards, but you are still encouraged to submit in the Student category.

- Films must have been completed no earlier than January 2022.

- All music and other copyrighted material used in the film must be properly licensed and attributed. This includes Student Music Videos.

- All films must be in English or subtitled in English. All films that are selected are required to provide an .srt file or open captions for accessibility (English SDH) during public exhibition.

YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE SUBMITTING:

View the Official Rules & Guidelines here: nffty.org/official-rules-guidelines

View Frequently Asked Questions here: nffty.org/frequently-asked-questions
85 Reviews
Overall Rating
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Value
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  • Daniele Sestito

    I kind you not, NFFTY 2023 was one of the best experiences of my life. Being in the company of some of the most talented young filmmakers in the nation and watching their work was electric.

    The whole weekend was one wave of fun and inspiration after another, and I made many genuine connections there. The curation, the workshops, and the mixers were thoughtful and impressive. Though it was my first time in Seattle, I felt so at home.

    And the cherry on top is that they covered accommodations for myself and many other filmmakers. Oh, and it didn't hurt that we lucked out and got beautiful 70+ degree weather most of the weekend! (Very unusual during that time of year, as made clear to us by the locals.)

    August 2023
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  • Giovanna Trujillo

    Loved going to NFFTY! It was such a great film festival and space for young filmmakers to meet and watch each other's works. NFFTY is best film festival for up and coming filmmakers.

    May 2023
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  • Ethan Hawthorne

    NFFTY has my entire heart, and continues to be the premiere destination for young filmmakers. It is the most welcoming, wonderful, incredibly festival. They go way above and beyond to accommodate and facilitate networking and an experience focused on filmmakers first. It is always a pleasure to visit Seattle and experience NFFTY. If you’re under 24, submit. It’s so worth it.

    May 2023
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  • Rebecca Ozer

    NFFTY was an amazing festival to be a part of with a deeply caring, thoughtful, and generous team behind it! The range of such high-quality films showcased was inspiring and there were great opportunities to learn from diverse workshops as well. We also really appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the NFFTY podcast - their creation of that space for short filmmakers to discuss their work is really rare and felt so special. Very grateful to have met so many wonderful filmmakers and to have had this NFFTY experience!

    May 2023
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  • Jordan Vescio

    NFFTY is one of the best film festivals I have attended. As simple as it sounds, it's a film festival for filmmakers. You can tell that the team behind the festival really cares about the experience, opportunities, and network they've created for their participants. The schedule is so well thought out and it gives the people attending time to digest the films they've seen in between. I especially appreciated the moderators for the Q&As. Overall, I met so many great people, and it's no thanks to the inclusive community NFFTY fosters. This was my first year and I look forward to submitting again next year.

    May 2023
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