Duo theater black stage

The NYC Downtown Short Film Festival is a program of DMAC-Duo Multicultural Arts Center a (501 c3) non-profit organization located at 62 East 4th Street in New York City's East Village. The mission of DMAC is to create, promote and celebrate multicultural arts through theater, music, dance, art and film. Our screenings take place at our historic turn of the century theater where everyone from John Philip Sousa, Emma Goldman, Andy Warhol have graced our stage. The sensa mamma scene from The Godfather 2 was shot by Francis Ford Coppola in this theater.

Awards & Prizes

Welcome to the 21st NYC Downtown Short Film Festival (NYCDSFF

For over two decades, the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival has been a powerhouse of fearless storytelling, celebrating bold voices and boundary-breaking cinema. We are not just another film festival—we are a movement.

From day one, we have been a platform for Women, POC, and LGBTQ filmmakers, creating an inclusive, electrifying space where underrepresented voices take center stage. Two years ago, we made history by becoming the first festival to introduce non-gender-defined performance awards, challenging outdated norms and redefining recognition in film. We also expanded our commitment to inclusivity with a new category: Disability Inclusive Films, ensuring that stories from all perspectives get the visibility they deserve.

In the Heart of NYC – Hosted in the vibrant East Village, our festival showcases the most daring and compelling short films from across the globe. We spotlight Women, LGBTQ, and International directors while celebrating the raw, undeniable energy of NYC-based talent.

A Live Audience, A Real Impact – In a world where many festivals have shifted online, we believe cinema is meant to be experienced in person. The pulse of a packed theater, the collective breath of anticipation, the eruption of applause—these moments make filmmaking truly come alive.

Your Time to Shine – Whether you're an emerging filmmaker or an established artist pushing creative boundaries, NYCDSFF is your stage. Here, your work won’t disappear in an algorithm—it will be part of a movement that values artistry over hype, vision over trends.

The 21st NYC Downtown Short Film Festival is looking for films that provoke, inspire, and challenge. If your story demands to be seen, we want to showcase it.

This is your moment. Submit your film. Ignite the screen.

Rules & Terms

The NYCDSFF accepts submission in most genres (except for web series episodes, television pilots , music videos) provided they adhere to our time limitations. Films cannot be longer than 25 minutes to be considered by the festival.
23 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Serj Abdul-Jabbar

    My film C.U.N.T. premiered at this festival, and I couldn't imagine a better place to do so. Michelangelo was lovely and welcoming, and he had so many great stories to share. The program was no-nonsense, just back to back good films highlighting topics that usually stay unspoken with a very candid lens, I loved each and every one. The audience was fully engaged, and meeting everyone at the reception afterwards was such a delight. And my film won Best NYC Film! How can I give that anything but 5 stars?

    December 2024
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  • Brian Russell

    Wow was I surprised by this festival! Excellent communication, and a really great venue, and most importantly an EXCELLENT, ENGAGED audience! ALSo -- what a wonderful party following the film screenings. Gotta say -- the best soup I have ever had! Loved being part of NYC Downtown Short Film Festival and very much hope to be selected again next year. I am immediately submitting my newest work.

    December 2024
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  • Louis Carrasco

    It was a great festival with a good mix of films and filmmakers. Michelangelo was a great host and put together a fun event.

    December 2023
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  • Greg Roderick

    Wonderful event. The organizer, Michelangelo, is communicative and welcoming. We thoroughly enjoyed (and were honored) by our time at the festival

    December 2023
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  • Donna Weng Friedman

    My short film Never Fade Away was screened at the Duo Multicultural Arts Center last night as part of the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival, and oh, what a night! This was truly a celebration of storytelling, filmmaking and people from all backgrounds! The director, Michelangelo Alasa' was welcoming and entertaining . I am truly grateful that Never Fade Away won Best NYC Film last night, and I am delighted to have been part of this very well run , fun and extremely "New York" film festival. I highly recommend this festival to all who want to experience a real New York City moment.

    December 2023
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