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.

Welcome to the 20th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival (NYCDSFF). For the last 19 years our festival philosophy has been guided by the principle, "no red carpets, no celebrity judges, just great films."

We have been in the vanguard of supporting the work of Women, POC, LGBTQ filmmakers. Last year we were the first Festival to have non-gender defined performance awards. This year we are adding a new category, Disability Inclusive Films.

In our small beautiful venue in the East Village of New York City we screen innovative, challenging and exciting short films. We give great importance to films created by Women, LGBTQ and International Directors and we also have a sweet spot for films created in our own back yard of New York City. In a digital world where more festivals are turning to digital online screenings we know that there is nothing else that rivals getting together with a group of strangers in a darkened space to experience the magic of film making. Dynamic, evocative, provocative. One must never underestimate the power of screening a new film for a NYC audience.

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.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • 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
  • Wonderful event. The organizer, Michelangelo, is communicative and welcoming. We thoroughly enjoyed (and were honored) by our time at the festival

    December 2023
  • 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
  • Elisa de la Roche

    What an exciting experience to participate in the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival! Every selected film was high quality, interesting and noteworthy. There was a ceremony after the screenings with food and drinks, and a congenial space to meet and converse with other filmmakers. Each selected film was honored and given a special citation or award. Thank you for gracing my film "The Park Bench" with the "Best Director - Drama" award. It was an honor and privilege to attend this festival. Thank you.

    December 2022
  • Zoe Kim

    One of the best film festival experiences I've ever had. Warm, cozy, intimate, casual, personal, diverse, and just a lovely event to be part of. Highly highly highly highly recommended!

    December 2022