The NYC Short Documentary Film Festival (NYCSDFF) will be held November 2, 2025, in Midtown, New York City, NY, USA.
The 2024 winners will be listed soon!
Congratulations to all the Winners of the 2023 NYC Short Documentary Film Festival
Best Documentary. Delmar. Audience award
Best Director. Silent Witness. Juried Award
Best Cinematography. Serengeti. Juried Award
Best Script Preschool to Prison. Juried Award
**** This is a short film festival, only for films 20 minutes or less in length!! We will NOT be screening any films longer then 20 minutes in length!!!!****
Documentary film is a genre that is based in truth and told with style. Every second of every day, an infinite multitude of stories are playing out in every nook and cranny of the world - the goal of documentary film is take this sprawling mass of real life and weave it into cinematic art. The purposes of documentary are multifold - to educate, to entertain, to bring attention to important issues or to simply highlight the understated wonders of everyday life.
Join us for the 11th Annual NYC Short Documentary Film Festival and become part of a growing tradition!
Please be sure to review ALL submission guidelines before you mail the entry. We have limited time and resources to correct application mistakes. Please try and be as accurate as possible. We will contact you by e-mail if there are any problems, so please be sure to watch for e-mails from info@nycsdff.com.
We only accept online submissions either a FilmFreeway online video or a private/password protected vimeo/YouTube link. If your film is selected we will provide full technical specifications but an .mov, mp4 or .mpg works great. All films will be played from a hard drive. Please note, if accepted, we MUST receive the exhibition media AT LEAST TWO (2) WEEKS before the festival.
If your submission is selected, you will be notified by e-mail in the beginning of February. Accepted filmmakers will be given one free admission pass to the festival. (We cannot help with any transportation, food or lodging costs.)
Certificates available.
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Score
Best Script