The NYC Student Film Festival is a place where students from across the country and around the world can have their work shown and make long-lasting connections. At NYCSFF, we aim to showcase films that are engaging, powerful, and memorable. We are one of the few film festivals that programs solely based on a film's quality, not focusing too much on technical aspects, as we know the difficulty of making a student film on a shoestring budget. We are filmmaker-centric at NYCSFF, crafting our film festival to support filmmakers who are coming up in a tough industry.

The festival is open to all student filmmakers, not just those in New York. We accept films from filmmakers in high school, undergraduate students, and graduate students.

Our festival is by and for students. We have screenings, Q&As with the filmmakers, after-parties, mixers, and awards. Our panels have included industry professionals like Emmy Award winning Cinematographer Michael Slovis of Breaking Bad and more, plus screenwriters Paul Guyot (NCIS: New Orleans, Geostorm) and Craig T. Williams.

Awards & Prizes

There will be multiple awards given out:
Best of Fest
Best Narrative Film
Best Documentary
Best Animated Film
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Experimental Film
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Performance
Best Director
Best Cinematography
Best Screenplay
Best Score
Hold your Breath Award for Suspense or Horror
Audience Award

Filmmakers who live more than 100 miles away from the festival are eligible for the "Traveling Filmmaker Grant." This travel grant is designed to help you and your team with travel expenses so you can attend the festival! From the applications, four filmmakers will be chosen to either earn a $250 stipend or a stay at Now Now Noho for the duration of the festival!

Rules & Terms

All films submitted must be in English or have English subtitles. If there are words in another language, those must have subtitles.

Films that use copyrighted music or other media without obtaining the rights to it will be disqualified.

Films must have been completed after June of 2023.

All films must be under 30 minutes.

Films had to have been made when the filmmaker was a student. If selected, you need to show proof you are a student or were a student when the film was made.

We do not waive submission fees for anyone for any reason.

Does not have to be a premiere to screen at NYCSFF.

No excessive praise for a religion or tone films/music videos.

Films made with the use of AI in any capacity will not be considered.

Filmmakers can submit more than one project.

Filmmakers are allowed to re-submit a film that was previously submitted provided significant changes were made and all eligibility requirements are met. When re-submitting the film, include a brief cover letter detailing the changes made.

By entering, you waive the right of the film festival to use content from your film to promote the festival. If you get in, we may also make a meme to promote your film (all memes will be respectful of course).
1 Review
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  • Miranda Morisette

    Our director Carl Cinquino had the privilege to attend the NYC Student Film Festival coming all the way from Florida. Carl had a great experience networking with students across the country and watching a diverse selection of short films made by students. The highlight of the festival was the intimate conversation with Breaking Bad cinematographer Michael Solvis. Everyone who attended was able to talk directly to Solvis and learn from his experience in the industry. Thank you to Max and the entire NYC Student Film Festival team for selecting our short film Pop the Trunk!

    January 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much! It was great having Carl there!