The Oscar®-qualifying New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival, the largest film festival for children and teens in North America, will be celebrating over 25 extraordinary years of screenings, special events, filmmaker spotlights, inventive and intelligent films, and discovery in 2023.
Presented over four weekends at major venues throughout New York City, the Festival showcases approximately 100 short and feature films, filmmaker Q&As, retrospective programs, parties, premieres, and industry forums. As an Academy Award®-qualifying Festival in the Best Live Action and Animated Short Film categories, the Festival attracts a prestigious jury: esteemed directors, actors, studio executives and industry leaders such as Sofia Coppola, Melissa Cobb, Jorge Gutiérrez, Peter Ramsey, Uma Thurman, Nora Twomey, and more. Winners of the Festival’s juried prizes are eligible for consideration at the annual Academy Awards®. Audience awards are presented in each film category, with audience members of all ages voting on the Festival-winning films. NYICFF receives major editorial coverage in The New York Times, and its Best of the Fest programs tour to major museums, arthouse theaters and film festivals across the U.S.
More than 100 international filmmakers participate in the Festival annually, from established veterans to emerging makers. They represent wonderfully diverse voices working in all genres and formats, producing work for audiences of all ages and lending their artistic voice to the festival. We often program films not initially created with a young audience in mind, and we encourage filmmakers to share work that may very well have expanded audience potential. Our audiences are up for the challenge of artistically complex work, and our written materials, intros and Q&As offer compelling context and spark great dialogue around your films.
NYICFF offers travel stipends to feature films in competition and where possible, supports cultural funding and discounted accommodations for shorts filmmakers. Through our industry forums, parties and q&a events, we facilitate meetings with studios, distributors, agents, funders and partner festivals (Sony Pictures Animation, Tonko House, 9 Story, Silvergate Media, Sesame Workshop, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and more) and foster inclusive practices and expanded access for talented filmmakers to be heard and grow.
As a world-class event, New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival is, above all, about great films (and filmmakers) that inspire, surprise, delight and challenge audiences of all ages. Expect expert curation, personal attention, care and respect for your artistry as a filmmaker, and a genuine desire to further, as our mission states, a more intelligent, and diverse, film culture for kids. Add to that our Oscar-qualifying status, top-caliber industry jury, Industry Forum with eye-opening talks, panels, and meet and greets, enthusiastic, sold-out audiences and taste/decision-maker following, moving & inspiring q&a’s, filmmaker community facilitation, national touring options, and more, and you have a recipe for meaningful success through NYICFF!
Film reflects your artistry, a distinct vision, a record of a time. It opens eyes and possibilities, especially key in our young audiences, and sparks meaningful dialogue--all of which has never been more vital than now. Thanks, filmmakers, for being the visionaries that you are. We can’t wait to see -- and share -- your work.
Note: We especially want to encourage submissions by filmmakers of color and those from under-represented communities; please feel free to reach out to us if submission fees are an issue for you.
2023 Presentation Update:
We aim to craft amazing in-person experiences in New York City in partnership with our major venue partners that adhere to up-to-date event guidelines and support the well-being of all participants. We’ll be equally prepared to complement this with an exciting, content-rich, interactive Festival experience online with the capacity to reach audiences and integrate major production markets beyond New York. We’re excited to continue shaping an outstanding Festival for filmmakers, industry, and all ages audiences in 2023, and even more excited to see your work!
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In addition to presenting the annual event, New York International Children’s Film Festival is a multifaceted arts organization that offers national touring programs, special sneak peek and premiere events, FilmEd Classroom education programs, virtual cinema offerings and additional year-round engagement. The Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.
NYICFF is an Academy®-qualifying festival. Recipients of the NYICFF jury prizes are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Animated Short Film categories of the Annual Academy Awards®. Our 2022 Jury members were: Melissa Cobb, Geena Davis, Madeleine Di Nonno, Elizabeth Ito, Guillermo Martinez, Matthew Modine, Ramsey Naito, Mark Osborne, Peter Ramsey, Ira Sachs, Uma Thurman and Nora Twomey.
All official selections, both short and feature, are voted on by our audience and are eligible for our Audience Awards.
Jury Awards
- Best Animated Short Film
- Best Live Action Short Film
Audience Awards for Best Short Film
- Ages 3+
- Ages 5+
- Ages 8+
- Ages 10+
Grand Prize Awards
- Animated Short
- Live Action Short
- Animated Feature
- Live Action Feature Film
- Episodic work