NYIFF 2025 WILL BE HELD IN END MAY IN NEW YORK CITY

The New York Indian Film Festival is North America's oldest and most prestigious film festival which features cinema from India, and the Indian Diaspora.

Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council, Inc. NYIFF Celebrates alternative, independent cinema from the global Indian community. The festival is dedicated to providing filmmakers, actors,and industry professionals a platform to showcase their work, as well as creating an environment where filmmakers may exchange ideas with one another, and interact with discerning and diverse audiences, journalists, and aficionados.

The 25th Annual New York Indian Film Festival will be held in May 2025

Highlights Include: Opening night gala, premiere screenings, all day industry panels, nightly networking parties, post-screening discussions, red carpet galas, directorial debuts, award ceremony, industry participation, media attention, outreach events, and packed audiences.

Many films of our past festival selections have subsequently won awards or been featured at, the Academy Awards (Oscars), British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA), Golden Globes, Screen Actor's Guild, Tribeca Film Festival, IFP Market.

Over the past years, our selection has showcased a wide range of South Asian film-makers such as Shyam Benegal, Mira Nair, Aparna Sen, Deepa Mehta, Mani Ratnam, Anurag Kashyap, and the late Rituparno Ghosh.

For more information visit: www.iaac.us

The Indo-American Arts Council is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, secular service and resource arts organization.

Awards are presented in the following categories by the Festival Jury

Best Film
Best Short Film
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Child Actor
Best Screenplay

Films are nominated by the selection committee
Award Winners are chosen by a dedicated Awards Jury

ELIGIBILITY
Submitted works MUST satisfy ANY ONE of the eligibility criteria below:

INDIAN FILMS
Films produced and directed in India. Filmmakers working in all Indian regional languages, and those working on animation and children's films are encouraged to apply.

OR

INDIAN DIASPORA FILMS
Films that feature the work of filmmakers, actors, writers, directors et al of Indian heritage.

OR

INDIAN INSPIRED FILMS
Films made by Non-Indians that feature significant Indian content, inspiration, subject matter.

In addition to the above, Entrants must fully comply with the Entry Rules & Regulations, including all deadlines, film length, entry material and other requirements outlined below.

PREMIERE STATUS
Only films that have not premiered in New York, or the Tri-State Area will remain in consideration.

LANGUAGE
Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

ENTRY MATERIALS
All entries must include the following:

1. ENTRY FORM completed on FilmFreeway
2. SUBMISSION FEES
3. SCREENERS: A Secure Online Screener
4. PRESS KIT - Including: 4 Hi-Res publicity stills, 15 second trailer, Director's picture & bio, Cast and Crew information.

Please submit digital materials via FilmFreeway or to nyiff@iaac.us

Entry materials will not be returned and will be destroyed or discarded by the Festival.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Parth Saurabh

    Saw some amazing Indian Films and met some very good film-makers at the festival. The festival program and venue at Village East by Angelika in Greenwich Village were excellent and the festival provided for my travel to and from India and lodging right in the heart of Times Square. Would highly recommend!

    November 2023
  • Nathalia Syam

    Brilliant festival, our film, Footprints On Water had a World Premiere at NYIFF. The screening was wonderful and overall, the events were brilliant.

    May 2023
  • ghalib datta

    It was a very well curated festival & we had a great time watching amazing films. The cherry on top was that we won the best short film award.

    May 2023
  • Rahul Roye

    NYIFF is one of the most pertinent film festivals regarding cinemas from the Indian diaspora. It was wonderful to be a part of their official program. The team working behind is extremely kind and patient.

    May 2022
  • Alex Sangha

    I am very honoured to have Vinay Giridhar's debut feature documentary to be an official selection at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival. Thanks

    May 2022