Last year's New York Shorts International Film Festival featured over 340 short films, special events, talks, retrospectives films, and tributes with honored guests, establishing New York Shorts as one of the finest exhibitions of short films in North America.

Now in our 12th year, New York Shorts International Film Festival is the largest short film festival on the East Coast. A non-profit organization that provides a showcase for emerging filmmakers from around the world.

New York Shorts is a qualifying film festival for the Canadian Screen Awards, presented by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. We are the only short film festival in New York on the Canadian Screen Awards eligible festival list.

The festival has become a career stepping stone, establishing a tradition of discovering and promoting filmmakers who have gone on to become Academy Award® Nominees.

Previous film selections have included:
2023 OSCAR® NOMINEE Live-Action Short Film, The Red Suitcase by Cyrus Neshvad winner New York Shorts 'Best International Film'

2022 OSCAR® WINNER Documentary, Short The Queen of Basketball by Ben Proudfoot

2020 OSCAR® WINNER Live-Action Short Film, "The Neighbors" Window" by Marshall Curry winner New York Shorts 'Best of Fest'

2020 OSCAR® NOMINEE Documentary Short Subject The New York Times Op-Docs "Walk Run Cha-Cha" by Laura Nix and Colette Sandstedt

2019 OSCAR® NOMINEE Animated Short "Animal Behaviour" by Alison Snowden and David Fine

2015 OSCAR® NOMINEE "The Dam Keeper" by Robert Kondo, Daisuke Tsutsumi

2013 Student Academy Award® "A World for Raúl" by Mauro Mueller wins New York Shorts Best Drama

2012 OSCAR® NOMINEE & BAFTA Best Short Animation "A Morning Stroll" by Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe

2012 World premiere "Derek" by Ricky Gervais wins New York Shorts Best Comedy and became a popular British television show picked up by Netflix.

New York Shorts International Film Festival is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America and an ideal platform for filmmakers to screen their films and gain recognition in New York City.

New York Shorts events include receptions, as well as workshops with industry experts and top filmmaking professionals sharing their practical advice to attending filmmakers.

2022 Industry Events
Tribute to legendary film director Bob Giraldi
Spotlight Screening from George R.R. Martin's (Game of Thrones creator)
Beyond The Screen with Ben Proudfoot (Oscar® winning documentary director)
Film Retrospective Kim Magnusson (producer/director of seven Academy Awards® nominations and two Oscar wins)
Film Tribute to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

New York Shorts believes short-form cinema and its filmmakers should have their own premier film festival in New York deserving similar recognition given to feature films.

The heart of the festival is the quality and scope of extraordinary film programming to enthusiastic audiences in the vibrant filmmaking enclave of New York City.

Canadian Screen Awards Qualifying

Grand Prize
Best International
Best Drama
Best Comedy
Best Animation
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Sci-Fi
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Web Series
Halyna Hutchins Cinematography Award

Previous Judges
2022 Jury
Chris Overton (director/producer)
Kia Brooks (Director Gotham Film & Media Institute)
Sam French (filmmaker)
Anita Svingen (Festival Director, Kortfilmfestivalen / The Norwegian Short Film Festival)

2021 Jury
Seigo Tono (Festival Director Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Easmanie Michel (Special Projects Assoc. NYWIFT)
Tom Van Avermaet (writer/director)
Dorotea Mercuri (Greek-Italian actress)

Note if any category does not meet the standard deemed award-worthy by the judging committee, it’s possible that there will be no award announced in that category.

2023 Requirements

Films must NOT screen in New York's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) prior to our festival.
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2022
Non-English films must have English sub-titles.
Works-in-progress will be considered, provided they will be completed prior to the festival.
You may submit more than one film- but you must complete a separate entry form and pay entry fee for each film.
Film entries will NOT be viewed without entry fee payment

Selection
Film selection for the festival will be made by the screening Committee.
We prefer films NOT screen in New York's five boroughs prior to our festival. We will factor in previous screenings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island when determining a films selection.
All filmmakers will be notified via email of acceptance.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • David Allsep

    Met the most amazing people. Made lifelong friends/connections and had an experience I will never forget! Thank you for making us feel so welcomed and special <3

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    It was a pleasure having you and your creative team attend the festival. We look forward to seeing more of your work.

  • Phoebe Mattana

    So honored that THE NEST was included in this years lineup. It was such an awesome, well-run festival directed by people who are clearly passionate about shorts. There were so many great events, and the program directors made it easy to see other film blocks and network with other filmmakers.

    April 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Wonderful comedic short the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

  • Lukas Steinmaier

    Thanks a lot for selecting my short film "Sunday Roast" to your 2022 festival! Although I could not attend in person the overall programming and organisation was top-notch and communication was always positive! Hope to be back again this year!

    February 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Since our beginning we have screened many of the finest short films from the UK. We are honored to showcase Britain's up and coming filmmakers.

  • Francis Maxwell

    What an incredibly run festival, by people who CARE about short films. Thank you for screening our film POST NO BILLS, it was a true pleasure.

    January 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Superb direction and storytelling.

  • Theo Burtis

    Great films, venues, & staff- quite a lovely experience overall!

    December 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks for sharing your film with us. Best wishes with your next project.