Independent filmmaking has always been there and it's not to be forgotten! Welcome to the bi-monthly IMDb qualifying competition of NY Independent Cinema Awards! We are dedicated to independent filmmaking and indie artists! We believe in the power of independent filmmaking as an artform. Members of the jury are selected from award winning film directors, producers, actors, critics and artists from New York, Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles and all over the world. The festival is a creative event which stands with all the artists involved in film and script projects. Our festival is dedicated to the discovery and promotion of independent U.S. and international projects.

Awards & Prizes

U.S. Narrative Short
International Narrative Feature
International Narrative Short
U.S. Documentary Feature
U.S Documentary Short
International Documentary Feature
International Documentary Short
Best Script
Best Director
Best Producer
Best Cinematographer
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Composer
Best Editor
Best Animation
Best Comedy
Best Experimental
Best Science Fiction
Best Horror
Best Music Video
Best Trailer
Best Student Film
Best TV Series-Web-Pilot

Rules & Terms

We consider films regardless of their completion date. You can submit any film no matter when it was made.
Award winners of each edition can request for certificates, laurels and screening through NY Arts & Cinema.
Shorts must be less than 50 minutes.
Films over 50 minutes should submit to the feature category.
New York Independent Cinema Awards can use trailer/teaser/film poster for promotional purpose.
Any submitter who is disrespectful toward other artists and the festival, will be disqualified from the festival at any stage of the contest upon the decision of the team.
Entry fees are non-refundable.
You own all the rights to the film project.
241 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Martin Lewis

    It was a wonderful experience and the organizers were quite open in their communication.

    April 2024
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  • Alexandre Bertella

    Great festival, excellent communication. We were honored to participate.

    March 2024
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  • Pedro Loeb

    We are very happy to have participated in the 2024 edition of the festival and honoured by the Award for Best Independent Film for our film "Cádiz-Madriz".

    March 2024
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  • Da BlueIsle

    Thank you for nominating RabbitWell.com's short film "Soul"!

    March 2024
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  • Deborah Kurtz

    It was exciting to see my first short film selected in the New York Festival. Thank you 🙏 sincerely

    March 2024
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