The Stony Brook Film Festival is produced by the Staller Center for the Arts on the campus of Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY. The festival in 2025 will be the 30th year of this very competitive and highly selective ten-day festival. All films are shown on our 40 foot screen in the Staller Center’s Main Stage Theater which seats over a 1000. Filmmakers who attend may be provided with travel assistance, lodging, and access to all our parties and events.

The festival works very hard to make sure that all films selected get seen by as many people as possible, including film industry insiders, distributors and other festival programmers. We also work very hard to insure that each screening has as close to a sold out house as possible. Our festival averages over 14,000 attendees, which includes passholders and single ticket buyers.

Over the past 29 years the Stony Brook Film Festival has shown numerous New York, East Coast, US and World Premieres from over 84 different countries, and more than 290 of them have been directed by women.

Attendeees have included Alan Alda, Thora Birch, Celine Bonnier, Steve Buscemi, Brian Cox, Dana Delany, Stephen Dorff, Matthew Glave, Karoline Herfurth, Sylvia Hoeks, Brent Huff, Rachel Keller, Nathan Lane, Bai Ling, Ralph Macchio, Jena Malone, Ami Canaan Mann, Meaghan Martin, Mary Stuart Masterson, Tim Blake Nelson, Joe Pantoliano, Christopher Plummer, Lewis Pullman, John Putch, Missi Pyle, Daniel Rashid, Eran Riklis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Campbell Scott, Jayson Warner Smith, Leelee Sobieski, Meg Steedle, David Strathairn, Tilda Swinton, Martin Talbot, Christine Vachon, Valerie Weiss and many others.

Awards & Prizes

Travel assistance, lodging, awards, prizes and gifts are provided at upwards of $50,000 in value. Every festival includes Jury and Audience Choice Awards, as well as other awards recognizing special achievements given at the discretion of the Jury.

Audience Choice Best Feature

Audience Choice for Best Short

Jury Award for Best Feature

Jury Award for Best Short

Rules & Terms

We accept features and shorts in narrative, documentary and animated categories.

Films must not have been screened in U.S. prior to March 1, 2024 and must not have been completed prior to December 1, 2023.

We accept the following screening formats: DCP, MPEG 2, Pro Res 422, Blu-Ray or contact us.

Competition is open to U.S. and International entries.

No more than a total of 2 (two) submissions are permitted per director, and no more than a total of 5 (five) submissions are permitted per distributor or producer, regardless of film categories. If you are a distributor and would like to submit more than five films please email us your request and we will get back to you.

Feature films are 30 minutes in length or longer. Short films are under 30 minutes in length.

Films not in English must be subtitled in English.

Films that have shown theatrically or broadcast on television in New York prior to the Festival or are available on DVD or VOD are not generally eligible for consideration.
57 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Derrick Owens

    Stony Brook is truly the hidden gem on the festival circuit. They program an exceptional and diverse lineup of films from all around the world. Your film won’t get lost at this festival as they give each feature and short a prime time slot on their beautiful, massive screen.

    Unlike so many festivals, they also take care of all their filmmakers, and you are supported from the moment your film is selected. We had so much fun in the few days we spent at Stony Brook. Each screening was also highly attended by an engaged audience.

    Simply put, this is the best festival I've ever attended as a filmmaker. We had the World Premiere of our film there in 2024, and we’re so happy we did. We are very grateful to Alan, Kent, and the entire Stony Brook team. I could not recommend this festival more.

    August 2024
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  • Bridge Stuart

    It was so wonderful getting to screen our film at Stony Brook. They absolutely go above and beyond to make the presentation of these film a unique and electric theater experience. Getting to see our film on a gigantic screen with a lively and engaged crowd was so fun. Also, the accommodations they offer to the film makers goes above and beyond any festival I've attended. Great great time.

    August 2024
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  • Laura Frenzer

    Absolutely amazing! We were so honored to have our short screen with so many superb films. I love that all the shorts screen before a feature and filmmakers get their own thoughtful Q&A. All festivals claim to support filmmakers, but this one really does. They truly care about the work and the creators. Simply cannot recommend this fest enough!

    August 2024
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  • Uriya Hertz

    I have never experienced hospitality at a film festival like I did at Stony Brook. Beyond the rich and high-quality film program and the sense of respect given to each and every film, Stony Brook is a festival that does so much for the filmmakers, making them feel truly at home. The people, the atmosphere, the screenings at the Stony Brook cinema (technically - one of the most amazing screenings I have experienced for my film in terms of sound and picture) - everything simply comes together for an amazing and high-quality experience. Kent, Alan and the dedicated festival team do an amazing job. Highly recommended!

    August 2024
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  • Alex Hanno

    The Stony Brook Film Festival was a highlight of our festival run. Hands down, this was the most well-run and filmmaker friendly fest we attended. Whether feature or short, filmmakers are given their own Q&A. Stellar accommodations were provided, as well as travel stipends. Drivers were available to shuttle filmmakers to and from the theater to after parties and the hotel. The town of Port Jeff, where the hotel is located, was charming and right by the water. Meals were provided each night for filmmakers. The films themselves were excellent. Our short was paired with a film that I was already excited to see. Even the drivers were artists who had returned because they loved the fest so much. And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that the theater is enormous. The screen is bigger than the one we played on at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. If you’re lucky enough to get into this festival, do yourself a favor and go!

    August 2024
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