Sunshine Cinefest is a newcomer to America's famed film festival scene. Sunshine Cinefest, which takes place in the heart of New York, aims to reinvent what a film festival may be by establishing a stimulating setting where uniqueness, creativity, and inspiration take center stage. Through the shared cinematic experience, our film festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to push boundaries and display their unique voices.
The major goal of Sunshine is to assist independent filmmakers. By exposing their work to a wider audience, we hope to promote young, talented filmmakers. As a result, we create a unique environment in which filmmakers may thrive through professional judging, creative marketing, and distribution connections. Sunshine serves as a platform for independent filmmakers to form new relationships and collaborate with other creatives in order to achieve new heights.
Sunshine Cinefest has a seasonal and annual format, as well as online screenings. The jury selects the winners of each category through private screenings at the end of each season. The winners of each season may be considered for the annual competition; if approved by the programming committee, they will be screened at the annual event and compete against previous film winners.

Awards & Prizes

​Awards are given to the categories below:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Animation
Best Director
Best Soundtrack
Best Music Video
Best Actor/Actress
Best Screenplay

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We will announce the winners at the event, on our website, and on social media. Awards such as trophies, certificates, gift cards, and cash prizes starting at $200 will be given out to the selected high-quality films.

Rules & Terms

Your submission implies that you have the legal right to represent and submit this film for consideration, along with your acceptance of Sunshine regulations.

1) Non-English films are required to have English subtitles

2) Films must be 2015 or newer to qualify for an award.

3) Sunshine reserves the right to refuse acceptance of submissions deemed by the festival to be inappropriate and violating the Rules and Terms. Should you wish to question Sunshine about the decision, you can contact us by email.

4) Filmmakers are responsible for sorting out the copyright on their own materials.

5) By submitting to us, you give us consent and right to screen your film in front of a live audience, and, under special circumstances, online screening.

6) We retain the right to change the date and venue of the festival under special circumstances. All filmmakers will be informed about any changes through email and our online platforms.

7) We cannot provide refunds.

8) We reserve the right to update our terms and conditions.

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1 Review
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  • Shamil Aliyev

    Greetings to participants of the SUNSHINE CINEFEST!
    I would like to advise the young cinematographers not to let cinematography become only entertainment again. Because, cinematography was created for an entertainment and then with the creative vision of Charlie Chaplin, Mêlées, Griffith, Eisenstein, Fritz Lang, Samad Mardanov and so on, movie was transformed into art. Cinematography has to give positive emotions to humanity. We have to keep this world together. Love CINEMATOGRAPHY in yourself, not yourself in CINEMATOGRAPHY. World is a home for all of us and cinematograph should intend to protect our home.
    Thank you.”

    July 2022
    Helpful