The Americas Film Festival NY (TAFFNY) has been celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of the Americas for 13 years, bringing together the stories, languages, and voices of North, Central, and South America—along with their islands. A project of CUNY’s City College and the Center for Worker Education, in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes NY and the National Museum of the American Indian, TAFFNY is a hub for cinematic discovery.

TAFFNY is free and open to the public and very popular among film lovers in NYC. The festival bridges communities through bold storytelling and dynamic discussions by showcasing premieres, award-winning films, and timeless classics. More than just a festival, it’s a vibrant celebration of multiculturalism, uniting film lovers and creators in the heart of NYC.

Awards & Prizes

TAFFNY's Short Film Competition fosters reflection on the short film format while promoting cultural exchange among filmmakers, students, and industry professionals across the Americas and its associated islands. The ceremony takes place at the Smithsonian Museum in NYC.

Rules & Terms

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to films from or about Latin America, North America, and the associated islands.

Genres: Documentary, fiction, animation, experimental.

Foreign-language films must have English subtitles.

Maximum runtime: 20 minutes. Films must have been released within 24 months of the festival date.

Submission format: Online screener via weblink (no downloadable files).

Exhibition format: 1080p H.264 (.mov, .mp4) or ProRes. Other formats will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Festival Programming Committee will appoint the jury members. The Jury shall fulfill the following conditions:

The Jury will comprise at least three members.
No person with an interest in the production and/or exploitation of a competing film may serve on the Jury.
The Jury will deliberate in private and make its decisions by simple majority vote.
Members of the Festival Programming Committee may attend deliberations but shall not participate in the voting process.
Jury members agree not to publicly express opinions regarding films in competition prior to the official announcement of the awards.

The Jury for the Fiction and Animation categories will grant the following awards:

The Americas Prize for Best Fiction (awarded to the Director/Producer)
The Americas Prize for Best Animation

The Jury for the Documentary and Experimental categories will grant the following awards:

The Americas Prize for Best Documentary
The Americas Prize for Best Experimental Film

Both Juries may also grant a Special Jury Award to a film of their choosing. The Jury must provide justification for granting this award.

Only one award may be granted ex aequo (shared prize).
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Elizabeth Taide Vazquez

    This is my first time leaving a review on here and that's because The Americas Film Festival truly impressed me for a multitude of reasons: the generosity of the team behind it, the quality of programming, the simultaneous inclusion and diversity of voices/perspectives platformed, and the significance of the participating venues (schools, cultural institutions, museums). I am so grateful to not only have had our film selected for this festival, but to have been able to attend and meet so many lovely people. Highly recommend submitting and attending!

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • Alejandro Betancurt

    I’m grateful to TAFFNY for its impeccable organization, first-rate team and jury, and outstanding social media coverage. Thank you for welcoming ELLA, my animated short, and connecting it with your wonderful audience.

    June 2025
    Helpful
  • Wai Méndez

    A festival of great importance for all of the Americas, with powerful and highly relevant stories.
    Excellent communication and organization

    June 2025
    Helpful