This is the second year for The New York Filmmakers Awards. Our event was created for the promotion and advocacy of the independent and the micro-budget filmmakers. The 2025 event will take place in September at the Look and Dine Cinemas in Manhattan. This is a 70 seat theater with cafe and concessions. It is a one night event screening the three winning entries, interviewing the winning filmmakers and awarding them their trophies. Should the filmmaker not be able to attend the event, the award will be accepted on their behalf and they have the option to stream a 3 minute acceptance speech.
Our goal is to promote your film and create opportunity for our participants to reach vast audience.

Awards & Prizes

The New York Filmmakers Awards is created with filmmakers in mind, by filmmakers. Our managers are independent filmmakers with at least 20 years experience. All short filmmakers want their short films to be seen. We offer this venue through our Roku channel and offer this option to all entries. We are creating a micro-budget category for our film channel which will allow all entries to apply for streaming. We offer the winners free streaming and the winners will receive a trophy engraved with their category, laurel, year and film title.

Rules & Terms

The NY Filmmaker Awards is looking for short films from around the world from any genre. Maximum playing time 30 minutes.
Our Standard Festival Participation Agreement (Terms and Conditions), which all submitted films are also expected to follow is as follows:

GENERAL RULES AND CONDITIONS

The New York Filmmakers Awards will take place Annually Starting June 2024
1. Submission - Deadlines Submissions will be accepted until March 2025. All submission deadlines are found within the Film platform listing. Early entry is encouraged but in no way guarantees acceptance.
2. Submission Format - Films must be submitted via online screener.
3. Submission Eligibility - All submissions must have been completed before 1 January 2025. - Works-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted. - All films not in the English language are required to have subtitles.
4. Submission Fee
All Film platform submissions for New York Filmmakers Awards are to be paid by credit card. The submission fee is non-refundable.
5. Shipping All shipping and postage costs, if the film is selected for the Festival, for all DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned from New York Filmmakers Awards must be borne by the submitting party. New York Filmmakers Awards will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. New York Filmmakers Awards will not absorb any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid
6. Selection of Films Submissions are reviewed and selected under the following criteria: - Quality of narrative and production values - Independent nature of the production - Creativity - The Value of the emotional impact and message
7. Festival Screenings
Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or video file (.mov or .mp4). in order to be screened at the New York Filmmakers Awards. The film title MUST be clearly labelled on the hard drive.

8. Scheduling
Screenings are scheduled during the Festival at the discretion of New York Filmmakers Awards. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, New York Filmmakers Awards reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason New York Filmmakers Awards will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a change in scheduling.
No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after its selection.

By submitting to the New York Filmmakers Awards I confirm that I have read and accept the terms and regulations of New York Filmmakers Awards. I will provide the festival with any additional information required pursuant to these rules and regulations. I authorize the New York Filmmakers Awards to exhibit and broadcast my film, and if selected, I confirm that an exhibition copy will be available in a required format for screening during the festival. I certify that I hold all necessary rights for the submission of this film/video to the New York Filmmakers Awards and that all rights and clearances have been made. This film is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation. I hold New York Filmmakers Awards harmless from damage to, or loss of any or all materials en route to, from or otherwise at the festival. I assume all legal responsibilities therein. By Agreeing to these terms, I transfer to New York Filmmakers Awards the right to use excerpts of the submitted film, its stills, and trailers, for the purposes of publicity and marketing of the film at the 2024 festivals, and for other non-commercial uses related to the promotion of the 2024 festivals. I hereby agree to indemnify New York Filmmakers Awards, in the event that such rights have not been properly transferred.