Urbanworld Film Festival, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes, is the largest internationally competitive festival of its kind in New York City. Each year, the five-day festival showcases narrative and documentary features, shorts, web originals, branded content, spotlight screenings, filmmaker conversations, and live staged screenplay readings.

For nearly three decades, major studios, independent distributors, and breakthrough filmmakers have chosen Urbanworld to premiere bold new work and connect with audiences that shape culture. Urbanworld was built to champion powerful storytelling and remains a key launchpad for films that go on to earn critical acclaim, awards recognition, and global attention.

Since its founding, the festival has been supported by industry leaders, including Founding Sponsor HBO, alongside a growing roster of entertainment and brand partners.

Known as the filmmaker's festival and the people's festival, where it's all about celebrating and supporting amazing independent film, Urbanworld will host its 28th year in Manhattan, which has been a home for the festival since its inception in 1997. Last year's in-person festival featured American Fiction as our opening night feature, and welcomed the multi-talented RZA as our festival ambassador. Over its 28years, Urbanworld has welcomed the likes of Chadwick Boseman, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Kate Hudson, Viola Davis, Malcolm D. Lee, Rosie Perez, Misty Copeland, astronaut Leland Melvin, among so many more. Queen Latifah, Melvin & Mario Van Peebles, Justin Simien, Gina Prince Bythewood, Larenz Tate, Reginald Hudlin, Kasi Lemmons, and Ava DuVernay have all served as Festival Ambassadors.

Urbanworld Innovation provides a forum featuring case study presentations, panel and roundtable discussions, as well as immersive experiences and intensive workshops on relevant industry subject matter. Participating content creators enjoy hosted industry events by festival partners that foster community with industry peers and executives. After dark, Urbanworld lets its hair down with celebrated DJs sharing their music with festival attendees during evening after-parties. Simply put...Premieres, Panels, and Innovation are what Urbanworld delivers.

The Urbanworld Film Festival is an initiative of the Urbanworld Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization that redefines and advances the presence and impact of the multicultural community in cinema and cross-platform media. By implementing initiatives that actively support and develop content creators of color, Urbanworld significantly contributes to the evolution of the media and entertainment landscape and the inclusion that it reflects. The festival website is www.urbanworld.org.

Awards & Prizes

Urbanworld Film Festival celebrates bold storytelling across a dynamic range of categories, including Narrative Features (U.S. and World Cinema), Documentary Features and Shorts, Narrative Shorts, Web Originals, Experimental Film, Environmental and Social Impact Film, Branded Content, Screenplay, and Young Creators (18–25). New and expanded 2026 categories for competition will include Best Anime Film, Best Vertical Drama, recognizing the global rise of animated storytelling and mobile-first series formats.

Winners are selected by category-specific juries made up of studio, network, and streaming executives, entertainment attorneys, managers, agents, creators, and other industry leaders. Festival audiences also vote for Audience Awards for Best Feature and Best Short. Winners are announced to national, regional, and local press outlets, and select categories may include sponsored cash and in-kind prizes.

Rules & Terms

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
Submissions must be completed after January 1, 2025
Submissions must be created by a filmmaker of color (writer, director, and/or producer) and/or feature people of color in the cast or storyline. Projects should reflect inclusive storytelling and global cultural perspectives.
Urbanworld premieres new work across narrative and documentary features and shorts, animation, web series, and emerging formats.
In-person screenings require DCP format. Virtual screenings require a digital file upload using festival specifications.
Submissions in competition may not have U.S. commercial distribution or broadcast. Limited private or non-commercial screenings may be considered at the discretion of the programming committee.
Films that have screened theatrically or at major film festivals in the New York area prior to Urbanworld 2026 are not eligible, unless approved by the festival leadership.
Urbanworld does not pay screening fees. Resources are dedicated to producing and promoting the strongest possible showcase for selected submissions.
Works-in-progress may be submitted, provided the final version is delivered eight weeks before the festival, and a DCP is available for screening.

FILM SUBMISSION
All films must be submitted via FilmFreeway online screener only to be considered for competition unless approved by festival leadership.
Submissions must comply with the runtime requirements listed within each category.
There is no limit to the number of submissions, provided each project is submitted separately with the appropriate fee.
Extended final deadline: July 10, 2026
Notification of status: on or around August 10, 2026
Accepted filmmakers must complete acceptance paperwork by August 17, 2026
All press materials and assets (photos, trailer, etc.) must be submitted no later than August 24, 2026

SCREENPLAY ELIGIBILITY
Screenplays must be submitted electronically via FilmFreeway only unless approved by Festival leadership.
The writer must identify as a person of color, or the screenplay must prominently feature characters of color and inclusive storytelling.
Screenplays must be feature-length (90–130 pages) and follow standard U.S. screenplay format.
Treatments are not accepted. Screenplays must be written in English.
Scripts previously entered in the Urbanworld Screenplay Competition are not eligible for resubmission.
Screenplays must not be produced, sold, or licensed for film, television, or digital production.
All scripts must be original work and registered with WGA East, WGA West, or U.S. copyright.

SCREENPLAY SUBMISSION
Writer's name, address, and phone number must appear on the title page.
Multiple submissions are allowed with separate submission fees.
Screenplays must be uploaded as a PDF via FilmFreeway.
Extended final deadline: July 31, 2026
Notification of status: on or around September 11, 2026
Accepted writers must submit release forms and press materials by October 2, 2026

SUBMISSION FEES
Submissions will not be reviewed until payment is received.
All submission fees are non-refundable.

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST
Each submission must include:
FilmFreeway submission form
Online screener or screenplay PDF
Submission fee
Film festival history and confirmed future screenings (if applicable)
Recommended materials: logline, synopsis, filmmaker bio, press kit, and still images
56 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Stephanie L Jones

    We were honored to have the world premiere of our film at UrbanWorld Film Festival 2025. We connected with so many great filmmakers from all over the world. Such a pleasure to be in the company of talented artists of color. Thank you so much, UrbanWorld team, for including our film "The Jones Twins: Bebop Souls in a Muzak World."

    April 2026
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  • Amir Zargara

    Thanks for having us :)

    November 2025
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  • Iñaki Velásquez

    One of the best festival we've participated in. Amazing!

    November 2025
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  • Nicole Mairose Dizon

    Thank you so much to Urbanworld, Stacy Spikes, VJ, Louisa Brown, Samantha Debicki, and the jury for selecting my short film, RUYA, as the Best Narrative Experimental Film. This is one of my favorite festivals to date. I previously had a film in the festival as a Producer in 2022, so it was a treat to finally attend as a Writer/Director. The Urbanworld team put so much effort into taking care of its filmmakers and guests. They helped promote the films on social media along with assets made for each film. During one of the screenings, there were technical difficulties with a film, so VJ (the Festival Director) came out to reassure everyone that their team would look at the file and try to replay it. This moment and plenty of others spoke volumes to me about the way the festival is run. There was no shortage of opportunities to build community. The opening night party was a blast. I absolutely loved the intimate WGA East breakfast and DGA luncheon for filmmakers. It was informative and inspirational to be among my peers. I only wish I could've seen the other great films they programmed. There were conflicts with my screening block as well as others'. Looking forward to submitting to Urbanworld again in the future. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!

    November 2025
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  • Felix Martiz

    Everyone @Urbanworld made me feel welcome. The experience they give us filmmakers, shows how much they truly care for our community. They host amazing workshops and panels that allow us to keep learning and growing as storytellers. They have parties and a luncheon that allow us to meet each other, share ideas and stay connected. Special shout out to Karen for always showing love and care. It's such a special feeling to be surrounded by other filmmakers, creators and artists who look like us, it sincerely inspires me to keep creating. I could not have asked for a better world premiere for my film, Trending. @Urbanworld has easily become one of my favorite film festivals. Thank you Stacy and Urbanworld for creating the space for us to be seen. Can't wait to be back!

    June 2025
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