The World Water Film Festival curates’ films of all genres from all over the world that explore our personal, societal, cultural, and environmental connection with water. Festival events bring people together and address some of the most significant challenges and exciting prospects we face when it comes to humanity’s relationship with water. Connected to UN Water organizations, we aim to amplify water issues and solutions...connected by film and the power to inspire.

We have several screening events and Festivals around the world and throughout the year; among our next flagship events will be participation in the next UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi December 2026. We also recently received our own first award from WEX Global 2026 - the Community Impact Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Water Security!

We are collaborating with UN Water and in particular looking for films relevant to each year's World Water Day (March 22 2026) and World Toilet Day (November 19) themes. While rooted in NYC, our events travel the globe! On deck to 2026 we've been to Chicago for Chicago Water Week, will be in Rotterdam June 22 for the UN Decade of Restoration Swimmable Cities event with the community film night, and a new flagship event in Buenos Aires November 2025.

In NYC, the Columbia Climate School serves as our host, and since our 2023 NYC event in partnership with NY Water Week and the UN Water Conference, we've held satellite events in Wellington New Zealand, London, multiple cities in Tanzania, Guangzhou China with more events in the works for 2025 and beyond.
CURRENT SEASON UPDATES
BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA NOVEMBER 18-2025 at the MUSEO MODERNO
WEX Global, Seville Spain February 2026
New York World Water Day 2026
World Water Day, Guangzhou 2026
Chicago Water Week May 2026
Sciens Water Rethinking Water Conference, London November 2026
New York Climate Week
WEFTEC 2026 New Orleans
UN Water Conference, Abu Dhabi December 2026

OUR GOAL
In creating this platform our goal is to leverage the power in the medium & art form of film to enhance relationships between filmmakers, organizations, and the entire human population to build championship and activism in water-related matters. We curate films from around the world to audiences around the world that explore our personal, societal, cultural and environmental relationship with water.

Awards & Prizes


BEST WORLD WATER DAY 2026 THEME: Gender and Water
BEST WORLD TOILET DAY: Themes of WASH & SanitationBEST CALL-TO-ACTION

BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE
BEST SHORT FEATURE
BEST NARRATIVE COMEDY
BEST NARRATIVE DRAMA
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
BEST DOCUMENTARY
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
BEST ANIMATION / MUSIC VIDEO

BEST STUDENT FILM
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR EACH CATEGORY
2025 FOCUS LENS: BEST PLASTICS AND WATER

Rules & Terms

All films submitted need to explore our personal, societal, cultural and environmental relationship with water.

Can Students Submit? Yes! Students (elementary, middle, high school, undergrad, and grad) are welcome to submit to any category. An adult supervisor and/or guardian is allowed to submit on behalf of the minor, but the film must be conceived and created mostly by the minor filmmaker. Reach out to the film festival for a student discount code (worldwaterff@gmail.com).

Non-English language shorts must be subtitled in English.

The applicant is legally authorized to enter the short in the World Water Film Festival (WWFF), and the film is not subject to any claims or litigation and is not threatened by any claims or litigation. You must own all the rights to the film (images, sound, music and poster) - Copyright ©2022

Films must be non-watermarked (no pun intended).

You cannot cancel your participation in the competition after the announcement of the official selection.

WWFF can use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/poster/stills) for promotional purposes. You always retain 100% of all rights to your intellectual property.

WWFF can only accept, consider and notify entries submitted with valid entry form and non-refundable entry fee. Applicants must submit a Secure Online Screener (not open to the public). Entry fee payment must be made online. If you are in need of a discount or waiver code, please email: worldwaterff@gmail.com

All accepted and non-accepted submissions will be notified via email.

You agree to hold WWFF harmless and to indemnify us from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court), which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity as well as screening.

No work or artist will be either discriminated or favored by their country of origin, language, age, race, education, ideology, sexual orientation, or by their economic resources. Every content, every form, every technique will be considered with no censorship of any kind.

WWFF does NOT accept:
- Films which are made before 2016.
- Films must not contain pornography, racist, sexist, offensive or defamatory statements intended to harm anybody.
- Films disrespectful to anyone's privacy.
11 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Meera Chaudhary

    I am happy that my film Poison in my blood was selected in the festival. They have a great communication Team , i had a good experience with e festival ...wishing them the best for future

    December 2024
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  • Bennett Barthelemy

    Very impressed with selections, venue, passion/skills of those putting on the festival and those that attended - furthering awareness and inspiring continued trajectories within the sphere of global water challenges... A highlight within the festival circuit.

    November 2024
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  • Christine + Marc Sonvilla + Graf

    It was a great experience being part of the event!

    November 2024
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  • Lisa Frey

    Thank you so much for the honor to show our film "Living Waters" and even receiving an award! Unfortunately I couldn't be present at the festival... but when it comes to communication, appreciation etc I can only give thumbs up!! I really feel our movie landed at the right place! Keep up the great work - for water, film, arts... and hopefully see you another time!

    November 2024
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  • Bill Dowell

    We are very grateful to be chosen for Honorable mention. We live on the Mississippi River and are already planning next year's submission.

    November 2024
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