Big Apple Film Festival congratulates its official selections shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards!

This list of outstanding BAFF alumni include: "Amerikatsi" (Armenian selection, Best International Feature Category), "The Shepherd" (Short Film Live Action Category, distributed by Disney+), starring Ben Radcliffe, Academy Award nominee John Travolta, directed by BAFTA nominee Iain Softley, produced by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuaron, "The One Note Man" ( Short Film Live Action Category).

Big Apple Film Festival (Spring Edition) will take place May 20-23 in the heart of NYC!

In addition to film screenings and screenplay competition, BAFF presents numerous networking opportunities, including an Agents and Managers Conference, Agents and Managers Networking Lab, along with year round industry networking and mentoring sessions.

The festival includes an opening networking reception and closing awards presentation.

AGENTS AND MANAGERS CONFERENCE
The BAFF Agents and Managers Conference provides career advice, strategies, guidance and networking opportunities with top agents and managers representing filmmakers and screenwriters. The conferences will assist filmmakers and writers in learning strategies for acquiring representation, selling/optioning/licensing material to TV/streaming networks, theatrical market, production companies, studios, distributors, development executives and more..

Participating agents and managers include reps from:

●The Gersh Agency
●APA
●Magnolia Entertainment
●Culture Creative Agency
●Art/Work Entertainment
●A3 Artists Agency
●Heroes and Villains Entertainment
●Kaplan Stahler Agency
●3 Arts Entertainment
●and more...

AGENTS AND MANAGERS NETWORKING LAB
The Agents and Managers Conference will be open to the public, however submitters are also welcome to submit their projects for consideration to the Networking Lab. Projects selected for the Networking Lab will receive a series of small group networking and pitch sessions with select agents and managers. (NOTE: Agents and Managers Networking Lab selections are separate from film festival and screenplay competition selections).

(All agents and managers sessions will take place virtually)

YEAR ROUND INDUSTRY NETWORKING, MENTORING AND PITCH SESSIONS
In an effort to support and connect filmmakers, screenwriters and series creators to industry professionals throughout the year, BAFF offers a series of year round virtual networking, mentorship and pitch sessions.

FOR UPCOMING INDUSTRY NETWORKING, MENTORSHIP AND PITCH SESSIONS VISIT: https://bigapplefilmfestivalindustrynetworkingevents.eventive.org/schedule

BAFF's network of mentors throughout the years have included writers, producers, directors and development executives who have developed projects for:
Netflix, HBO, NBCUniversal, Disney, Hulu, Warner Bros., Showtime
Amazon Studios, CBS , ABC, Film Rise

BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL
BAFF, named one of MovieMaker Magazine's top "25 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee,” top "25 Coolest Film Festivals,”, CBS New York's "Best Film Festivals in New York...,” and FilmFreeway's "Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals", is dedicated to showcasing, highlighting and promoting the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world. Our goal is to celebrate the great city of New York through the exhibition of innovative and purposeful filmmaking.

"According to reviews from real FilmFreeway users, Big Apple Film Festival ranks in the top 1% of more than 10,000 film festivals and creative contests around the world." -FilmFreeway

HIGHLIGHTED ALUMNI FILMS:

● "Sweetwater" (Distributed by Universal Pictures, Hulu, Amazon), starring Emmy Award and Golden Globe Winner Jeremy Piven, Everett Osborne, Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss, SAG Award winner Kevin Pollak

● "Amerikatsi" (Armenian selection shortlisted for 96th Academy Awards, Best International Feature Category, released theatrically in NYC and LA)

● ​"The Shepherd" (shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards, Short Film Live Action Category, distributed by Disney+), starring Ben Radcliffe, Academy Award nominee John Travolta, directed by BAFTA nominee Iain Softley, produced by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuaron

● "The One Note Man" (shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards, Short Film Live Action Category)

​● "Bones of Crows"(Writers Guild of Canada Award nominee, Canadian Screen Awards nominee, theatrical distribution Elevation Pictures)

● ​"Exile" starring Critics Choice nominee and Golden Globe Award nominee Adam Beach (Apple TV, Vudu)

● ​"Sleep Study", (Hulu), directed by Independent Spirit Award nominated producer Natalie Metzger

● "Shadow Brother Sunday" starring Alden Ehrenreich (Oppenheimer, Cocaine Bear, Solo: A Star Wars Story), executive produced by Frances Ford Coppola

● "If Anything Happens I Love You" (Netflix), Academy Award winner, Best Short Animation Film

● "Kiss the Ground" (Netflix), featuring Woody Harrelson, Gisele Bundchen, Ian Somerhalder, Patricia Arquette, David Arquette, Rosario Dawson, directed by Sundance Film Festival winner Josh Tickell

● "Feeling Through" (Academy Award nominee, short film category)

● "Edith+Eddie" (Academy Award nominee, Best Documentary Short Subject)

And many more...

PREVIOUS HONORARY GUESTS, AWARD RECIPIENTS, GUEST SPEAKERS AND VIP ATTENDEES INCLUDE:

Kevin Bacon (Golden Globe and SAG award winner), Kyra Sedgwick (Emmy and Golden Globe winner), Jesse Eisenberg(Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee)
David Krumholtz (SAG Award nominee), Jeremy Piven (Emmy Award and Golden Globe Winner) Cuba Gooding Jr.(Academy Award winner), Matthew Modine (SAG Award winner, Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner), Bill Plympton(multiple Academy Award nominated animator), Morgan Spurlock(Academy Award nominee, WGA Award winner). Alan Cumming(Tony Award and Independent Spirit Award winner), Actress/Comedian Kim Wayans, Doug Roland (Academy Award nominated filmmaker)
Jose Rivera(Academy Award winning screenwriter), Jerry Stiller, Olympia Dukakis(Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winner), Kwame Parker(Academy Award nominated producer) and many more...

BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL HAS BEEN FEATURED IN:
Indiewire
The New York Times
MovieMaker Magazine (Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals and Top 25 Festivals Worth The Entry Fee)
CBS New York (Best Film Festivals in New York...)
The Hollywood Reporter
BuzzFeed
PIX News
New York 1
AM New York
And more...

FILM SCREENINGS:

Big Apple Film Festival accepts submissions and presents selected films in live theatrical screenings in NYC, followed by post screening filmmaker Q and A's.

ABOUT OUR SCREENPLAY COMPETITION:

Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition seeks to discover and support the most original and innovative screenplays from emerging and established screenwriters from around the world.

FILM FESTIVAL AND SCREENPLAY COMPETITION INDUSTRY JURORS

THIS SEASON'S INDUSTRY JURORS INCLUDE:

●Spencer Robinson (Literary Manager, Art Work Entertainment)

●Danny Alexander (Agent, APA)

●Harris Gurny (Producer, Amazon/Apple TV)

●Sheena Lambert (Author, HarperCollins)

●Lindsay Heiman (Writer/Showrunner Assistant, HBOmax)

●Thomas Ferguson (Writer, Amazon/Tubi)

●Brian Herskowitz (Writer/Producer, NBC/Hulu/Starz/Fox)

●Geoffrey Colo (Writer/Producer, Marvel/Fox/Hulu)

●Ned Farr (Writer/Director, Amazon/Roku)

●Ellen Ancui (Writer, Netflix/Jeff Franklin Productions/Tristar Television/UPN)

MORE JURORS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON...

TESTIMONIALS

"Two of the agents I’ve practiced-pitched to have requested my script and one has followed up with a phone call to discuss representation. Your service is career-changing" - Nate Bynum (screenwriter)

"I wanted to thank you, I have signed with an agent. I met her because of the Big Apple Film Festival" - Andrea Careri (BAFF screenplay winner, Agents and Managers Conference participant).

"Since being a finalist with Big Apple, I was signed by A3 (Abrams) and have taken meetings with Starz, Lionsgate, and Anonymous Content (among others). I was also recently a Semi-Finalist for the Sundance Episodic Lab!" -Maia Henkin

"My feature script The Tenant recently became a finalist in the Big Apple Film Festival. This accolade moved my script onto Coverfly's Red List. This helped in querying representation and getting signed by a literary manager."
-Janet J. Lawler

PREVIOUS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS:

Shia LaBeouf (SAG Award, People's Choice Award and Independent Spirit Award nominee),

Caytha Jentis(written/directed/produced projects for HBO, Amazon)

Ron Friedman(Emmy nominee and WGA Award winner)

Jyllian Gunther(Emmy Award winner, producer for NBC, ABC, A&E)

Kent Moran (Feature films have been released by Warner Brothers, Netflix, Showtime, Paramount+, Starz, Apple, Hulu, Amazon, Hallmark, Lifetime, LMN, Regal Cinemas)

Geoffrey Colo(Worked in development at Universal, followed by producer roles including 8 seasons of FOX's House M.D. and 6 years of Marvel TV dramas, earning him an Emmy nomination, 2 PGA nominations and 2 Webby awards)

Rosemary Griggs (2x Quarter Finalist, award winning author, published by Fence Publishing)

Harris Gurny (Producer, "Coup!" starring Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominee Peter Sarsgaard, "The God Committee", starring Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Julia Stiles and Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo)

Alex Forstenhausler (optioned screenwriter, Finalist Fox Comedy Pilot Competition)

Lindsay Heiman (showrunner's assistant, credits include “CONAN”, Warner Bros., “VEEP” Paramount, “INSECURE” HBO, “THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS” HBO Max, "THE GIRLS ON THE BUS" and "MORE," both premiering on HBO Max)

Sheena Lambert (Author, "The Lake", published by HarperCollins, optioned TV projects in various stages of development, represented by Blake Friedmann Agency in London)

Thomas L. Ferguson (writer, "Forgotten" starring Tom Sizemore, available on Amazon, Tubi, Roku)

Larry Collins (Emmy Award Winner, NBCUniversal/Peacock Network)

Henry Sarwer-Foner(Directors Guild of Canada Award nominee)

Daniel Talbott (writer ABC's "The Conners", "The Mist" produced by The Weinstein Company and Spike TV)

Michael Vaynberg (writer/director Cannes Film Festival selection "9.8 m/s²")

Ken Krauss (writer "Tom, Dick, & Harriet" - Hallmark Channel)

Kevin Emerson (author of over twenty novels published by HarperCollins, Random House, Scholastic)

Linda Shayne (writer/director "Undercover Kid" released by WARNER BROTHERS, HBO Family, "Little Ghost,” distributed by PARAMOUNT video airing on HBO)

Chris Phillips (Finalist - Sundance Institute Development Track, Award for Overall Excellence in Playwriting-New York International Fringe Festival)

Maia Henkin (Second Round Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition, repped by Abrams Artists Agency)

and many more...

FILM AWARDS:
Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Feature Documentary
Best Short Documentary
Best Animation
Best Web Series
Best Student Film
Best Music Video

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARDS:
1. Screenplay winners in each category will receive small group meetings with established producers and other industry representatives. These industry professionals will be selected from BAFF alumni and other members of our industry network (screenplay winners will receive information on this year's selected industry reps in the weeks following the festival).

These meetings are designed to provide winning screenwriters with direct access and live interaction with industry professionals to provide strategies, guidance and mentorship to emerging screenwriters.

Conferences take place virtually allowing participants to join remotely.

2. Winners and finalists will receive a complimentary all access badge to Big Apple Film Festival film screenings, select Agents and Managers Conferences, awards presentation and additional industry networking and mentorship sessions.

3. Winners will receive a complimentary InkTip listing, which will provide access to InkTip's entire network of producers, filmmakers, agents and managers. Producers have made over 400 films discovered thru InkTip.

4. Agents and Managers Networking Lab selections will be invited to attend a series of small group networking and pitch sessions with select agents and managers. Selected filmmakers and writers will be given the opportunity to share information on their current projects and receive feedback.

(NOTE: Agents and Managers Networking Lab selections are separate from film festival and screenplay competition selections).

BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Big Apple Film Festival accepts submissions for feature films, short films, feature documentaries, short documentaries, animation, episodic, music videos, student films, feature length screenplays, series/episodic pilot scripts and short screenplays.

2. All films submitted must have been completed on or after January 1, 2022.

3. All films must be submitted with an online screener

4. All feature narrative and feature documentary submissions must be over 60 minutes in length.

5. All short film narrative and short documentary submissions must be under 60 minutes in length.

6. Animation, episodic, and student film submissions of all lengths will be considered.

7. Music Videos must be under 10 minutes

8. BAFF will present selected films as a live in person event.

9. Submission fees are non-refundable

10. SUBMITTER MUST HOLD ALL NECESSARY RIGHTS AND CLEARANCES TO ALL MATERIAL SUBMITTED TO BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL, LLC

11. The organizers of the Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition wish to make it clear that while we welcome and appreciate all submissions to our festival, we are unable to provide individualized feedback on entries. Furthermore, the selection process for our festival is subjective and may involve various factors related to overall programming considerations. BAFF is under no obligation to provide feedback or comments regarding submitted films or scripts to any applicant. As such, Big Apple Film Festival is not obligated to explain why a particular film or script was not selected for inclusion in the festival, or why a particular script did not advance in our screenplay competition. Our decisions are final and not open to negotiation or appeal.

12. Big Apple Film Festival reserves the right to withdraw any project from our festival program or entry pool at any time for any reason we deem necessary.

13. All information provided on this page, including but not limited to: event dates, event details, guest speakers, jurors, awards, venue, etc. may be subject to change.

14. Submitter confirms that they have read all rules and regulations prior to submitting their project.

15. All questions or concerns may be emailed to general@bigapplefilmfestival.com.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FEATURE LENGTH SCREENPLAYS, SHORT SCRIPTS AND TV/EPISODIC PILOT SCRIPTS:

1. Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition accepts feature length screenplays, short scripts and series/episodic pilot scripts. Feature length scripts must be a minimum of 60 pages and no longer than 150 pages. Series/episodic and short scripts must under 60 pages.

2. Submitted screenplays can not have been optioned, purchased, or otherwise produced at the time of submission.

3. Writers may submit as many screenplays as they’d like to the competition, however each script requires a separate application and payment.

4.All entries must be submitted in English.

5. Submissions must include the title, author(s) and any relevant registration or copyright information.

6. Screenplays must be submitted in PDF or MS WORD.

7.All screenplays are considered complete once they are received by the Big Apple Film Festival. No revisions or updated copies will be accepted.

8. Submission fees are non-refundable.

9. Submitter confirms that they have read all rules and regulations prior to submitting your project.

10. SUBMITTER MUST HOLD ALL NECESSARY RIGHTS AND CLEARANCES TO ALL MATERIAL SUBMITTED TO BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL, LLC

11. The organizers of the Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition wish to make it clear that while we welcome and appreciate all submissions to our festival, we are unable to provide individualized feedback on entries. Furthermore, the selection process for our festival is subjective and may involve various factors related to overall programming considerations. BAFF is under no obligation to provide feedback or comments regarding submitted films or scripts to any applicant. As such, Big Apple Film Festival is not obligated to explain why a particular film or script was not selected for inclusion in the festival, or why a particular script did not advance in our screenplay competition. Our decisions are final and not open to negotiation or appeal.

12. Big Apple Film Festival reserves the right to withdraw any project from our festival program or entry pool at any time for any reason we deem necessary.

13. All information provided on this page, including but not limited to: event dates, event details, guest speakers, jurors, awards, venue, etc. may be subject to change.

14. All questions or concerns may be emailed to general@bigapplefilmfestival.com.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Nicholas Garr

    Loved the Big Apple Film Festival! Very nicely done. Our project got wonderful treatment, the staff was friendly and helpful, and each event from the mixers to the screenings were fun and a great boost to our project.

    February 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Nick!

  • Larry Woldenberg

    Good value. Very responsive and helpful staff.

    January 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Larry! Congrats to you on your script!

  • Aline Andrade

    Fantastic communication, organization and networking. We were proud to be selected with the doc " Aureo & Mirele". Thank you so much for the space and hope to be a part of the festival again with future films.

    December 2023
  • Great festival, good line up of international films and great additional master classes and networking sessions. My pleasure to join again with a new project!

    December 2023