Our festival by the sea has gained a reputation for fostering a relaxed atmosphere where filmmakers and industry veterans alike gather to enjoy a jam-packed weekend of great films, an opening night party, and amusement park rides. MovieMaker Magazine named us one of the “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” and “25 Coolest Film Festivals.”

Coney Island’s independent spirit and irreverent attitude have helped the fest quickly thrive as something distinct from other NYC events. Opening night celebrations pay tribute to Coney Island’s renowned carnival history, featuring live performances by the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

In early 2001, the nonprofit arts organization Coney Island USA aligned with indiefilmpage.com founder Rob Leddy to create an annual film festival to raise funds for Coney Island USA. That fall, the Coney Island Film Festival became a reality.

The festival is entirely run by film, television, and audio/visual professionals, ensuring a high-quality standard for the event.

Coney Island’s characteristic blend of grit and whimsy has inspired filmmakers for generations. From Thomas Edison’s first magical motion pictures of the Steeplechase ride to 2010 Festival Honoree Darren Aronofsky’s harrowing masterpiece Requiem for a Dream, Coney Island has a long and intimate history with American cinema. CIFF represents the latest chapter in that history.

The Coney Island Film Festival screens a truly eclectic range of films from all genres, including Drama Short, Comedy Short, Feature, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Horror, Sci-Fi, Music Video, Experimental, and Animation. We are as diverse as the neighborhood we represent.

We have no film premiere or date-of-completion requirements, and all entries are watched in their entirety by our screening committee. We prefer that films not be publicly streaming on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo, and films not available online are given preference in the selection process. Whether you submit early or late has no bearing on selection—every film is given an equal chance, regardless of submission date. We do not invite films to screen; we rely solely on our call for entries.

Now in our 27th year, the Coney Island Film Festival has earned a solid reputation among filmmakers and film fans alike. Check out our FilmFreeway reviews to read quotes from filmmakers and view our photo galleries (all photos courtesy of Norman Blake).

“Without a doubt, the Coney Island Film Festival has the greatest location in the world. It also gives out the best trophy I’ve ever received.”
— Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, Pi)

“A showcase worthy of the neighborhood’s amusement-rich history.”
— Christopher Zara, MovieMaker Magazine

Awards & Prizes

Awards:
The festival jury will present awards to films and videos selected as best in the following categories: Drama Short, Comedy Short, Feature, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Horror, Sci-Fi, Music Video, Experimental, Animation, and “Made in Coney Island.”

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway’s online screener option. Foreign-language works must be dubbed or subtitled in English. Entry fees are non-refundable. There are no film premiere requirements or date-of-completion requirements.

SELECTION & NOTIFICATION
All entries will be viewed by the selection committee. Entry fees are non-refundable. Selected films will be announced on or around March 12, 2027. All entrants will be notified via FilmFreeway’s email system. The festival does not pay rental or screening fees for submitted or selected works. For selected films, the exhibition file format must be .mp4, H.264, 1920x1080, stereo.

For more information, email us at info@coneyislandfilmfestival.com
. We will respond within 24 hours.

Terms and Conditions:
I have carefully read and understand the complete rules of the festival. By entering your film for consideration for the 2027 Coney Island Film Festival, you authorize that your work is cleared for festival screening and accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein. Entry into the festival constitutes permission to screen your work at the 2027 Coney Island Film Festival. The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the Coney Island Film Festival, indiefilmpage.com, Coney Island USA, and any other agents, owners, and employees of said entities from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and court costs) that may be incurred as a result of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, or loss of or damage to the submitted screening materials.
196 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Tal S. Shamir

    Coney Island Film Festival is a fantastic festival and one of my all-time favorite New York film festivals and activities. I’ve known it for many years now, and the festival has maintained its style, character, and joyfulness. The films are strong, the programming is thoughtful, and the atmosphere is fun, warm, and elevating. The team truly loves film and filmmakers, and Coney Island itself is a magical place to screen work and enjoy the Luna Park, the boardwalk, and the food.

    This year (2026), I had one of the best screening experiences I’ve ever had at the Coney Island Film Festival. It was a very strong and profound screening, especially alongside the other incredible films and works in the program.

    I highly recommend submitting to the Coney Island Film Festival. It is a fantastic festival, and one of the best places to screen films — especially experimental work.

    May 2026
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  • Morgan Miller

    Always a pleasure to screen @ Coney Island and meet other animators and filmmakers.

    May 2026
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  • clayton rawson

    Coney Island Film Festival 2026 = Wonderful films, Great venues, Delightful engagements with filmmakers. I hope to enter again !

    May 2026
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  • Blake Merriman

    Had such a fun time screening my short, The Escort, at the Coney Island Film Festival in 2026! Thanks so much to Rob Leddy and his crackerjack team for making it all happen. Great vibes all around and everyone there was incredibly friendly and supportive.

    Opening night was a blast - networking, open bar, free tacos, and sideshow performances you could only find at Coney Island.

    I really enjoyed the other films in my block and the programming at the fest in general, and I got to meet some cool new people and reconnect with old friends I hadn’t seen in years.

    Fun times, a great hang, an inclusive environment, and after everything else... bumper cars! 10/10! Highly recommend! Especially if you can make it there in person.

    May 2026
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  • Bruce Grossman

    The Coney Island Film Festival is a true labor of love. Rob was incredible to work with, and it was truly an honor to premiere our film in such an iconic place. I would recommend that all New York filmmakers submit their work to the Coney Island Film Festival.

    May 2026
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