The Lower East Side Film Festival aims to create a special experience for both filmmaker and audience through amazing events, neighborhood engagement, free industry panels, awesome screenings, and the best and brightest up and coming filmmaking talent.

Post-Fest, The Lower East Side Film Festival works with our in-house Sales Agent to try and secure distribution for our screened Features, Shorts, and Music Videos.

Past Lower East Side Film Festival Judges and talent have included ETHAN HAWKE, ROSARIO DAWSON, SUSAN SARANDON, LAVERNE COX, WILLEM DAFOE, TIG NOTARO, SAMANTHA BEE, JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, DENIS O'HARE, DANA BRUNETTI, DOLLY PARTON, INDYA MOORE, ILANA GLAZER, DUSTIN LANCE BLACK, OLIVIA MUNN, ARI GRAYNOR, LIZZY CAPLAN, JUSTIN BOND, NICK KROLL, PARKER POSEY, JON HEDER, and many more.

In 2022, LESFF also launched the Stay Indie Project - a fellowship program devoted to developing feature documentary and narrative micro-budget indie films with an opportunity to receive up to 400K in financing, as well as a creative partnership with LESFF's production company, BFD Productions.

The Lower East Side Film Festival will award films in the following categories:

Best Feature Film
Best Live Action Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
LESFF Audience Award
LESFF Neighborhood Award
Best of Fest – The LESFF Prix D’Or

**** Feature Films win $10K in rental credits at A-FRAME CAMERA ****
**** Short Films win $2500 in rental credits at A-FRAME CAMERA ****
aframenyc.com/

TERMS
I. Certification of Film Entrant: A. I, the undersigned, acknowledge and agree as follows: B. I have read, understand and fully comply with all submission eligibility information, Submission Guidelines, Terms and Conditions of Entry and Entry Eligibility requirements; C. To the best of my knowledge, all of the statements in this document are true; D. The Feature, Short, Documentary, or Other Media I am submitting as my entry is not subject to any litigation nor is threatened by any litigation; E. I am duly authorized to submit this Production to the Festival; F. I hold The LES Film Festival harmless from any damage to the print(s) or tape(s) or media en route or otherwise during the course of the Festival; G. I hold the LES Film Festival harmless from any and all claims of liability resulting from my entry; H. I certify that I have full rights to the use of the music in the Production; I. I give permission for the LES Film Festival to use excerpts of up to three minutes of the Production for promotional purposes; J. I give permission for the LES Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the Production for promotional purposes; K. I give permission for the LES Film Festival to screen the Production at the LES Film Festival event as well as at ancillary Festival presentations, programs, and/or events; L. I own or have authorization to all necessary copyrights and licenses; (If requested) will be able to provide model/actor release verification if requested; will be able to provide music, product and other copyright licensing verification if requested. As the Submitter/Producer, I agree to take on all copyright liability in regard to submitted film. M. Entry does not guarantee acceptance into LES Film Festival or other LES Film Festival Events.
II. Film Submissions A. SUBMISSION FORMAT: All Festival submissions should be sent via a Web Link. B. SUBMISSION LENGTH AND GENRE: we accept all forms and genres that would be deemed within a G, PG, PG-13, R, or NC-17. (1) Short form submissions are those under forty-five (45) minutes. (2) Long form (feature length) submissions are those forty-five (45) minutes and over in length C. Submissions WILL NOT be returned. D. MULTIPLE ENTRIES are allowed, however a separate entry form and fee shall be submitted for each. E. PRODUCER / FILMMAKER / COPYRIGHTS: Submitter (filmmaker or producer) will be referred to as “Producer or Submitter.” Producer must own all copyrights; must be able to provide music, product and other copyright licensing verification if requested. Producer agrees to take on all copyright liability in regard to submitted film. F. SUBMISSION DEADLINES: Submissions with postmarks prior to and after these will not qualify for entry into the Festival. G. ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are non-refundable. If your entry fee is not received with or prior to your submission, your entry may be deemed disqualified at the discretion of the LES Film Festival. H. PREMIERE/DISTRIBUTION STATUS: We accept submissions that have premiered elsewhere; submissions may have distribution agreements already in place. I. LOSS OR DAMAGE: Every precaution will be taken to prevent damage to materials while in the possession of the Festival. J. LES FILM FESTIVAL MARKETING: By submitting, Producer is consenting for use and copying of accepted projects for the purpose of promoting the LES Film Festival. Producer is giving LES Film Festival permission to use up to three minutes of submission to promote the Festival. K. LES FILM FESTIVAL EXHIBITION AND SCREENING: By submitting, if chosen as an official selection, Producer is hereby granting permission for the LES Film Festival to exhibit Producer’s submission in the LES Film Festival Event. III. General Waiver Guidelines A. General. By entering this Contest, entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Festival. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. B. By entering the Festival, entrants release, waive any claims with regard to, and hold harmless the promoter and the host from and against any and all claims of any kind that are or could be asserted with respect to any matter relating to the festival. Entrants further agree to indemnify, defend and hold the promoter and host harmless from any and all damages, liabilities, fees and cost incurred in defending against any third party claims or threats of claims asserted against promoter and/or host arising from any entrant’s participation in or conduct associated with the Festival. C. Nonperformance of any party shall be excused to the extent that performance is rendered impossible by strike, fire, flood, earthquakes, war, governmental acts or orders or restrictions, or any other reason where failure to perform is beyond the reasonable control, and not caused by the negligence of, the nonperforming party. Governing Law and Waiver of Damages. The Festival and these Official Rules are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, without regards to its principles of conflicts of law. For any dispute not subject to arbitration according to the above, entrant agrees to personal jurisdiction by the federal and state courts located in New York County, New York, United States of America, and waives any jurisdictional, venue, or inconvenient forum objections to such courts. D. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby irrevocably waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys’ fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in the Contest), and entrant further irrevocably waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased. E. Privacy. Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and the Site’s Privacy Policy, provided that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail. All Contestants and Team Members hereby acknowledge and agree that Promoter will have access to some or all of their personally identifiable information, including but not limited to registration information collected by the Host.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • A truly incredible festival that puts filmmakers front and center. Year after year, they deliver absolutely stellar programming and an electric atmosphere for watching and celebrating indie films. I've attended both as a filmmaker and as a festival-goer, and I'm constantly blown away by the caliber of films, hospitality of staff, and the sense of community fostered at the screening events. This is by far the most fun and inspiring festival, and a must for any serious independent filmmaker.

    May 2026
  • Jared Bronen

    So grateful Alex and I got to screen "The Debut" at the LESFF this year :) It was an incredible experience that really made us feel part of the independent film community in NYC and beyond. Huge thank you to Roxy, Tony, Sarah, and everyone else for making it such an amazing, unforgettable event. I am sad it's over.

    May 2026
  • Ama Anane

    The festival was blast! Good people and good vibes all around. The festival team was so incredibly kind, fun, and so helpful!

    May 2026
  • This festival has so much heart and is extremely well run. Thank you LES for the best time <3

    May 2026
  • Juliette Strangio

    Had the absolute best time at LESFF -- I can only compare it to what I imagine Sundance in the ’90s was like. Run by lovely people who really care about cinema and community!

    October 2025