🎬 BAFF - Celebrating 23 Years of Independent Film in the Heart of New York City

🎯 First-Time Directors & Screenwriters Special Event

Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition is thrilled to announce a unique standalone event celebrating the talents of first-time directors and writers! This special occasion is designed to provide a platform for emerging voices in filmmaking and storytelling. Whether you're a director making your debut or a screenwriter with your first script ready for the spotlight, this event is the perfect opportunity to showcase your work and gain industry recognition.

Submit your film, series or screenplay to be part of this exciting event, and don’t forget to also submit to the main Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition for a chance to increase your visibility and stand out in the larger festival lineup. BAFF stands by its mission in supporting new talent and helping your journey into the film world take off.

This is your chance to connect with industry professionals, meet fellow creators, and make your mark on one of the most vibrant creative communities in the world. Don’t miss out—submit today and celebrate in NYC!

AGENTS AND MANAGERS & PRODUCERS PITCH FORUM (VIRTUAL EVENT), taking place in the fall of 2026.

🎟️ Add-On: All Access Pass – Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum
Regular Price: $200 | Your Price: $130 with Film or Script Submission (35% discount)

Upgrade your festival experience with exclusive access to the Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum — a premium industry networking and pitching event that runs VIRTUALLY, taking place in FALL 2026. This event gives you the opportunity to meet with and pitch to agents, managers, producers, and other industry professionals.

💼 WHAT THE ALL-ACCESS PASS INCLUDES:

🎬 Access to All live industry info sessions and Q&As with agents, managers, producers and other industry professionals at no additional cost. These sessions include discussions on representation, packaging, and selling your work, as well as networking opportunities with reps and fellow creatives

🎤 PITCH SESSIONS: All Access Pass holders will receive priority access to register for small group pitch sessions with agents, managers, producers and other industry professionals (sold separately). NOTE: at this time, pitch session registration will ONLY be available to All Access Pass Holders. Registration will open in the fall.

✅ Submitters who choose this option will receive a code approximately two weeks before the event to redeem their prepaid All Access Pass.

✅ NOTE: All submitters who register for the Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum will automatically receive their All-Access Pass, even if their project is not selected for the festival.

🎯 Reserve your All Access Pass now — spots are limited, and pitch sessions fill up fast

📌 PREVIOUS SEASON PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE REPS FROM:

● WME
● The Gersh Agency
● Zero Gravity Management
● 3 Arts Entertainment
● Innovative Artists
● Magnolia Entertainment
● Kaplan Stahler Agency
● WGA East
and more...

NEXT SEASON'S PARTICIPATING REPS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE FALL 2026.

NOTE: Participation provides opportunities to pitch projects, receive feedback, and network with industry professionals. Script requests, representation, development deals, acquisitions, and other professional outcomes are NOT guaranteed, and individual results vary.

PRODUCER'S NOTES
Submitters have the option to upgrade their film or script submission to include Producer's Notes. If this option is selected, the submitter will receive one page of notes from one professional accredited producer.

Participating producers include:

● Krushan Naik (producer of Oscar®-nominated film "Anuja")

● Emmy Award winning producer Ryan Cunningham (Paramount+, Hulu, Disney+, HBOmax)

● Crystal Holt (former Vice President of Series at 20th Television/Disney, previous Director of Scripted Programming at AMC Networks)

● Devan Renea (Hulu, CW, OWN)

● Tim Curcio (CBS)

● Melinda Li (Warner Bros. Drama Development, Creative Executive JuVee Productions - Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company)

● Aeryn Michelle Willams (Netflix, Marvel, Disney, Prime Video)

● Samantha Sharma (former Original Scripted Content Coordinator at Disney+, former Creative Executive at Marvel Studios, Franchise Asset Coordinator at LucasFilm Ltd.).

🎞️ FILM SCREENINGS

Selected films are screened in New York City state of the art cinemas, with live post-screening Q&As. BAFF is committed to providing a platform for high-quality, independent cinema from NYC and around the world.

Previous official selections and alumni films have included:

● The Singers - Academy Award Winner, Best Live Action Short
● I'm Not a Robot – Academy Award Winner, Best Live Action Short
● Feeling Through - Academy Award Nominee, Live Action Short
​● Until - directed by and starring Golden Globe Award winners Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
● Sweetwater – Released by Universal Pictures, starring Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven and Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss
● The Living Wake – Starring Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg and Emmy Award winner Jim Gaffigan
● Last Ride - Executive Produced by Oscar® winner SPIKE LEE, distributed by Quiver Distribution
● Killing Mary Sue - distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, starring SAG Award nominee Dermot Mulroney
● Taste the Revolution - starring Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Green Book, House of Cards, The Hunger Games, True Detective)
● ​Thirsty - (Apple TV, Prime Video), starring Jamie Neumann (HBO's The Deuce), Image Award nominee Tyler Lepley (Harlem, Tyler Perry's Duplicity), Golden Globe Award winner Kyra Sedgwick, Golden Globe Award nominee Thora Birch
● The One Note Man - Shortlisted for Best Live Action at the 96th Academy Awards, Narrated by Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Ian McKellen.
● The Herricanes – SXSW Audience Award Winner
● Amerikatsi – Armenian Oscar submission, NYC and LA theatrical release
● The Shepherd – Academy Award Shortlist, distributed by Disney+, produced by Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón, starring Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner John Travolta
● "Bad Survivor" (Oscars Shortlist, Short Film Live Action Category)
● "Deadly Vows", starring Shiva Negar, SAG Award nominee Billy Zane (Titanic), Shane West (A Walk to Remember), Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, distributed by Quiver Distribution, streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV
● And many more...

📝 SCREENPLAY COMPETITION

The BAFF Screenplay Competition is open to feature-length scripts, shorts, pilots, and series. Finalists are read by industry professionals and decision-makers, some of whom have developed projects for companies such as Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Paramount, and more.

BAFF Screenplay Competition has received submissions from both emerging talent and established professionals. Participants have included:

● Douglas Raine (Line Producer "Reigns of Fire" starring Academy Award winners Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale)
● Amy Kolquist (Writer of "Border Run" starring Academy Award nominee Sharon Stone and Billy Zane, distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment and Paramount Pictures)
● Stephanie Drapeau (Writer and Producer of Wish Wizard starring Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman)
● Maia Henkin – signed with A3 Artists Agency; held meetings with Lionsgate, Starz, Anonymous Content
● Shia LaBeouf (Critics Choice Award and People's Choice Award nominee)
● Ron Friedman - Emmy nominee and WGA Award winner
● Elizabeth Reichelt - (writer, Bridgerton NETFLIX, writer's assistant, Inventing Anna NETFLIX, Co-wrote/co-produced Full Picture, executive produced by Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Rachel Bloom. Writer for the CBS Diversity Showcase)
● Caytha Jentis - written/directed/produced projects for HBO, Warner Bros., Amazon
● Kent Moran - Feature films have been released by Warner Brothers, Netflix, Showtime, Paramount+, Starz, Apple, Hulu, Amazon, Hallmark, Lifetime, LMN, Regal Cinemas
● Elizabeth Page - Six time Emmy Award and three time WGA Award winning writer and playwright (ABC, CBS, TBS)
● Matt Giacheri - produced projects for NETFLIX and Amazon
● Janet J. Lawler – finalist recognition helped place her on Coverfly’s Red List; later signed by a literary manager
● Stuart Feldman (BAFF Screenplay Competition winner) - WGA writer, has written for the NBC drama LAW & ORDER, the USA series ROYAL PAINS, and his teleplay for LAW & ORDER: SVU ("Justice Denied") ranked #21 on the TV Guide list of "Best Episodes".

"Since being a finalist with Big Apple, I was signed by A3 and have taken meetings with major studios..."
— Maia Henkin

🤝 YEAR-ROUND INDUSTRY ACCESS

ALL submitters receive complimentary access to select virtual mentorship and networking sessions throughout the year.

Past mentors and guests have developed or produced work for:
Netflix, Warner Bros., Hulu, Disney, Showtime, HBO, Amazon, CBS, FilmRise, and more.

👉 See upcoming events:
https://bigapplefilmfestivalindustrynetworkingevents.eventive.org/schedule

🌟 NOTABLE GUESTS & HONOREES

Over the years, BAFF has welcomed acclaimed actors, filmmakers, screenwriters and industry leaders, including:

● Jesse Eisenberg (Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee)
● Kevin Bacon (Golden Globe and SAG award winner)
● Kyra Sedgwick (Golden Globe and SAG award winner)
● Cuba Gooding Jr. (Academy Award winner)
● Sawyer Spielberg
● Kathleen Turner (Academy Award nominee & Golden Globe Award winner)
● Amy Stiller
● James Sunshine (producer, FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" CBS' "Big Brother", "Project Runway", NETFLIX/HULU)
● Morgan Spurlock (Academy Award nominee, WGA Award winner)
● Olympia Dukakis (Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winner)
● Jeremy Piven (Emmy Award and Golden Globe Winner)
● Krushan Naik (Oscar-nominated producer)
● Bill Plympton (Oscar-nominated animator)
● Alan Cumming (Tony Award and Independent Spirit Award winner)
● Kwame Parker (Academy Award nominated producer)
…and many more.

INDUSTRY JURORS
Big Apple Film Festival industry jurors include writers, producers and industry professionals with credits at AMAZON, 20th TELEVSION, DISNEY, MARVEL, HULU, CBS, NBC and more. (visit bigapplefilmfestival.com for the complete list of jurors).

🗽 ABOUT BAFF

Now in its 23rd year, Big Apple Film Festival remains dedicated to amplifying the voices of independent filmmakers and screenwriters. From live screenings and pitch opportunities to year-round virtual access, BAFF offers a unique platform to showcase your work and grow your career.

Whether you're an up-and-coming writer, an independent filmmaker, or a seasoned creative looking for new connections, BAFF provides opportunities to get your work seen — and to be taken seriously.

✅ SUBMIT NOW

Join the next wave of acclaimed BAFF alumni.
Submit your film or screenplay today — and take the next big step in your creative journey.

Awards & Prizes

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).

BAFF's network of professionals from previous years have included representatives from: HBO, NBCUniversal, Academy Award winning Killer Films, William Morris Endeavor Agency, The Gersh Agency, APA Agency, Magnolia Pictures, Film Rise(distributor of numerous Oscar Award winning and Emmy Award winning films), Emmy Award winning Gigantic Productions, Cinepointe Advisors(legal counsel on numerous Oscar nominated films), Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winning filmmakers, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning screenwriters, Filmmakers with projects released through Sony, Disney, Lions Gate, HBO, Showtime, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Hulu, and theatrically, as well as staff writers for CBS, ABC, Lifetime, and more...

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. Winning screenplays will be promoted to Big Apple Film Festival's list of alumni filmmakers, many of which include filmmakers who have had film released theatrically, as well as on numerous major distribution platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, Apple TV, NBCUniveral and more..

3. A complimentary all access badge to Big Apple Film Festival film screenings, events and select industry networking and mentorship sessions.

NOTE: As this event is a special one-night showcase, separate from the main Big Apple Film Festival, it is strictly a showcase event with no competitive categories or awards for films.

Rules & Terms

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, 2024.

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. Entrants hereby acknowledge and agree that the identities, business affiliations, and contact information of film screeners and script readers shall remain strictly confidential and will not be disclosed under any circumstances to the submitter.

14. All submitters who register for a prepaid All Access Pass to the Agents, Managers & Producers Forum at the time of entry will automatically receive their pass in the spring of 2026, regardless of whether or not their project is selected for inclusion in the festival.

15. All information provided on this page may be subject to change. This includes but not limited to: event dates, event details, industry conferences, networking events, event format, guest speakers, jurors, awards, venue, etc.

16. All selected films will be screened on DCP. All selected films must either provide a DCP, or have a DCP created. DCP's may be created through our partner organization, SimpleDCP. All selected films must be delivered by the deadline stated in the official selection notice. Films that are not delivered by the final delivery deadline will not be permitted to screen.

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

18. DISCLAIMER: By submitting to the Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition (“BAFF”), you agree to release and hold harmless BAFF, its affiliates, staff, and partners from any and all claims, liabilities, or damages arising from your submission or participation. BAFF is not responsible for loss, damage, or unauthorized use of submitted materials.

19. At Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition, the integrity of our evaluation process and the protection of your intellectual property are our highest priorities. We mandate that every submission receive a thorough evaluation conducted solely by a human. The use of any generative AI tool in the review, analysis, or feedback process is strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to audit feedback to uphold this standard. Additionally, Screeners and Readers may not share, distribute, or discuss any copyrighted material or intellectual property they review outside of the secured film festival and screenplay competition platform and judging process.

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 cannot 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. Entrants agree and acknowledge that the identities, business affiliations, and contact information of film screeners and script readers shall remain strictly confidential and will not be disclosed under any circumstances to the submitter.

14. All submitters who register for a prepaid All Access Pass to the Agents, Managers & Producers Pitch Forum at the time of entry will automatically receive their pass in the spring of 2026, regardless of whether or not their project is selected for inclusion in the festival.

15. All information provided on this page may be subject to change. This includes, but is not limited to, event dates, event details, industry conferences, networking events, event format, guest speakers, jurors, awards, venue, and other relevant information.

16. DISCLAIMER: By submitting to the Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition (“BAFF”), you agree to release and hold harmless BAFF, its affiliates, staff, and partners from any and all claims, liabilities, or damages arising from your submission or participation. BAFF is not responsible for loss, damage, or unauthorized use of submitted materials.

17. At Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition, the integrity of our evaluation process and the protection of your intellectual property are our highest priorities. We mandate that every submission receive a thorough evaluation conducted solely by a human. The use of any generative AI tool in the review, analysis, or feedback process is strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to audit feedback to uphold this standard. Additionally, Screeners and Readers may not share, distribute, or discuss any copyrighted material or intellectual property they review outside of the secured film festival and screenplay competition platform and judging process.

3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Stephanie L Jones

    We had a wonderful experience at the Atlanta Short Film Festival. We saw cool films and met awesome filmmakers from Atlanta - as well as creators from across the US and from Europe. Mikel Fair, was so welcoming and supportive - he even records a podcast for each film in the festival! And - we were thrilled and honored to be named Best Documentary!! Was a great time!

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Patricia Marshall

    I'm so grateful to the BAFF judges for recognizing my work in their First Time Writers Edition. It is so hard to break in to this competitive industry when my work is only compared against seasoned writers. I appreciate the organizers seeing the need for this category of their competition.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Maria Felicetti

    Good opportunities. Invited to pitch to a Netflix producer. Learnt a lot about how to pitch. I know what I need to work on. Thank you.

    March 2026
    Helpful