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 ****
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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
  • Emmett Kerr-Perkinson

    Had a blast playing at LESFF - the theater is incredible, the programming top notch, great parties and fun people!

    September 2024
  • Incredible festival!!! Had the best time attending and would urge everyone to submit!

    August 2024
  • Hans Augustave

    This has been one of my favorite festivals to be a part of!
    The staff are all very kind, approachable and helpful people. The festival itself is very well run and organized. The quality of the films is amazing and all the events (panels, parties, networking) are great. I'll definitely be back in future years and will submit my work every time.

    May 2024
  • LESFF is so well-run, well-attended, well-curated. It was an honor to have our short premiere at LESFF at Village East by Angelika. Met great filmmakers from all over & staff manages everything seamlessly. Thanks so much!

    May 2024
  • A.J. Serrano

    An honor and a thrill to have my short film premiere at LESFF. Roxy and the entire festival team truly care about independent filmmakers and their work.

    May 2024