Join us in 2024 for the Oscar®-qualifying New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF), an amazing opportunity for filmmakers to participate in the largest film festival in North America showcasing work for children and teens!
Presented over three weekends at major venues throughout New York City, the Festival showcases approximately 100 outstanding short and feature films in all genres from around the globe. We look forward to hosting premieres, special events, filmmaker q&a spotlights, industry panels, retrospective programs, parties and networking opportunities for our amazing filmmakers and culturally savvy audience of families and tastemakers next Spring.
As an Academy Award®-qualifying Festival in the Best Live Action and Animated Short Film categories, the Festival attracts a prestigious jury. In 2023, our jury featured the following esteemed directors, actors, producers, filmmakers, educators, and industry leaders: Kim Díaz of Sesame Workshop, Emmy-nominated actor Kyle MacLachlan, SVA Animation Chair Hsiang Chin Moe, award-winning filmmaker Ira Sachs, Academy Award-nominated actress Uma Thurman, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Nora Twomey, independent film producer Christine Vachon, and NYICFF award-winning filmmaker Huda Razzak. Winners of the Festival’s juried prizes are eligible for consideration at the annual Academy Awards®.
Audience awards are presented in each film category, with audience members of all ages (from adults to even the youngest ones!) voting on the Festival-winning films. NYICFF receives major editorial coverage (recently featured in The New York Times), and select films have the chance to be programmed for touring to major museums, arthouse theaters and film festivals across the U.S.
More than 100 international filmmakers participate in the Festival annually, from established veterans to emerging makers. They represent wonderfully diverse voices working in all genres and formats, producing work for audiences of all ages and lending their artistic voice to the festival.
We often program films not initially created with a young audience in mind, and we encourage filmmakers to share work that may very well have expanded audience potential. Our audiences are up for the challenge of artistically complex work, and our written materials, intros and Q&As offer compelling context and spark great dialogue around your films.
Through our industry forums, parties and Q&A events, we facilitate opportunities for engaging with studios, distributors, agents, funders and partner festivals (past participants include Sony Pictures Animation, Disney, DreamWorks, Tonko House, 9 Story, Silvergate Media, Sesame Workshop, Netflix, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and more) and foster inclusive practices and expanded access for talented filmmakers to be heard and grow. NYICFF also partners with cultural funders to offer travel stipends where possible to select filmmakers in competition to attend the festival.
We especially want to encourage submissions by filmmakers of color and those from under-represented communities; please feel free to reach out to us if submission fees are an issue for you.
Film reflects your artistry, a distinct vision, a record of a time. It opens eyes and possibilities, especially key in our young audiences, and sparks meaningful dialogue--all of which has never been more vital than now. Thanks, filmmakers, for being the visionaries that you are. We can’t wait to see -- and share -- your work.
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In addition to presenting the annual event, New York International Children’s Film Festival is a multifaceted arts organization that offers national touring programs, special sneak peek and premiere events, FilmEd Classroom education programs, virtual cinema offerings and additional year-round engagement. The Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.
NYICFF is an Academy®-qualifying festival. Recipients of the NYICFF jury prizes are eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short and Animated Short Film categories of the Annual Academy Awards®. All in competition selections, both short and feature, are voted on by our audience and are eligible for our Audience Awards.
Jury Awards
- Best Animated Short Film
- Best Live Action Short Film
Audience Awards for Best Short Film
- Ages 3+
- Ages 6+
- Ages 8+
- Ages 12+
- Grown ups (18+)
Grand Prize Awards (most audience votes in all age groups)
- Animated Short
- Live Action Short
- Animated Feature
- Live Action Feature