18th Annual — June 3–6, 2027
New York City Independent Film Festival
Independent in Spirit — International at Heart.
17th Annual Festival Week
June 1–7, 2026 · The Producers Club, 358 W 44th St, NYC
Opening
Monday June 1, 2026, 7PM until 11PM
Week
Closing
Awards Ceremony and Party
Sunday June 7, 2026, 7PM to 11PM
We’re honored
The New York City Independent Film Festival was just voted the second-best film festival in New York City by Secret New York City. We are second only to TriBeCa! Having a budget a fraction of TriBeCa’s this is a real honor. We are thrilled! We couldn’t do it without you and your films, so we thank you for your support. This honor makes us very proud of our work.
2026 Award Categories
Narrative Feature
Narrative Short
Feature Documentary
Short Documentary
Super Short, AI, Art House & More
Info
Awards
Top films across narrative feature, documentary, short, super short, AI, and more.
Curators & Judges
Industry professionals and our team curate and judge the program.
Mission & Vision
Mission
In a world divided by fear, independent filmmakers from around the world join together in New York City for one week every year to share ideas, hopes and dreams. As filmmakers show their films, talk on panels and interact with fans, the world’s similarities become obvious. The NYC Independent Film Festival provides a showcase for the best independent cinema, from NYC and around the world, to the public and entertainment industry.
The weeklong celebration screens the best indie films, offers educational panels and presentations helmed by industry professionals, and holds live performances. The Festival gives filmmakers the opportunity for potential distribution and funding, as well as awarding the top films across numerous categories, all while giving them the opportunity to mingle and network with press, supporters, and fans.
Vision
History
The 2026 Winners
Congratulations to all our filmmakers
Short Films
| Best Narrative Short Film | Tied Together |
| Best Director of a Short Film | Benjamin Barantschik — La Malédiction |
| Best Cinematography of a Short Film | Emily Marquet — In the Dark |
| Best Script of a Short Film | Eric Howerton and Andrew Bateman — Go Down Diller |
| Best Actress of a Short Film | Gabriella Pizzigoni — Grace and the Red Glow |
| Best Actor of a Short Film | Jeris DuPree — River Mamma |
Super Shorts Films
| Best Super Short Film | A Frog Sits in the Water |
| Best Director of a Super Short Film | Jaschar Marktanner — Turing Test |
| Best Actress of a Super Short Film | Loulou Lazarus — Loulou |
| Best Actor of a Super Short Film | Patrick Taft — Steakeout |
| Best Script for a Super Short Film | Kevin M. Jones — Jesus’s Last Supper in America |
| Best Cinematographer of a Super Short Film | Ze’ev Waismann — Le Director |
Documentary
| Best Documentary Feature | The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11: From Tragedy to Triumph |
| Best Short Documentary | 15 PARSEC |
| Best Cinematography of a Documentary | Roberto Joe Scappaticcioi — Parivara: The Last Families |
| Best Director of a Documentary | Erik Castro — Creating a Photojournalist |
Best Music Videos
| Winner | NOW! |
Best Animation
| Winner | Hephaestus and Aphrodite |
Art/Experiential Films
| Winner | THÉTIS |
AI AWARDS
| Best Film Award | Chiptide |
| Best Director Award | Mark Wachholz — Céremony |
Art House Films
| Best Arthouse Film | From Jazz to Jackboots |
| Best Actress in an Arthouse Film | Lou Schoof — I Wish I Could Blame It on Someone |
| Best Director of an Arthouse Film | Rex Shannon — European Man…American Beach |
| Best Actor in an Arthouse Film | Bogdan Szumilas — European Man… American Beach |
| Best Script for an Arthouse Film | Rex Shannon — European Man…American Beach |
Narrative Feature And Mid-Length Awards:
| Best Narrative Feature (Best Movie) | Meta Take One |
| Best Director Narrative Feature | Anthony Di Mieri — Love New York |
| Best Script for a Narrative Feature | Conrad Christian Helgers — Solo Female |
| Best Actress in a Narrative Feature | Leah Eckardt — Golden |
| Best Actor in a Narrative Feature | Behtash Fazlali — Cast Aside the Clouds |
| Best Cinematography for a Feature Film | Matt Batchelor — MAM |
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