About us

Every generation redefines art. Cinema was once silent and fragile, then it spoke, became color, bold, digital. It came out of the underground, put together festivals, created revolutions, changed consciousness. Today is your way out.
The New York Times Indie Fest is a place where cinema lives not in the past, but in the future. We are once again bringing together directors, writers, actors, cameramen, and editors whose films don’t just tell stories, but rewire reality. It’s not budgets that matter here, but ideas and honesty in the frame.
The New York Times Indie Fest is not just about screenings. It’s meetings, clashes of views, discussions with those who are changing the industry. These are the days when New York becomes a place for new collaborations.
If your movie has fire in it, it should be here.
Apply. Let’s create our own era.

New York Times Indie Fest Awards

Major Awards

1. Best Feature Film – for best feature-length feature film.
2. Best Documentary Feature – for best feature-length documentary film.
3. Best Short Film – for Best Short Film.
4. Best Experimental Film – for its innovative approach to film language and unconventional visual thinking.
5. Best Animated Film – for outstanding contribution to the art of animation.
6. Best Debut Feature – for the best feature-length debut.

Special Awards

1. The Audience Choice Award – Audience Choice Award.
2. Best Use of New York – for the movie that most accurately captures the spirit of the city.
3. The Social Impact Award – for a film that raises important social issues.
4. The Sound & Music Excellence Award – for outstanding work with sound and soundtrack.
5. The Timeless Storytelling Award – for a story that will be relevant decades from now.

Awards for Directors, Writers and Cinematographers

1. Best Director – for outstanding directing.
2. Breakthrough Director Award – for a new voice in filmmaking that gets the word out.
3. Best Screenplay – for the most elaborate, insightful and original screenplay.
4. Best Cinematography – for outstanding camerawork and visual style.

Actor Awards

1. Best Performance – for outstanding acting.
2. Breakthrough Performance – for an actor who is making a real statement for the first time.
3. Best Ensemble Cast – for the best acting ensemble.

Rules for participation in the festival

1. Originality first – films must be original works of their authors. Plagiarism or illegal use of materials is excluded.
2. Global participation – the festival is open to participants from all over the world. Films not in English must have English subtitles.
3. Film formats – feature-length (40 minutes or more), short films (up to 40 minutes), documentaries, experimental and animated works are accepted.
4. Completion date – all films must be completed after January 1, 2020.
5. Exclusivity – priority is given to films that have not been widely available online or at other major festivals.
6. Video quality – minimum resolution of 1920×1080, with clear audio and correct colors.
7. There are no genre restrictions – within the experimental film category, works in any genre are accepted as long as they maintain an independent and auteuristic style.
8. Student category – students must provide proof of tuition when submitting an entry.
9. Deadlines for submission are.

• Early deadline: March 15, 2025
• Regular deadline: June 1, 2025
• Late deadline: July 15, 2025

10. Premium Category – Films selected for the main competition program must be available in high quality for screening.
11. Copyright – entrants must own all rights to the video and audio material used in the film.
12. Promotional Materials – entrants agree to the use of excerpts of their films for festival promotional purposes.
13. Notification of Results – the selection committee announces the results 7 days prior to the festival.
14. Final format for screening – if a film is selected, the filmmaker must submit a DCP or other high quality format.