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What is Festival of Cinema NYC?
Festival of Cinema NYC is a competitive film festival

Programming consists of remarkable independent films, of all lengths, genres and subjects from around the world screened to the public over a ten day period.

Truly independent cinema

Our programmers look for the best in truly independent films. All films selected come from independent filmakers that put their blood, sweat and tears into their productions. No film selected has backing from a major film studio.

The Best in
Independent films
The Best in
Independent films
The Best in
Independent films
What is FoC?
What is Festival of Cinema NYC?
Festival of Cinema NYC is designed to elevate the work of emerging filmmakers and help them get to the next level of their career.

Festival of Cinema NYC is the only film festival in New York City to be supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Support from these nationally recognized foundations is a testament to the hard work our team has put into advancing the careers of filmmakers. Whether they are new to the industry with their first film, or a filmmaker with several films under their belt, our mission is to help these emerging filmmakers get more exposure and media attention, reach larger audiences, and meet other industry professionals who can help further their career.

Truly independent cinema

Our programmers look for the best in truly independent films, series, music videos, animation and scripts of all lengths and genres. All films selected come from independent filmmakers that put their blood, sweat and tears into their productions. No budget is too big or too small.

The Best in
Independent films
The Best in
Independent films
The Best in
Independent films
Why submit your film?
Why submit my film to Festival of Cinema NYC?
Exposure & Media coverage

Our exquisite press team works around the clock to get the most media coverage for your film at the Festival. Past film selections have been covered by Page SIX of the NY Post, Time Warner Spectrum NY1 News Channel and CSNBC.

Distribution Possibilities

Our budding reputation has lead various independent film distributors to send their scouts to our festival, in hopes of acquiring the next big Indie Hit. To date Festival of Cinema NYC has helped over a dozen films land a distribution deal.

Get
Discovered
Get
Discovered
Slide 3
We're not just movies
Workshops, Panels and Talkbacks

Festival of Cinema NYC hosts a variety of workshops, panels and industry Q&A's that are free for everyone to attend. Past workshops have included presentations by SAG-AFTRA, Seed & Spark and Kitsplit. Speakers have included distributors from Cavu Pictures, Artsploitation Films, and Soundview Media Partners.

Networking & Afterparties

Festival of Cinema NYC is not just movies! The festival offers opportunities to escape from the theater by inviting locals and attending filmmakers to join us for our Happy Hour get together, Karaoke Night, Trivia Night, Comedy Night and our popular Mid-Week Red Carpet Event Afterparty!

meet
Filmmakers
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2023 Jurors
Presenting the
2023
Festival of Cinema NYC
Jury Panel
David Josh Lawrence
Harley Kaplan
Casting Director

Harley Kaplan is a co-founder and casting director with Powers/Kaplan Casting, a bi-coastal casting office that specializes in independent film. Recent projects include the feature films This is Not a War Story, The Last Time I Saw You Blessed, Empathy Inc. Harley started out in casting with the legendary office of Hopkins/Smith/Barden, where he worked as a casting assistant on movies such as Boys Don't Cry, The Cider House Rules, and Simply Irresistible, as well as HBO's television series Sex In The City. He later served as an associate with PalmStar and S2 Entertainment. Since forming Powers/Kaplan in 2010, Harley has cast the award-winning Blue Ruin and The Comedy, as well as Mamarosh, The Sector, The Tell-Tale Heart, and promotional campaigns for Sony, Random-House, PSE&G, AncestryDNA
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Fanny Texier
Alexis Walker
Talent Manager

Alexis Walker is a Talent Manager at Entertainment Lab. She holds a Bachelor of Fine and Applied Arts Degree from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Previous work includes: Jr. Agent at the Jackson Agency, Mentee in the CSA Mentorship Program and Jennifer Ajemian Casting.
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Greg Cally
Jacob Stebel
Producer at Ghetto Film School.

Jacob Stebel is a teacher, writer, photographer, and producer from Long Island, NY where he spent his teenage years and early twenties working on public access shows, and managing an arthouse movie theater, while writing and acting in several short films.
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Michael Joy
Joshua A. Foster
Producer

Joshua A. Foster is a film director/producer graduate of the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts. He currently serves as the Executive of Cinetic Media.
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Kim Loan Duong
Danielle Burgess
Actor/Producer

Danielle Burgess is known for USA's Golden Globe nominated 'The Sinner', HBO's 'The Deuce', NBC's 'Manifest', and 'Law & Order: SVU.
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Anthony Laura
Dito Montiel
Writer and Director

Dito Montiel is an author, screenwriter and director. His 2006 film A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize and the Director’s Award. Mr. Montiel will be in attendance for a retrospective screening of his film, followed by a moderated Q&A.

Dito Montiel will be receiving the Indie Film Vanguardian Award at the 2023 Festival of Cinema NYC recognizing his accomplishments as a writer and director
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2022 Award Winners
2022 Award Winners
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
The Nominees are

Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Tires
Short Draft
Kogershin

Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Tires
Short Draft
Kogershin

Herizon
Four Walls
Loved
Fog of War
Nothing Happened
Helado
Come Find Me
Radiant Ties
Short Draft
Kogershin

Best Cinematography
Winner Cinematography

Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki

Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki

Winner
Radiant Ties
Accepting Award: Juli Sasaki

Winner Cinematography
Best Make Up and Visual FX
Best Make Up and Visual FX
The Nominees are

The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest

The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest

The Goldsmith
The Torture Within
Tales From Babylon
Casanoir
Four Walls
The Ankou, The Child,
and The Bandit
Fog of War
A Real Adventure
Lifequest

Best Make Up and Visual FX
Winner Make Up & FX

Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren

Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren

Winner
Fog of War
Accepting Award: Steven Lundgren

Winner Make Up & FX
Best Picture Editing
Best Picture Editing
The Nominees are

Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street

Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street

Autumn Leaves Fall
Far From Home
Snail Mail
The Coolest Club
Tales From Babylon
Mariposas
Floppies
D.O.A.
Good Grief
The Third Defector
Miracle on 74th Street

Best Picture Editing
Winner Pic edit

Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello

Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello

Winner
Floppies
Editor: John Cappello

Winner Pic edit
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Editing
The Nominees are

The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway

The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway

The Sound of Southside
Salvation
Stars
D.O.A.
Casanoir
The Third Defector
Fog of War
Ghosts of the Void
Pillow Talk
A Tiger on the Subway

Best Sound Editing
Winner Sound Design

Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge

Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge

Winner
Stars
Accepting Award: Mars Roberge

Winner Sound Design
Best Ensemble
Best Ensemble
The Nominees are

Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad

Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad

Paris is in Harlem
Wicked Image
Brenda and Billy
(and the Pothos Plant)
Stars
Tales from Babylon
Good Grief
5 Seasons
Pearly Gates
Events at Hemlock Manor
Good Side of Bad

Best Ensemble
Winner ensemble

Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay

Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay

Winner
5 Seasons
Director: Katja Sallay

Winner ensemble
Breakthrough Actress
Breakthrough Actress
The Nominees are

Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa

Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa

Cuando La Rumorosa Calla - Yunuen Rhi
Overdue - Jeanine Bartel
Subterranean Love - Maria Haufrecht
Guy Friends - Kavita Jariwala
Disfluency - Libe Barer
Look Like You - Shazi Raja
Sibel's Silence - Mélissa Boros
The Online Shop -
Michaela Schaffrath
Nothing Happened -
Nancy Kimball
Come Find Me - Sophia Massa

Breakthrough Actress
Winner Breakthrough Actress

Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me

Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me

Winner
Sophia Massa
Come Find Me

Winner Breakthrough Actress
Breakthrough Actor
Breakthrough Actor
The Nominees are

Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris

Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris

Overdue - Howard Hendrix Powell
Another Day on 73rd Street -
Matias Bonino
The Hunt - Fredrique Andrau
Human Nature - Owen Fitzpatrick
The Scenario - T. Arthur Cottam
Loved - Joseph Sernio
Fog of War - Michael Vlamis
Soldiers - Maishun Cao
Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert -
Damien De Dobbeleer
In Your Head - Noel Harris

Breakthrough Actor
Winner Breakthrough Actor

Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan

Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan

Winner
Damien De Dobbeleer (Interviewing Guillaume Bogaert)
Accepting award: Fabrice Chan

Winner Breakthrough Actor
Best Director
Best Director
The Nominees are

Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg

Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg

Kogershin - Malik Zenger
Subterranean Love - Robert Haufrecht
The Hunt - Yann Reuzeau
Miss Viborg - Marianne Blicher
Takbir - Jordi Calvet
Naked Men In The Woods - Paul Ploberger
Diversion (Politcs of) - Simon Heymans
The Torture Within - Sean Martinez
Floppies - John Cappello
Aaron with 2 A's - Michael Goldburg

Best Director
Winner Best Director

Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)

Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)

Winner
Robert Haufrecht
Subterranean Love (Olga)

Winner Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
The Nominees are

Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop

Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop

Una Carta A Mis Hijas
Erik
Takbir
Sting Ray
Naked Young Men in the Woods
Your Silent Face
Sibel's Silence
The Torture Within
Fever
The Online Shop

Best Screenplay
Winner Screenplay

Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay

Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay

Winner
Your Silent Face
Writer: Anna Capunay

Winner Screenplay
Best Web TV
Best Web/TV Series
The Nominees are

Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!

Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!

Adventures of the Fboys
Yellow Lines
I Could Eat
Forensic Psychologist
Four Walls
Events at Hemlock Manor
How Did That Happen?!

Best Web TV
Best Web TV Winner

Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Patrick Devaney
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton

Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Patrick Devaney
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton

Winner
How Did That Happen?!
Director: Patrick Devaney
Accepting Award: Jeannie Dalton

Best Web TV Winner
Best Ani,MV,exp
Best Animation, Experimental or Music Video
The Nominees are

The Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart

Jason Pell's Pinpricks
Sucks to be the Moon
Blind dateThe Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart
Zeria
Man with Shadow
Vultures
A Feast That Never Comes
Cookaphony
Reminiscence
Snakes of Russia - Heart Caves In
Todo

The Coral Reef Chronicles
Roses In the Night
Art
NALA
Remain
No Fun
Brontë
Razzm'tazz
Static
My Holographic Heart

Best Ani,MV,exp
Best anime,mv,exp Winner

Winner
A Feast That Never Comes
by Ex-Fiance

Winner
A Feast That Never Comes
by Ex-Fiance

Winner
Static
Directed by Jamin Mears

Best anime,mv,exp Winner
Best feature Narrative
Best Feature Narrative
The Nominees are

Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home

Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home

Sibel's Silence
Disfluency
Aurora's Sunrise
Good Side of Bad
Waiting for the Lights to Change
Where is the Lie?
5 Seasons
Boys at Twenty
D.O.A.
There's No Place Like Home

Best feature Narrative
Best feature Winner

Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh

Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh

Winner
Sibel's Silence
Aly Yeganeh

Best feature Winner
Best Short Narrative
Best Short Narrative
The Nominees are

Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy

Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy

Takbir
Diversion (Politics of)
The Torture Within
Fever
Floppies
The Anku, The Child, and the Bandits
Soldiers
Look Like You
Cuando La Rumorosa Calla
The Caddy

Best Short Narrative
Best Short Winner

Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello

Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello

Winner
Floppies
Director: John Cappello

Best Short Winner
Best Documentary
Best Documentary
The Nominees are

Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth

Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth

Faith In Blackness: An Exploration of AfroLatine Spirituality
Bring it to the People
From Chile to Canada: Media Herstories
Scrawn
Unseen Crisis: Vaccine Stories You Were Never Told
Gotham: The Rise and Fall of New York City
Copyright Infringement
The Book of Harth

Best Documentary
Best Doc Winner

Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet

Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet

Winner
The Book of Harth
Director: Pierre Guillet

Best Doc Winner
Best Un-Produced Script
Best Un-Produced Script
The top 13 Finalist

ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound

ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound

ANN ARBOR pilot Vagina Dialogue
DiMo Episode 1
Godfor
Lobby Card Pilot: Some Fabulous Rhapsody
Quintana
Real Heroes
Searching for Shadow
The Pickleball Killer
The Reflections of Appletree Junction
Witchblood
Sadist
Shepherds Gone Wild
Skybound

Best Un-Produced Script
Best Un-Produced Script
Best Un-Produced Script
Winner

Real Heroes

Written by Richard Hohenrath

Real Heroes

Written by Richard Hohenrath

Real Heroes

Written by Richard Hohenrath

Best Un-Produced Script
Audience Choice Feature
The Winner of the
Audience Choice for
Best Feature Film is....
Audience Choice Feature
Audience Choice Short

Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root

Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root

Winner
Good Side of Bad
Director: Alethea Root

Audience Choice Short
Winner Audience Choice Short
The Winner of the
Audience Choice for
Best Short Film is....
Winner Audience Choice Short
Audience Choice Short

Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez

Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez

Winner
Helado
Director: Melissa Rodriguez

Audience Choice Short
Indie Film Vanguardian Award Recipient

Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel

Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel

Indie Film Vanguardian Award recepient
Writer/Director: Dito Montiel

Indie Film Vanguardian Award Recipient
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