Winter Film Festival
13th Annual Indie Film Fest | February 19-23 2025
Celebrate The Best of Indie Film!
NEW YORK, January 30 2025: Winter Film Festival is returning to the Big Apple for its 13th year. The festival places a special emphasis on highlighting the work of under-represented filmmakers, and for 2025, the festival will showcase 87 films from around the world – from animated films, documentaries, dramas, horror films and music videos, 14 student films, 29 first-time directors and more than half of the films made by women and half by BIPOC directors. Screenings will take place from February 20 to 22 at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, located at 657 West 57th Street, New York.
Tickets are on sale now at https://wff2025.eventcombo.com
Winter Film Festival believes that only by seeing others’ stories can we understand each other and only via an open door can the underrepresented artist enter the room.
Screening Blocks
SCREENING BLOCKS include a mix of shorts and feature-length films and a 20-minute Q&A Session with the filmmakers. Screening block highlights include:
- 7 World Premieres, 11 US Premieres and 32 NYC Premieres!
- 30% of films made in New York City
- $5 Short Film Matinees – Feb 20 & 21, including Made in NY Shorts, Horror Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Animation + Music Videos
- Documentary Day – Feb 22 12:15pm-11:30pm. All documentaries, all day!
- Bloody Saturday Night Horror – Feb 22 5:10pm-11:55pm. 14 frightening films from 7 countries!
Filmmaking Education
The Festival is dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers as they break into the industry. There will be six FREE educational and career-building sessions open to the public, including:
- The Secret Bloody Truths – Get Your Indie Horror Film Made! (Feb 20, 12:45-2:00pm)
- Surviving as a Freelancer in the Film Industry with the Freelancer’s Union (Feb 20, 2:15-3:30pm)
- Harnessing Flexibility in your Acting & Filmmaking – with IMPROV! (Feb 20, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
- Festival Formula: Here To Tell You Some Festival Truths (and be honest) (Feb 21, 12:45pm-2:00pm)
- All About Distribution with Dan Gurlitz (Feb 21, 2:15pm-3:30pm)
- Navigating Film Fundraising with NYWIFT (Feb 21, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
Parties and Social Networking
Winter Film Festival continues to be a beacon for creativity, fostering a supportive environment for filmmakers to share their unique voices on the global stage. Our parties and social events offer exciting networking availabilities.
- OPENING NIGHT KICK OFF BASH – February 19 from 7-11pm at CIRCO LOUNGE, 1604 Broadway. Filmmaker’s reception, industry networking and kick-off party. This event is free and open to the public (21+).
- MIXERS & NETWORKING – Our festival lounge will be open daily at Mirabella Lounge @LOOK Cinemas, 657 West 57th Street. Hobnob with filmmakers, industry professionals and community partners at happy hours and networking events from February 20-22. Mixers are free and open to the public and include discounted drinks with screening ticket.
- GALA RED CARPET + AWARD CEREMONY February 23 5pm-11pm at Club 230FIFTH, 230 Fifth Avenue. Red Carpet 5pm, Awards Ceremony 7-8pm, After-Party 8pm onwards. With live performances from local NYC talent and appearances from film industry veterans. This event is free and open to the public (21+).
For press information and accreditation, visit https://winterfilmfest.org/wff2025/press/
Corporate & Local Support
We are privileged to enjoy collaborations with 230 Fifth, 4Imprint Foundation, Aerial Acrobat Entertainment, Aster LED Technology, B&H Photo, Backstage, Boxed Water is Better, Edge Auto Rental, Elvid, EventCombo, EZ Popup Booth, FearsMag, Festival Formula, Final Draft Inc, Gaffer Power, Inner Circle Distribution, LensPen, LOOK Cinemas NYC, Materials for the Arts, Maxon, Mayors Office of Media and Entertainment, Moroccanoil, MoviVue Premiere Horror Streaming, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York Film Academy, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), NYS Governors Office of Motion Picture & Television Development, NYU Women’s Initiative, Oregon Film, Pineapple Improv, Salesforce.com, ScreenCraft, Set Shop, Shinbone Photography, Simple DCP, Simply Gum, Soundview Media Partners, The Korea Society and The Tiffen Company
About Winter Film Festival
New York City’s 13th Annual Winter Film Festival runs February 19-23 2025 includes 87 outstanding films, a diverse mixture of animated films, documentaries, comedies, romances, dramas, horror films, music videos and web series of all lengths. Our five-day event is jam-packed with screenings and Q&A sessions at NYC’s LOOK Cinemas, six Education sessions/workshops and a variety of filmmaker networking events all coming to a glittering close on February 25 with our red-carpet gala Awards Ceremony.
Winter Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the amazing diversity of voices in indie film and our 2025 lineup is half made by women and half by people of color. Filmmakers come from 20 countries and 30% of our films were made in the New York City area. 15 films were made by students and 26 are works from first-time filmmakers.
Winter Film Festival programs are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Visit https://winterfilmfest.org/wff2025/ for more information.
