Winter Film Festival Turns 14: A Global Stage for Emerging Filmmakers
February 18-22 2026
Celebrate The Best of Indie Film!
NEW YORK, January 10 2026: Winter Film Festival is returning to the Big Apple for an exciting 14th year. The festival places a special emphasis on highlighting the work of emerging and under-represented filmmakers, and for 2026, the festival will showcase 103 films from around the world – shorts and features, animation, documentaries, dramas, romances, comedies, horror and music videos, including 20 student films and 34 first-time directors. Half of the selections were made by women, half by BIPOC directors and 25% by New Yorkers. Screenings will take place from February 19-21 at Regal Cinemas Union Square, located at 850 Broadway, New York.
Tickets on sale starting January 15 at https://wff2026.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 include a mix of shorts and feature-length films and a 20-minute Q&A Session with the filmmakers. Screening block highlights include:
- 8 World Premieres, 11 US Premieres and 44 NYC Premieres!
- 25% of films made in New York City
- $5 Short Film Matinees – Feb 19 & 20, including Made in NY Shorts, Horror Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Animated Shorts
- Documentary Day – Feb 21 12:00pm-11:25pm. All documentaries, all day!
- Bloody Saturday Night Horror – Feb 21 5:50pm-midnight. 23 frightening films from 8 countries!
EDUCATION SESSIONS – 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:
- Film Festivals and How to Look After Your Mental Health (Feb 19, 12:45-2:00pm)
- Casting Strategies for Indie Filmmakers & Actors (Feb 19, 2:15-3:30pm)
- Independent Distribution Strategies: Information vs. Disinformation (Feb 19, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
- Crash Course in Making Your First Feature Film (Feb 20, 12:45 PM-2:00 PM)
- Sustainable Filmmaking 101: Why It Matters and How to Get Started with NYC MOME’s FilmGreen Office (Feb 20, 2:15pm-3:30pm)
- Producing 101 (Feb 20, 3:45pm-5:00pm)
SOCIAL – 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 18 from 7-11pm Somewhere Nowhere, 112 W 25th Street, Floor 38 & 39 Filmmaker’s reception, industry networking and kick-off party. This event is free and open to the public (21+).
- GALA RED CARPET + AWARD CEREMONY February 22 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+).
Official Artwork for 2026 Festival designed by Matt Curtis. Winter Film Festival 2026 animation designed by Rylie McCloskey, Neorah Paul, Marina Kikkawa and August Sanchez from Professor Mike Enright’s 2D Animation Studio III class at Pratt Institute’s Department of Digital Arts and Animation.
Additional 2026 animation designed by Professor Mauricio E. Salazar Cavazos with Miguel Alexandre Castillo Guzman, Luz Eugenia Morales De La Rosa, Ana Elizabeth Aldape Gonzalez, Mia Valentina Carrillo Perez, Keira Jannai Garcia Castillo, Mariana Rodriguez De Leon, Diego Arturo Torres Juarez and Professor Rodrigo Farias.
For press information and accreditation, visit https://winterfilmfest.org/wff2026/press/
Corporate & Local Support
We are privileged to enjoy collaborations with the following organizations:
2026 Festival Sponsors
About Winter Film Festival
Winter Film Festival is an all-volunteer women and minority-run organization as part of Winter Film Awards Inc, a 501(c)3 organization founded in 2011 to celebrate emerging talent in local and international filmmaking.
The 14th Annual Winter Film Festival runs February 18-22 2026 includes 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 REGAL Union Square, six Education sessions/workshops and a variety of filmmaker networking events all coming to a glittering close on February 22 with our red-carpet gala Awards Ceremony.
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. Promotional support provided by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment.
For more information about Winter Film Festival, visit WinterFilmFest.org
email us at info@winterfilmawards.com and visit us at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
