15TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 24-28 2027
SUBMISSIONS OPEN NOW!
Festival to Showcase Diverse Indie Voices & Emerging Filmmakers
Documentary, Narrative, Horror, Music Video, Animation and Web Series
Underrepresented voices in film to be featured at NYC celebration of local and global indie directors.
Winter Film Festival Is New York City. Like the city itself, the organization showcases the eclectic diversity and excitement of the independent arts world. The 14th Annual Winter Film Festival runs February 24-28 2027.
Winter Film Festival’s mission is to promote diversity, bridge the opportunity divide and provide a platform for under-represented artists and a variety of genres, viewpoints and approaches – only by seeing others’ stories can we understand each other and only via an open door can the underrepresented artist enter the room.
The Festival features creative fresh voices from emerging filmmakers worldwide in all genres and lengths – feature length and shorts, narrative fiction, dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, horror, web series and music videos.
Filmmakers are invited to submit their latest work via FilmFreeway
Filmmakers from around the world will travel to NYC to attend the Festival’s thoughtfully curated film screenings at NYC’s REGAL Union Square, fascinating discussion panels and professional development workshops and glittering parties at venues throughout NYC. The Festival will conclude with an awards ceremony to be held on February 28, 2027 at Club 230FIFTH, NYC’s premier nightclub.
The Festival’s goal is to showcase an exciting program of work from around the world and the vast diversity of the artist experience, and to help emerging filmmakers gain the recognition needed to move forward with careers in the industry. Filmmakers receive extensive educational opportunities geared towards emerging filmmakers, substantial media exposure and support via SEO-enhanced web pages, written articles and video promos.
Winter Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing the amazing diversity of voices in indie film and the 2026 lineup included 103 outstanding films, half made by women and half by people of color. Filmmakers came from 27 countries and 1/4 of the films were made in the New York City area. 20 films were made by students and 34 works from first-time filmmakers. Visit our 2026 Festival Page for details.
Outstanding work will be awarded for each category, along with Best Director, Best Student Film and Best NYC Film. Over $50,000 in cash, prizes & distribution opportunities will be awarded. Winter Film Festival is an IMDB-qualifying festival.
WFF2027 Milestone Dates
June 1 2026…Submissions Open
September 14 2026… Early Bird Submissions Deadline
October 18 2026 … Regular Submissions Deadline
November 15 2026 … Late Submissions Deadline
January 5 2027 … Entrants to be notified of final decisions
February 24 2027 … Festival Opening Night Celebration
February 25-27 2027… Screenings, Director Q&A, Discussion Panels, Social Mixers & Networking Parties
February 28 2027 … Gala Red Carpet & Awards Ceremony
“Emerging filmmakers with low budgets and no connections are so often ignored in favor of the standard big budget generic action films. Diverse, exciting low budget films are created all over the world; it is critical for film festivals to showcase them. Indie film festivals are often the sole means for the community to share personal stories from around the world, and WFF’s location in the center of the action provides our filmmakers with a dazzling chance to begin their careers in the film industry.” – George Isaacs, Winter Film Festival Founder
“Phenomenal festival! Use of stellar venues and top notch treatment of the filmmakers. The whole team is inviting, communicative and champions of creatives. Amazing open and closing night parties with a very exciting awards show. The awards show is reminiscent of those you’d see on TV with red carpet interviews pre and post awards. Definitely a festival I will attend again.” – Steven St. Pierre, director “Room for Rent”
“I didn’t know a lot about the Winter Film Festival in NYC prior to going, but man what a time it was! Especially for my first time in NYC, couldn’t think of a better way to premiere our film in the city and state. Their awards party was probably one of the best I’ve ever been to. Amazing views of the city and a fully decked out event. This is a festival that knows the events, interviews, promo are just as crucial to the experience as the quality in films. Cheers on the great festival!” – Tim Connery, director “The Driftless”
“IIncredible Festival Experience & Team! Winter Film Festival was a truly extraordinary time with so many events and festivities taking place in the heart of Manhattan. Steffanie, George, and the entire Winter team TRULY care about organizing an event that caters to independent filmmakers from around the world. They make sure every filmmaker and film team feels at home. I’m so incredibly grateful I had the chance to take part in this festival. This is truly a must submit for any filmmaker, I will always want to take part! Thank you so much again, Winter Team! “ – J.R. Stokes, director “Beautiful, Pam”
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 15th Annual Winter Film Festival runs February 24-28 2027 and will include 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 28 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.
