--- title: Winter Film Festival - Call for Entries description: >- NYC's 15th annual Winter Film Festival seeks emerging filmmakers worldwide, all genres/lengths; screens at Regal Union Square with $50k+ in prizes. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/ba303d0f-c52c-4ac7-b794-189d68600458' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-10-11' updatedAt: '2026-10-11' programType: Festival/fair organization: Winter Film Festival organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/winter-film-festival' deadline: '2026-11-15' location: 'REGAL Union Square Cinemas, New York, NY, United States' isOnline: false compensationRange: >- Over $50,000 in swag, prizes and distribution opportunities across award categories. disciplines: - film --- # Winter Film Festival - Call for Entries **Hosted by:** Winter Film Festival **Type:** Festival/fair | **Location:** REGAL Union Square Cinemas, New York, NY, United States | **Deadline:** November 15, 2026 ## About This Program ### About the Festival New York City's Winter Film Festival (WFF) is a volunteer-run and operated celebration of the diversity of local and international film-making. We showcase creative fresh voices from emerging filmmakers worldwide in all genres and lengths – feature length and shorts, narrative fiction, documentary, animation, horror, web series and music videos. Our 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. We believe that only by seeing others' stories can we understand each other and only via an open door can the underrepresented artist enter the room. We pride ourselves on our diverse collection of Festival selections, allowing our audience to enjoy films they normally wouldn't think to seek out. For the 2026 Festival, 103 films from 27 countries were screened, including 20 student films and 34 first-time filmmakers. Half of the films were created by women, half were created by or about people of color. Works of all genres, forms, and lengths are considered. All selected films are screened at REGAL Union Square Cinemas in New York City on Screen 1 (70 seats) or Screen 2 (130 seats). For additional information about Winter Film Festival, our selection process and what we look for, visit our FAQ. The Festival includes film screenings with director Q&A, educational panels, professional development workshops and industry networking after-parties, and concludes with a glittering awards ceremony. Outstanding work will be awarded for each category, along with Best Director, Best Student Film and Best NYC Film. Winter Film Festival is thrilled to be included in Film Festival Alliance's Film Festival Directory, a comprehensive list of more than one hundred reputable film festivals committed to upholding the newly established best practices for professional film festivals. WFF is a minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We work with all local NYC film schools, colleges, arts high schools and many cultural societies. ### Awards & Prizes Over $50,000 in Swag, Prizes & Distribution Opportunities! Winners will receive prizes and distribution opportunities on various platforms and more! Winter Film Festival is dedicated to helping emerging filmmakers get recognition and press -- we work to ensure our films get written articles, video promos and red carpet interviews. We create an SEO enhanced page on our website for each accepted film, written reviews for all films over 20 minutes and tons of on-camera interviews. ### Rules & Terms - OUR CINEMA IS DCP-ONLY. ALL FILMS MUST BE AVAILABLE ON DCP - All films must have been completed not earlier than January 1, 2024 - Films must be in English or have English subtitles - Winter Film Festival is a non-profit organization and is not able to pay Screening Fees - Films must be submitted via online screener - hardcopies of DVDs are not accepted - World Premiere is not required, but notification of premiere status is appreciated - Submission fees are in U.S. dollars, per film entry, paid by credit card, and are non-refundable - Submitting filmmakers will be notified by e-mail on or before January 5, 2027 - With the exception of Web Series and Music Videos, films publicly available online or through a distribution service are ineligible - Each film should be submitted as a separate entry; do not submit a single film in multiple categories - The submitting filmmaker must own the copyright to the work ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** film - **Note:** Open to filmmakers worldwide. Films must have been completed not earlier than January 1, 2024, and must be in English or have English subtitles. Films publicly available online or through a distribution service are ineligible, with the exception of Web Series and Music Videos. The submitting filmmaker must own the copyright to the work. ### Additional Requirements - Films completed not earlier than January 1, 2024 - In English or with English subtitles - Submitted via online screener (no DVDs) - Available on DCP for screening - Submission fee paid by credit card (non-refundable) ## Compensation & Benefits Over $50,000 in swag, prizes and distribution opportunities across award categories. **Includes:** Prize Winners receive prizes and distribution opportunities on various platforms. Outstanding work will be awarded for each category, along with Best Director, Best Student Film and Best NYC Film. The festival does not pay screening fees to filmmakers. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 11, 2026 - **Deadline:** November 15, 2026 ## Contact **Email:** submissions@winterfilmawards.com ## How to Apply Apply at: https://filmfreeway.com/WFA