Winter Film Awards International Film Festival 2024

The 12th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival in New York City will include 82 outstanding films, a diverse mixture of animated films, documentaries, comedies, romances, dramas, horror films, music videos, and web series of all lengths. The 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 25th with a red-carpet gala Awards Ceremony.

Winter Film Awards is dedicated to showcasing the amazing diversity of voices in indie film and their 2024 lineup is 58% made by women and half by or about people of color. Filmmakers come from 23 countries and 41% of our films were made in the New York City area.

SCREENING BLOCKS include a mix of shorts and feature-length films and a 20-minute Q&A Session with the filmmakers. Free shuttle buses are available between the Columbus Circle subway station (57th Street & 8th Avenue) and the theater from 5:30pm-midnight.

Screening block highlights include:
* Documentary Day – Saturday, February 24th 12:45pm-11:50pm. All documentaries, all day!
* Bloody Friday Night Horror – Friday, February 23rd 9am-11:45pm. Eleven frightening short films from around the world!
* Films from Spain – 6 films, Thursday, Feb 22nd, 8:30-11:15pm
* Films from France – 5 films, Friday, Feb 23rd, 8:30-11:15pm
* Short Film Blocks Thursday, Feb 22nd, 6-8:20pm and Saturday Feb 24th, 12:20pm-2:25pm

EDUCATION SESSIONS – The Festival is dedicated to helping emerging filmmakers learn how to break into the industry. There will be six FREE educational and career-building sessions open to the public.

* All About Filmmaking in New York, with NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Deputy Director of Film Thavary Krouch and Laura Berning, Sr. Project Manager from the NYS Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (Feb 22nd 12:45-2pm)
* Everything You Need to Know about Music for Your Indie Film (Feb 22nd 2:15-3:30pm)
* Filmmaking Unveiled: Navigating the Essentials for Actor Filmmakers with Valorie Hubbard (Feb 22nd 3:45-5:00pm)
* Grantwriting For Filmmakers (Feb 23rd 12:45-2:00pm)
* Casting Strategies for Indie Filmmakers & Actors with Richard Jordan Casting (Feb 23rd 2:15-3:30pm)
* Distribution Strategies For Independent Filmmakers with Dan Gurlitz (Feb 23rd 3:45-5:00pm)

PARTIES & SOCIALIZING
* OPENING NIGHT KICK OFF BASH – February 21st from 7-11pm at Somewhere Nowhere, 112 West 25th Street. Filmmaker’s reception, industry networking, and kick-off party. This event is free and open to the public (21+).

* MEETUPS & NETWORKING – A new 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 22nd- 24th. Meetups are free and open to the public and include discounted drinks with screening ticket.

* GALA RED CARPET + AWARD CEREMONY February 25th 5-11pm 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+).