New York Shorts International Film Festival 2026 Unveils Lineup Featuring Oscar® Contenders, Animation, Documentary Showcase, and Industry Sessions

 

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 -- The 15th annual New York Shorts International Film Festival, one of North America’s largest showcases of short-form cinema, today announced its official lineup and ticket sales for the 2026 edition. The festival takes place from October 9–15 at the historic Cinema Village Theater in New York City. 

 

The festival will present 247 short films curated across 42 program blocks, followed by filmmaker Q&As. The official selection features works from filmmakers across the globe, including the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Czech Republic, Philippines, Italy, Luxembourg, Pakistan, Russia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and China.   

 

Audiences will also experience short films spanning Live Action, Animation, and Non-Fiction. 

 

Curated Highlights

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• Animation: Headlined by The Girl Who Cried Pearls (La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles) directed by Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski, winner of the 2026 Academy Awards® Best Animated Short Film.

• Asia Cinema:  A dedicated selection of standout films from: Bangladesh, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and China.

• Music & Dance: A curated selection featuring experimental shorts, documentary dance pieces, and music videos. 

• Horror & Sci-fi: Suspenseful science-fiction and dark-imagination shorts. 

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Industry Sessions 

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• Cracking The Crowdfunding Code, Monday, October 12, at 1:00 p.m. Guest speaker Melissa Center

• Navigating the SAG-AFTRA Producer’s Portal, Wednesday, October 14 at 1:00 p.m. Guest speakers Sarah Seeds (SAGindie co-Chair) and Jack Mulcahy (SAGindie Film Committee)

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Special events 

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• Opening Meet & Greet | Thursday, Oct 8 @ 8:00 p.m. Connect with directors, producers, and crew over drinks at Ace Bar.​​

• Award Reception | Friday, Oct 16 @ 7:00 p.m. Celebrate the festival's standout films and find out who takes home top honors. (Badge holders only)

 

Information

• Dates: October 9 - 15, 2026 

• Venue: Cinema Village, 22 E 12 St. New York

• Tickets: www.NYShorts.net 

 

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