NYC Short Film Festival

N YC S h o r t F i l m F e s t i va l

by Scout Daugherty

The New York Short Film Festival celebrates its sixth year this December at Cinema Village in Lower Manhattan. Open to the public, filmmakers from around the world submit their work under seven categories for selection until September 30, including film, experimental, documentary, animation, sci-fi, horror, and music video. The festival caters to filmmakers and film lovers alike and creates a space where anyone passionate about the art form is welcome. The event takes place in person between December 10th to 16th, but through their on-demand viewing option, the festival encourages social distancing for those who cannot attend. A $2.99 fee on YouTube allows anyone to watch over 150 selected shorts from all categories and countries before the festival at Cinema Village even begins. The New York Short Film Festival is one of the many events that grew its online presence after the beginning of COVID-19, and their on-demand option not only allows for an audience broader than Manhattan but also gives both filmmakers and film lovers an accessible avenue to viewing and showcasing short films. The effect of COVID-19 on gatherings such as the NYSFF changed the way such events are held forever: no longer is this festival exclusive to Manhattan, but rather, its online growth allows for a stronger connection between filmmakers from around the world, providing a way in which filmmakers can showcase their work without their physical presence. All short films participating in the festival are included in the on-demand feature before the in-person event, emphasizing the importance of showcasing all of the films despite the competition aspect of the festival. Despite only seven categories of submissions, the limit of these films is nonexistent. From plots such as a woman and her new boyfriend’s mother turning into lizard creatures and fighting one another, to a decision between two acquaintances to move to Mars together, there are no boundaries to the submissions. While watching all 196 films is a tremendous undertaking, the benefit of having access to all of them is that doing so is not impossible. Each submission is unique to it-

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self and the only similarity between films is their assigned category. Despite its comedic elements and social commentary, the short film Brunch lies in the animation column, yet this categorization does not define it. A disguised millennial walks into a café and orders a black coffee in an attempt to remain unrecognized as his generation, but soon gets fed up with the other customers until finally screaming, “I’m a millennial! So what I like avocados?” Each short is beautifully made, and the in-person festival allows these projects to be showcased on the big screen. Whether a filmmaker or a film lover, the New York Short Film Festival is a great way to meet like-minded individuals and see a plethora of films separate from the conventional blockbuster films showcased at other theaters. Go to support other artists or even consider submitting your own films, and experience the celebration of film through on-demand access or attend the festival itself and personally meet the filmmakers.

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