New York Int'l Children's Film Festival (NYICFF)

At NYICFF 2026, we saw a 30% increase in ticket sales—that’s 30% more kids who saw artful, intelligent films from around the world. A larger audience for films that more closely reflect their communities, cultures, and the world around them. Because of you, more kids experienced the confidence-boosting, empathy-driving power of exploring the world through film. Don't let the momentum end there. Contribute to our fiscal year-end campaign to keep NYICFF growing and show kids that their perspectives, communities, and voices are worth celebrating, on screen and off.
nyicff.org/donate

📢 Even with NYICFF 2026 barely in the rearview mirror, we're looking ahead! Submissions are open for NYICFF 2027, our 30th anniversary edition. Share your work at the largest film fest for kids and families in North America—one with a decades-long track record of sold-out screenings, enthusiastic audiences, and showcasing the early work of now-renowned filmmakers like Chloe Zhao, Taika Waititi, Benjamin Renner, and more. Visit filmfreeway.com/nyicff for more info and to submit!

Last, but certainly not least, we want to thank YOU. We have the most thoughtful, enthusiastic, curious, energetic members and audience in town. Thank you so so much for your pre-screening cheers, your post-screening discussions, and for simply being the best. As we wrap up the 2026 Festival season, we hope you'll keep in touch and join us at our year-round programs (Field Trips! Member preview screenings! Our tour! and more!) Visit nyicff.org to learn about all the ways to stay involved.

If you've ever been to a NYICFF event, we don't need to tell you how amazing our volunteers and interns are...but we will anyway: they're the best! Give it up for our ticket-scanning, ballot-and-pencil providing, microphone handling, warm-welcoming volunteers and interns! 👏

Of course, it wouldn't be a Festival without the work of our brilliant filmmakers and the distributors who made sure we saw it. Thank you for your art, imagination, enthusiasm, and your thoughtful conversations with our audience!

Our school partners are some of our biggest advocates! They help us spread the word about the Fest, all while earning money for their parent associations. Thank you, school partners. (It's never too early to sign up! Check out nyicff.org/school-partners for more info.)

Another reason to love New York? So many great places to see movies! We love our venues, from the cozy to the larger-than-life, and most have fantastic programming all year long. Thank you, DCTV, IFC Center, ASF + Scandinavia House, and SVA Theatre, for hosting us (and special shout out to Quad Cinema for all of the popcorn)!

The support we get from our city and state is invaluable. We are the very fortunate recipient of a grant from New York State Council on the Arts, a Media Arts Assistance Fund grant from NYSCA and Wave Farm for accessibility training, a Cultural Development Fund grant from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and a grant and additional support (like our hosting gorgeous digital posters on LinkNYC) from NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. WE ❤ NY!

We launched our all-new short film program, Native Stories, at this year's Fest. We couldn't be prouder—or more grateful to the partners who made this program (and its upcoming touring version 👀) possible. Thank you Consulate General of Canada in New York, Québec Government Office in New York, and Dutch Culture USA! And shout out to our NYS partners who helped us launch Native Stories statewide, Buffalo International Film Festival, Parrish Art Museum, Cinema 10 at the Roxy, and Cinema Arts Centre (next up, on April 26)