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2026-10-26T08:56:00+00:00
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Hairygal <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Izzy Holmes<br />
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An experimental doc that gets up close and personal with the topic of feminine body hair, the beauty standards built around it, and how it affects self-perception and expression.<br />
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Izzy Holmes is a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology Film and Media. <br />
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Training For Life <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Lauren Keenan<br />
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Running saved Samantha Sauer’s life. It also keeps trying to kill her. Training For Life follows Samantha, a certified patient advocate living with gastroparesis and multiple chronic illnesses, as she attempts to train for a comeback half-marathon after years of health setbacks and a near-death experience with sepsis.<br />
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Lauren Keenan is a filmmaker and writer dedicated to championing women and telling underrepresented stories. She's worked in the film industry for 10 years, coming up in the television world on shows like Apple TV's BLACKBIRD and AMC's THE WALKING DEAD. Lauren is based in Brooklyn, New York.<br />
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The Sky Over Kherson <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"> directed by Matteo Minasi<br />
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“The Sky Over Kherson” takes viewers through the Ukrainian city, from homes and vehicles destroyed in attacks to a hospital treating the wounded and children learning to recognize the sounds and dangers of war. The film documents what daily life looks like for civilians living under the constant threat of drones.<br />
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Matteo is a director and visual storyteller who bridges two worlds that rarely meet: the journalistic grit of crisis and conflict documentary, and the precision of political and commercial campaigns. Based in New York, he heads the film unit for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), leading productions across crisis zones like Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Yemen. Backed by a master’s in International Relations from New York University, his projects have been featured at Sundance and appeared in The New York Times, Reuters, and Rai TV.<br />
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Hairygal <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Izzy Holmes<br />
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An experimental doc that gets up close and personal with the topic of feminine body hair, the beauty standards built around it, and how it affects self-perception and expression.<br />
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Izzy Holmes is a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology Film and Media. <br />
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Scrap Works <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Maksym Putintsev<br />
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Get scrappy with our hero, a traditional master blacksmith busy navigating the challenges of modern life, having forsaken power tools for a higher calling. While Ryan only works on bespoke objects, that hold special meaning to their owners, he must reconcile the mundane reality of supporting his family and business with upholding convictions of personal morality and purity of art. <br />
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Maksym Putintsev grew up in Ukraine in the 90's and moved to Canada with his family when he was twelve. The humbling combination of childhood dreams and hands-on work on set has given him a unique perspective and creative freedom that he now enjoy as a cinematographer in his world of narrative storytelling.
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Color is not a Crime - Street Activism in NYC <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Janneke Wade-de Jong<br />
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Fashion Activist Erika Ewing and Street Artist Vincent Ballentine show how BLM murals are a healing space for Black people. The film explores racism and the Black Lives Matter movement through art. <br /><br />
Janneke Wade-de Jong is a filmmaker and Part-Time Faculty at Parsons School of Design. She also teaches documentary filmmaking to BIPOC students at the Educational Video Center. She’s interested in working in the documentary field, particularly directing and editing documentaries.</span><br /><br />
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Key{stone} Lime{stone} <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Anne Ciecko<br />
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Histories and memories of industry (especially cement manufacturing in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania), domestic labor, immigration, and family are entwined in a merging of narrative poetry, stop motion animation (melding mineral and organic materials), and documentary-style video footage.<br />
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Anne Ciecko is a maker, writer, and educator. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she currently lives and works in towns in western Massachusetts. Her poetry films/videopoems and experimental short works have been screened at festivals worldwide.<br />
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<span style="--font-scale: 1.28; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85);">Screening 2<br />7:45 PM</span><br />
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Ray LeVier - A Story of Perseverance <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Chris Ware<br /><br />
Ray was born into a family of musicians. As a child he discovered an old drum kit in the basement and began thumping away. At age 12, Ray was extensively burned during a camping accident. Ray received inspiration from his mother while depressed and fighting for his life. What came to mind was playing drums. Once he decided on that, nothing could stop him.<br /><br />
Chris Ware is a 30 time NY Emmy winning journalistic cinematographer specializing in storytelling that captures the human spirit. He has also won the distinguished Peabody Award, Edward R. Murrow and The George Polk Award.</span>
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Say Their Names <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by David Reibman<br />
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Using images from 27 Black Lives Matter Protests the story of 16 people killed by the police is told along with Poetic context and an original soundtrack by Selwyn Brown from Steel Pulse. <br /><br />
David Reibman has worked in Film and Television since graduating from Cooper Union in 1977. He started out working at a video production company then as an apprentice editor and video technician for the Movie “Reds” with Warren Beatty. He worked as an editor for the Network News department for 33 years, including 6 years at 60 minutes. During that time he continued to make art and co-produced a dance video “Urban Innocence” that was shot at the World Trade Center in 1987. In 2019 he retired from CBS to pursue his art full time and eventually produced the film “Say Their Names”. </span>
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Fly with Me <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Simon Feldman<br />
<br />Mark an older man shares his passion for Trapeze with his younger friend Amber. <br /><br />
Simon Feldman began his career as a traditional advertising photographer in New York, working with many of the top advertising and design firms. Today his studio works in both stills and motion, and flies its own FAA licensed aerial unit, Aeroflightcam, for film production and television.</span><br />
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Five Years in 8mm
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Cody Stickels<br />
<br />Shot on nostalgic Super-8 film, this home-movie-style documentary follows my gender transition within my NYC queer community, tracing a journey where joy emerges as a radical antidote to pain. At its heart, this short film is a love letter to young trans and non-binary people.<br />
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Cody Stickels is a filmmaker and photographer focused on emotionally driven stories that nourish audiences. He’s a Chicken & Egg (Egg)celerator Lab fellow with <i>A Texas Son</i>and participated in the Film Independent Documentary Story Lab. Most recently, Cody was selected for the Voices With Impact Mental Health Short Film Grant for <i>Five Years in 8mm</i>. His last film,<i> A Night at Switch n’ Play</i>, won the Audience Award at NYC’s NewFest Film Festival and screened internationally at BFI Flare, Inside Out, and Woodstock. The project received support from the Richard Vague Production Fund and was featured in IndieWire, NewNowNext, and Deadline.<br />
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From Fields to Flight <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Ipshita Bhattacharyya<br />
<br />In a world ruled by patriarchy, one girl from India’s hinterlands finds the courage to challenge gender norms to achieve her dream of becoming a drone pilot.<br />
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Ipshita is an independent filmmaker with a nature-inspired, intuitive cinematic voice rooted in lived experiences. Her work explores climate change, culture, and conservation, often in grassroots India. Collaborating with global broadcasters and social organisations, she creates films on environment, gender, and human rights, capturing deep community bonds and inspiring change, one powerful story at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="--font-scale: 1.28;">Awards Ceremony<br />
9:30 PM</span><span style="--font-scale: 1.05;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />
<br />Best Documentary Film <br />Best Director <br />Best Cinematography <br />Best Super Short Documentary Film <br />Best Student Documentary Film <br />Best Experimental Documentary Film</span></span><br />
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Let's leave It Untitled <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Mieszko Chomka<br />
<br />A young man is trying to preserve his everyday life in a form of a video diary. He shares those important moments (both beautiful and trivial) with his girlfriend and his best friend. That period of his life turns out to be the year of exploration, great changes and even greater uncertainty.<br />
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Mieszko Chomka completed the DOK PRO course in Wajda School in 2023; one year later, he finished his debut documentary short Let’s Leave It Untitled. He is currently studying directing at The Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź.</span>
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Forbidden Pond <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Eric Jenkins-Sahlin<br /><br />
Deb Kapell pursues her curiosity of life and death at all sizes while making stunning images of microbiology. This short film is episode #1 of the documentary series, Dig Where I Stand, which profiles interesting characters within a 15-minute bike ride of Director Eric Jenkins-Sahlin's apartment.<br />
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Eric Jenkins-Sahlin is a film editor, cinematographer and director based in Brooklyn, NY. His work has been featured in the Guardian, Vice, The New Yorker, AdWeek, Roads & Kingdoms, DocNYC, and Spike Lee’s NYC EPICENTERS documentary. Eric was Director for a non-broadcast industrial video that won a 2019 Bronze Telly Award, Assistant Editor for In Search of Bengali Harlem (2022), Assistant Editor for the Academy Award-nominated Knife Skills (2017), and Associate Producer for A Photographic Memory (2019 Sundance Edit and Story Lab). Eric was a Fulbright Scholar to China, a UnionDocs Summer Documentary Lab fellow, and a participant in Mountain Workshops; is the Director of the Brooklyn Documentary Club and a member of Filmshop.</span><br /><br />
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Wanderer
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Yehuda Rabi<br />
<br />The nerve of the heart is called the wanderer. This is a film about a heart surgeon who became one.<br />
</span><br /><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">Yehuda Rabi is a Canadian filmmaker interested in people, animals and accidents. Originally from Calgary, he currently lives in Toronto. Wanderer is his latest short film. </span>
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Judgment Across Time
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Zhou Yu<br /><br />
For more than three decades, every Wednesday, elderly Korean women and their supporters have gathered in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, demanding justice and recognition for the victims of wartime sexual violence.<br />
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Zhou Yu is a documentary director whose work spans major Chinese media platforms, including China Central Television (CCTV), Tencent Video, and Youku</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">.<br />
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https://nycsdff.com/past-editions-1
2026-10-26T08:56:03+00:00
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Best Director - Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Jamie Kennard</span>
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Best Film - Gimme My Medicine <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Lauren Bash<br />
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Best Director - Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Jamie Kennard</span>
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Best Score - Quad Life (David Jeffers) <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Joyce Tsang</span>
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Best Script - Cornellskop: Freedom of Fear <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Nathan Oliva</span>
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Best Cinematography - Sketch of an Artist<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"> directed by Olya Zueva </span>
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<span class="caption">10 Dollar Toilet Seat <br /> <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />Meet Darick—a modern-day urban survivalist. Fueled by desperation, he turns to stealing Amazon packages, a lifeline for his drug-addicted existence.<br /><br />
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">Directed by Gregory Mitnick </span><br />
<br />Gregory Mitnick is a cultural anthropology graduate who has transitioned into a distinguished filmmaker, earning his MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program. In the commercial director's chair, Mitnick is a prominent figure in the world of doc-style spots, focusing on illuminating the narratives of underrepresented individuals and fostering social change for brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Disney. Gregory's films take audiences on immersive, character-driven journeys, exploring raw emotions and weaving playful narratives. His noteworthy achievements include Vimeo Staff Picks, Webbys, five Cannes Lions, AICP honors, One Show Golden Pencils, and a Kodak Vision Award. <br />
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<span class="caption">Over the Board<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />
<br />Directed by David Scheckel, Billie McKelvie<br />
<br />David Scheckel and Billie McKelvie are independent filmmakers living in Brooklyn, New York. While David works in academia and Billie works in publishing, both have backgrounds in independent filmmaking and are consistently working on smaller productions within their friend groups and communities.</span></span><br />
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<span class="caption">Sketch of An Artist <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />This short documentary provides an intimate look into the life of a Hamptons based artist Darius Yektai, as he faces the legacy of his late father, renowned New York School painter Manoucher Yektai, and forges his own path in the art world. The film captures Darius's creative journey, revealing how he transforms personal challenges and experiences into sources of hope, motivation, and beautiful art. Set against a backdrop of music written and performed by Darius himself, the documentary highlights the universal human desire to leave a meaningful and authentic mark on the world.<br />
<br />Directed by Olya Zueva<br />
<br />Olya was born in 1983 in Vladivostok, Russia. At age 15 she left her homeland and started a modeling career living and working between London, Milan, and Paris until she moved to New York in 2006.<br />She got her acting training at Susan Batson’s studio which led her to discover a passion for directing and writing. In 2013 Olya graduated from The New School with a screenwriting BA.<br />After directing a few shorts, her first feature film, “In the Hood” was released in 2018 in over 1,000 theaters across Russia and film festivals in London, New York, and Sydney. In the Hood explored the masculine world and its struggles for power and money. Olya continues to live and work in New York while raising her 3 y.o. daughter.<br />
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<span class="caption">Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />After a series of traumatic events, a high school English teacher in the South Bronx begins retreating to the mountains looking to heal. As the wilderness starts to mend her spirit, she rediscovers a past love of skiing, and embarks on a multi-year quest to become the first woman to backcountry ski 33 of the highest peaks in the Catskill Mountains—alone.<br />
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Directed by Jamie Kennard<br />
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Jamie Kennard purchased a camera in 2022 after losing his wife, and partner of 31 years, to cancer (having spent the prior two years as her full-time caregiver). He immediately began a self-taught journey into filmmaking. A month later he made his first vignette film ‘The Ski Guy’. He followed up with vignettes ‘The Needle Felter’ (2022) and ‘The Ciderist’ (2023). His 2024 documentary film, VARIABLE, screened in 15 cities across the US and Canada, and was an International Skiing History Association (ISHA) film award winner. He lives in Woodstock, NY, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains.<br />
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<span class="caption">Cornellskop: Freedom from Fear <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Documentary short about Luke Cornell’s creation of a South African sanctuary that gives wildlife a second chance at life while confronting the brutal realities of animal exploitation across the country.<br />
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Directed by Nathan Oliva<br />
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A travel enthusiast and explorer at heart, Nathan—an experienced cinematographer—took on the role of director for this documentary after a transformative trip to South Africa. Moved by his time there, he felt a deep pull to return and tell the story of Cornellskop, which became the foundation of his thesis project at Savannah College of Art and Design. Growing up in New Jersey, Nathan has long been driven by a passion for discovering new places and uncovering meaningful stories. His creative lens is shaped by a curiosity about the world and a desire to connect audiences with the extraordinary people and places he encounters.<br />
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<span class="caption">Gimme My Medicine <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />"Gimme My Medicine" is a vertical short film following the transformative journey of 67-year-old James Neil Ferree. Steeped in the American diet, he struggled with heart disease and relied on a daily cocktail of medication. Through participating in "Veganuary" for just 30 days, he transformed his health with a plant-based diet—dropping his blood pressure by 50 points! Thanks to the support from his content creator daughter (@relauren) and a virtual community of millions cheering him on. This documentary examines Western medicine's preference for prescriptions over lifestyle changes and advocates for a more holistic healthcare approach. It highlights how encouragement, community, and empowerment can be more powerful than medication alone. Beyond health, the film celebrates cooking, family bonds, and the lasting legacy one man can leave on the world.<br />
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Directed by Lauren Bash<br />
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Lauren Bash (she/her) is a Los Angeles-based environmentalist, content creator, and filmmaker. A graduate of Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University, she leverages her storytelling skills to educate and inspire action on the climate crisis. Lauren's work, which emphasizes climate action, community building, and sustainable living, has earned her recognition as a Harvard C-Change "Climate Creator to Watch" and features in publications like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Grist.<br />
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<span class="caption">The Border Within Us <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A hitchhike along a new border in eastern Armenia becomes a journey within a human landscape. People try to show us the border and share stories of how it affects their lives. They sing about the soil on the other side and mourn what has been lost. This was once an area where people of different groups lived together, but wars and forced migrations have transformed a “we” into “us and them”. The border is very real and impossible to cross. But it is abstract and invisible in the landscape. Where is it? Is it inside us?<br />
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Directed by Knutte Wester<br />
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Educated at Academy of fine arts in Umeå and Johannesburg, graduating 2003. Has worked as contemporary artist and filmmaker since. His film A Bastard Child premiered at IDFA 2016 and his latest film You can’t show my face premiered at DOC NYC in 2021. He has exhibited in galleries and art institutions internationally and is represented at Moderna Museet, stockholm, The Nordic watercolor museum, Skärhamn, Eskilstuna Museum of Art and many other institutions.<br />
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<span class="caption">Quad Life <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A young father’s world flips upside down after a tragic accident. This is his story of reinvention as he navigates life as a creative and quadriplegic sound designer.<br />
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Directed by Joyce Tsang<br />
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Joyce Tsang is a 7-time Emmy-winning producer and filmmaker. She is a partner behind the creative endeavors at Only Today, a B Corp Certified production company. Through pushing the limits for more impactful storytelling, Joyce has opened up opportunities to work with the likes of John Malkovich, Ron Howard, and everyday heroes for projects ranging from Super Bowl opens to eye-opening documentaries. She has traveled to and filmed in over 25 countries and her work has been commissioned by Apple, CBS, Meta, and Showtime. Joyce was raised in southern California and now rooted in the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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<span class="caption">M.O.W. <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A day in the life of a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the darkness and uncertainty that the community faces.<br />
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Directed by Tim Carr<br />
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<span class="caption">Down The Line <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Since the 1940s, New Jersey’s county political organizations have designed primary ballots to favor their endorsed candidates. Until 2024, 19 of 21 counties used grid systems that placed endorsed candidates in prime spots, known as the “county line,” which influenced the behavior of unsuspecting voters. In 2024, Senate candidate Andy Kim challenged this system in court and won a temporary injunction, leading to a more democratic “office block” layout. The film Down the Line investigates the problems associated with the county line design, exploring the system’s manipulative intent and results and its impact on New Jersey’s political landscape.<br />
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Directed by Vinit Parmar<br />
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I am a documentary filmmaker who fights for the underdog by telling their stories. I have covered the challenges of impoverished Indian villagers searching for renewable solutions to save their island, a Chinese migrant family reconnecting with three displaced children under the One-Child Policy, or children of war seeking refuge in Berlin and finding a home with a pseudo-mother at their German shelter. I left a career as a lawyer in New York State to teach filmmaking. My directorial works include "Down the Line," "Living River," "Quest for Light," "Beyond the Grid," "We Stay Here," "Twice a Refugee," and "More Than One Child." Additionally, I hold a tenured position as Associate Professor at Brooklyn College in New York City.<br />
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<span class="caption">Lia: Body of Work <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Lia: Body of Work is the second in a series documenting the struggles of a female body builder. The Lia series is the story of a female body builder, a woman with focus, determination, and the goal to participate in a pro tournament. My process is to embed myself with the subject in order to develop a trusted relationship and create a safe space where they are comfortable with me in their environment. For this project I began to photograph at the start of her training in June, 2022, spending many hours with her both in the gym and at other locations. Ultimately, I traveled with Lia and her husband to San Antonio for the competition, documenting her the entire time. The second film take places in 2024 when Lia makes decisions about ending her career and the reasons for that decision.<br />
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Directed by Susan Weiss<br />
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Susan Weiss is a photographer and filmmaker whose work begins with looking closely-at people, objects, rituals, and the things we desire. Working across photography, film, and artist books, I am drawn to stories that reveal themselves slowly. My projects explore identity, beauty, obsession, resilience, labor, and our complicated relationships with one another and the natural world.</span></span><br />
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<span class="caption">The Unlimited World <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />
<br />Tranquil, unspoiled landscapes. The sound of the sea mingling with the whistling sound of the wind influenced by the great waves of the Atlantic. Red mountains, a stork circling above a fallen tree. A feeling of dreaminess, a palpable infinity that manages without many people. Aesthetic compositions in motion.<br />
<br />Directed by Lukas Berger<br />
<br />Lukas Berger holds a bachelor in Photojournalism & Documentary Photography and a M.A in Documentary Film Directing from DocNomads. His first film "Circus Debere Berhan" (2015) premiered at 20th Milano Film Festival and was screened at more than 30 film festivals. His second film "Circus Movements" (2019) premiered at the 57th Ann Arbor Film Festival and was selected for the 68th Melbourne, 16th Vienna Shorts, 23rd PÖFF Shorts and more than 100 film festivals. He filmed “Wuqiao Circus” during the last Chinese New Year before the pandemic, it premiered at 17th Vienna Shorts and was selected for the 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival and many other festivals, winning 6 awards.<br />
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https://nycsdff.com/information
2026-09-04T19:56:17+00:00
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2026-09-05T14:28:26+00:00
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2026-09-04T19:56:17+00:00
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2026-10-26T08:56:02+00:00
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https://nycsdff.com/past-editions
2026-10-26T08:56:03+00:00
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<span class="caption">10 Dollar Toilet Seat <br /> <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />Meet Darick—a modern-day urban survivalist. Fueled by desperation, he turns to stealing Amazon packages, a lifeline for his drug-addicted existence.<br /><br />
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">Directed by Gregory Mitnick </span><br />
<br />Gregory Mitnick is a cultural anthropology graduate who has transitioned into a distinguished filmmaker, earning his MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program. In the commercial director's chair, Mitnick is a prominent figure in the world of doc-style spots, focusing on illuminating the narratives of underrepresented individuals and fostering social change for brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Disney. Gregory's films take audiences on immersive, character-driven journeys, exploring raw emotions and weaving playful narratives. His noteworthy achievements include Vimeo Staff Picks, Webbys, five Cannes Lions, AICP honors, One Show Golden Pencils, and a Kodak Vision Award. <br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/C3116116082109388222079257080502/Cornellskop-Freedom-from-Fear.jpg
<span class="caption">10 Dollar Toilet Seat <br /> <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />Meet Darick—a modern-day urban survivalist. Fueled by desperation, he turns to stealing Amazon packages, a lifeline for his drug-addicted existence.<br /><br />
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">Directed by Gregory Mitnick </span><br />
<br />Gregory Mitnick is a cultural anthropology graduate who has transitioned into a distinguished filmmaker, earning his MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program. In the commercial director's chair, Mitnick is a prominent figure in the world of doc-style spots, focusing on illuminating the narratives of underrepresented individuals and fostering social change for brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Disney. Gregory's films take audiences on immersive, character-driven journeys, exploring raw emotions and weaving playful narratives. His noteworthy achievements include Vimeo Staff Picks, Webbys, five Cannes Lions, AICP honors, One Show Golden Pencils, and a Kodak Vision Award. <br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/G3116140107148869821399281758902/10-Dollar-Toilet-Seat.jpg
<span class="caption">10 Dollar Toilet Seat <br /> <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />Meet Darick—a modern-day urban survivalist. Fueled by desperation, he turns to stealing Amazon packages, a lifeline for his drug-addicted existence.<br /><br />
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">Directed by Gregory Mitnick </span><br />
<br />Gregory Mitnick is a cultural anthropology graduate who has transitioned into a distinguished filmmaker, earning his MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program. In the commercial director's chair, Mitnick is a prominent figure in the world of doc-style spots, focusing on illuminating the narratives of underrepresented individuals and fostering social change for brands like Amazon, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Disney. Gregory's films take audiences on immersive, character-driven journeys, exploring raw emotions and weaving playful narratives. His noteworthy achievements include Vimeo Staff Picks, Webbys, five Cannes Lions, AICP honors, One Show Golden Pencils, and a Kodak Vision Award. <br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/V3116145498781674429300737634998/Over-the-Board.jpg
<span class="caption">Over the Board<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />
<br />Directed by David Scheckel, Billie McKelvie<br />
<br />David Scheckel and Billie McKelvie are independent filmmakers living in Brooklyn, New York. While David works in academia and Billie works in publishing, both have backgrounds in independent filmmaking and are consistently working on smaller productions within their friend groups and communities.</span></span><br />
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/A3116506207540543134369319547574/Sketch-of-An-Artis.jpg
<span class="caption">Sketch of An Artist <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />This short documentary provides an intimate look into the life of a Hamptons based artist Darius Yektai, as he faces the legacy of his late father, renowned New York School painter Manoucher Yektai, and forges his own path in the art world. The film captures Darius's creative journey, revealing how he transforms personal challenges and experiences into sources of hope, motivation, and beautiful art. Set against a backdrop of music written and performed by Darius himself, the documentary highlights the universal human desire to leave a meaningful and authentic mark on the world.<br />
<br />Directed by Olya Zueva<br />
<br />Olya was born in 1983 in Vladivostok, Russia. At age 15 she left her homeland and started a modeling career living and working between London, Milan, and Paris until she moved to New York in 2006.<br />She got her acting training at Susan Batson’s studio which led her to discover a passion for directing and writing. In 2013 Olya graduated from The New School with a screenwriting BA.<br />After directing a few shorts, her first feature film, “In the Hood” was released in 2018 in over 1,000 theaters across Russia and film festivals in London, New York, and Sydney. In the Hood explored the masculine world and its struggles for power and money. Olya continues to live and work in New York while raising her 3 y.o. daughter.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/L3116512677219518153930681414326/Queen-of-the-Catskills-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />After a series of traumatic events, a high school English teacher in the South Bronx begins retreating to the mountains looking to heal. As the wilderness starts to mend her spirit, she rediscovers a past love of skiing, and embarks on a multi-year quest to become the first woman to backcountry ski 33 of the highest peaks in the Catskill Mountains—alone.<br />
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Directed by Jamie Kennard<br />
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Jamie Kennard purchased a camera in 2022 after losing his wife, and partner of 31 years, to cancer (having spent the prior two years as her full-time caregiver). He immediately began a self-taught journey into filmmaking. A month later he made his first vignette film ‘The Ski Guy’. He followed up with vignettes ‘The Needle Felter’ (2022) and ‘The Ciderist’ (2023). His 2024 documentary film, VARIABLE, screened in 15 cities across the US and Canada, and was an International Skiing History Association (ISHA) film award winner. He lives in Woodstock, NY, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/J3116518002425597352404041921206/Cornellskop-Freedom-from-Fear-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">Cornellskop: Freedom from Fear <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Documentary short about Luke Cornell’s creation of a South African sanctuary that gives wildlife a second chance at life while confronting the brutal realities of animal exploitation across the country.<br />
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Directed by Nathan Oliva<br />
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A travel enthusiast and explorer at heart, Nathan—an experienced cinematographer—took on the role of director for this documentary after a transformative trip to South Africa. Moved by his time there, he felt a deep pull to return and tell the story of Cornellskop, which became the foundation of his thesis project at Savannah College of Art and Design. Growing up in New Jersey, Nathan has long been driven by a passion for discovering new places and uncovering meaningful stories. His creative lens is shaped by a curiosity about the world and a desire to connect audiences with the extraordinary people and places he encounters.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/Z3116522896789521965317114884790/Gimme-My-Medicine-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">Gimme My Medicine <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />"Gimme My Medicine" is a vertical short film following the transformative journey of 67-year-old James Neil Ferree. Steeped in the American diet, he struggled with heart disease and relied on a daily cocktail of medication. Through participating in "Veganuary" for just 30 days, he transformed his health with a plant-based diet—dropping his blood pressure by 50 points! Thanks to the support from his content creator daughter (@relauren) and a virtual community of millions cheering him on. This documentary examines Western medicine's preference for prescriptions over lifestyle changes and advocates for a more holistic healthcare approach. It highlights how encouragement, community, and empowerment can be more powerful than medication alone. Beyond health, the film celebrates cooking, family bonds, and the lasting legacy one man can leave on the world.<br />
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Directed by Lauren Bash<br />
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Lauren Bash (she/her) is a Los Angeles-based environmentalist, content creator, and filmmaker. A graduate of Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University, she leverages her storytelling skills to educate and inspire action on the climate crisis. Lauren's work, which emphasizes climate action, community building, and sustainable living, has earned her recognition as a Harvard C-Change "Climate Creator to Watch" and features in publications like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Grist.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/M3116525922738079584410833318582/The-Border-Within-Us-01.png
<span class="caption">The Border Within Us <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A hitchhike along a new border in eastern Armenia becomes a journey within a human landscape. People try to show us the border and share stories of how it affects their lives. They sing about the soil on the other side and mourn what has been lost. This was once an area where people of different groups lived together, but wars and forced migrations have transformed a “we” into “us and them”. The border is very real and impossible to cross. But it is abstract and invisible in the landscape. Where is it? Is it inside us?<br />
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Directed by Knutte Wester<br />
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Educated at Academy of fine arts in Umeå and Johannesburg, graduating 2003. Has worked as contemporary artist and filmmaker since. His film A Bastard Child premiered at IDFA 2016 and his latest film You can’t show my face premiered at DOC NYC in 2021. He has exhibited in galleries and art institutions internationally and is represented at Moderna Museet, stockholm, The Nordic watercolor museum, Skärhamn, Eskilstuna Museum of Art and many other institutions.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/B3116531335566193133004564001462/Quad-Life-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">Quad Life <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A young father’s world flips upside down after a tragic accident. This is his story of reinvention as he navigates life as a creative and quadriplegic sound designer.<br />
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Directed by Joyce Tsang<br />
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Joyce Tsang is a 7-time Emmy-winning producer and filmmaker. She is a partner behind the creative endeavors at Only Today, a B Corp Certified production company. Through pushing the limits for more impactful storytelling, Joyce has opened up opportunities to work with the likes of John Malkovich, Ron Howard, and everyday heroes for projects ranging from Super Bowl opens to eye-opening documentaries. She has traveled to and filmed in over 25 countries and her work has been commissioned by Apple, CBS, Meta, and Showtime. Joyce was raised in southern California and now rooted in the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/D3116535420376307327100254745270/MOW-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">M.O.W. <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />A day in the life of a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the darkness and uncertainty that the community faces.<br />
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Directed by Tim Carr<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/O3116537815667578554211822531254/Down-the-line-poster.jpg
<span class="caption">Down The Line <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Since the 1940s, New Jersey’s county political organizations have designed primary ballots to favor their endorsed candidates. Until 2024, 19 of 21 counties used grid systems that placed endorsed candidates in prime spots, known as the “county line,” which influenced the behavior of unsuspecting voters. In 2024, Senate candidate Andy Kim challenged this system in court and won a temporary injunction, leading to a more democratic “office block” layout. The film Down the Line investigates the problems associated with the county line design, exploring the system’s manipulative intent and results and its impact on New Jersey’s political landscape.<br />
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Directed by Vinit Parmar<br />
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I am a documentary filmmaker who fights for the underdog by telling their stories. I have covered the challenges of impoverished Indian villagers searching for renewable solutions to save their island, a Chinese migrant family reconnecting with three displaced children under the One-Child Policy, or children of war seeking refuge in Berlin and finding a home with a pseudo-mother at their German shelter. I left a career as a lawyer in New York State to teach filmmaking. My directorial works include "Down the Line," "Living River," "Quest for Light," "Beyond the Grid," "We Stay Here," "Twice a Refugee," and "More Than One Child." Additionally, I hold a tenured position as Associate Professor at Brooklyn College in New York City.<br />
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/H3116566296020029068083882160822/Lia-Body-of-work.png
<span class="caption">Lia: Body of Work <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br /><br />Lia: Body of Work is the second in a series documenting the struggles of a female body builder. The Lia series is the story of a female body builder, a woman with focus, determination, and the goal to participate in a pro tournament. My process is to embed myself with the subject in order to develop a trusted relationship and create a safe space where they are comfortable with me in their environment. For this project I began to photograph at the start of her training in June, 2022, spending many hours with her both in the gym and at other locations. Ultimately, I traveled with Lia and her husband to San Antonio for the competition, documenting her the entire time. The second film take places in 2024 when Lia makes decisions about ending her career and the reasons for that decision.<br />
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Directed by Susan Weiss<br />
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Susan Weiss is a photographer and filmmaker whose work begins with looking closely-at people, objects, rituals, and the things we desire. Working across photography, film, and artist books, I am drawn to stories that reveal themselves slowly. My projects explore identity, beauty, obsession, resilience, labor, and our complicated relationships with one another and the natural world.</span></span><br />
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/G3116571196858760850869007741622/The-Unlimited-World.jpg
<span class="caption">The Unlimited World <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"><br />
<br />Tranquil, unspoiled landscapes. The sound of the sea mingling with the whistling sound of the wind influenced by the great waves of the Atlantic. Red mountains, a stork circling above a fallen tree. A feeling of dreaminess, a palpable infinity that manages without many people. Aesthetic compositions in motion.<br />
<br />Directed by Lukas Berger<br />
<br />Lukas Berger holds a bachelor in Photojournalism & Documentary Photography and a M.A in Documentary Film Directing from DocNomads. His first film "Circus Debere Berhan" (2015) premiered at 20th Milano Film Festival and was screened at more than 30 film festivals. His second film "Circus Movements" (2019) premiered at the 57th Ann Arbor Film Festival and was selected for the 68th Melbourne, 16th Vienna Shorts, 23rd PÖFF Shorts and more than 100 film festivals. He filmed “Wuqiao Circus” during the last Chinese New Year before the pandemic, it premiered at 17th Vienna Shorts and was selected for the 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival and many other festivals, winning 6 awards.<br />
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https://nycsdff.com/winners-2025-(delete)
2026-09-05T08:39:42+00:00
always
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https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/C2991028941148311007570011029799/square.jpg
Best Director - Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Jamie Kennard</span>
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/U3115606206337111635040869610166/Gimme-My-Medicine-poster.jpg
Best Film - Gimme My Medicine <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Lauren Bash</span>
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/L3116070959565603009292468286134/Queen-of-the-Catskills.jpg
Best Director - Queen of the Catskills <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Jamie Kennard</span>
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/S3116100869983441093423807394486/QuadLife_09.jpg
Best Score - Quad Life (David Jeffers) <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Joyce Tsang</span>
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/C3116116082109388222079257080502/Cornellskop-Freedom-from-Fear.jpg
Best Script - Cornellskop: Freedom of Fear <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);">directed by Nathan Oliva</span>
https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/F3116120697060480350513751716534/Sketch-of-An-Artis.jpg
Best Cinematography - Sketch of an Artist<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);"> directed by Olya Zueva </span>
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2026-09-05T08:39:42+00:00
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