Year 2 · April 23–25, 2027 · Southeast Queens, New York
Stories from our blocks, on the big screen.
The Southeast Queens Film Festival celebrates film, culture, and community. We screen independent work by filmmakers from Jamaica to Rosedale and from around the world, with conversations, music, and a festival built for the neighborhood.
Film, culture, and community
Southeast Queens has a deep creative history, from the jazz homes of Addisleigh Park to the birthplace of Hollis hip-hop. SEQFF gives today's storytellers a home screen and brings audiences, artists, and local partners into the same room.
Independent screens
Shorts, features, documentaries, and music videos, programmed in themed blocks and followed by filmmaker Q&As.
Music & heritage
Live performance, panels, and programs rooted in the sound and history of Southeast Queens.
Local first
Youth workshops, a Queens Spotlight for neighborhood filmmakers, and partners from our own blocks.
Targets for the 2027 festival.
What happens at SEQFF
The festival runs April 23–25, 2027. The full schedule, films, and tickets post here once the lineup is announced. Each selected film gets its own page that filmmakers can share with their audiences.
Themed film blocks
Films grouped by shared ideas, each block hosted and closed with a live Q&A.
Queens Local Showcase
A dedicated block for filmmakers who live, work, or grew up in Queens.
Youth & emerging makers
Workshops and panels with working filmmakers, producers, and industry partners.
Awards & celebration
Jury and audience awards, live music, and a neighborhood party to close the week.
Film your vision
Whether you want to direct a short film for the big screen or launch a 60-second vertical series for phones, our community filmmaking programs give you the equipment, mentorship, and training to turn your ideas into finished films. No experience needed.
The Micro-Series Lab
Learn smartphone filmmaking, short-form scriptwriting, and fast editing, then build a vertical episodic series made for phones and social media.
The Silver Screen Studio
Turn memoirs, personal stories, and creative ideas into a 10-minute short film made for the big screen.
The Intergenerational Incubator
A senior storyteller and a young creator team up to co-direct one story in two formats: a short film for the screen and a vertical cut for phones.
Dates, location, and enrollment details are coming soon. Join the interest list and we'll contact you first.
Join the interest listSubmit your film
Submissions open in January 2027 for the April 23–25 festival. Filmmakers at every stage are welcome. Entries from Southeast Queens and all five boroughs are especially encouraged, and every submission is watched in full by our screening committee.
- Submit
Send a private screener link and film details through the portal. - Screening committee
Every film is watched in full and scored on story, craft, and voice. - Jury review
Finalists go to a jury of filmmakers, educators, and community members. - Selections announced
All entrants hear back by email before the schedule is published.
Submission portal
Opens January 2027Submissions open January 2027
We are not accepting films yet. The call for entries for the April 23–25, 2027 festival opens in January. Sign up below and we'll email you the day it opens.
Get ready now. When submissions open you'll need:
- A private screener link (Vimeo or unlisted YouTube) and its password
- Film title, category, runtime, and a one- or two-sentence logline
- The director's name, email, and phone
Thank you
Keep this reference number. Our team will confirm by email and reach out with any questions.
Prefer a submission platform? We can also accept entries through FilmFreeway once our listing is live.
Put your name on the marquee
Local businesses, institutions, and brands make the festival possible. Choose a tier or build a custom partnership with our team.
- Top billing: "presented by"
- Logo on screen before every block
- Opening-night remarks
- Named screening block
- Logo on site, programs, and step-and-repeat
- Festival passes
- Logo on site and printed program
- Social media thank-you
- Festival passes
- Listing on the partners page
- Table or display at a festival event
- Ideal for local businesses
Stay in the loop
Know when submissions open
Questions & answers
Questions about submissions, sponsorship, volunteering, venues, or press. We answer every message.
Submitting
When can I submit my film?
Submissions open in January 2027 for the April 23–25, 2027 festival. Sign up for updates on this page and we'll email you the day the call for entries opens.
Do I have to live in Queens to submit?
No. Filmmakers from anywhere can submit to every category. The Queens Spotlight category is reserved for films made by people with a Queens connection or films set or shot in Queens.
How much does it cost to submit?
Fees depend on the deadline and category and will be posted with the official deadlines. Youth filmmakers, senior filmmakers, and Queens Spotlight entries pay reduced fees. If the fee is a barrier, email info@seqfilm.co to ask about a waiver before you submit.
Can I submit more than one film?
Yes. Each film is a separate submission with its own fee.
Can I enter the same film in two categories?
Yes, with a separate fee for each category. Most films are best served by the one category that fits them most closely.
My film has already screened elsewhere or is on YouTube. Is it still eligible?
Yes. SEQFF does not require a premiere.
Can I submit a work in progress?
No. We only accept finished films.
Can I update my screener after I submit?
Only to fix a broken link or password. We do not accept new cuts after submission.
My film isn't in English. Can I submit?
Yes, as long as it has English subtitles.
I'm under 18. How do I submit?
A parent or legal guardian submits on your behalf in the Youth Filmmaker category and agrees to the rules for you.
I'm 60 or older. Is there a category for me?
Yes. The Senior Filmmaker category celebrates directors 60 and older, whether this is your first film or one of many. Any genre and any length are welcome.
Selection
Who watches the films?
Our screening committee watches every submission all the way through. Finalists go to a jury of filmmakers, educators, and community members.
When will I hear back?
Every filmmaker gets an email by the notification date posted with the deadlines, whether or not the film is selected.
Can I get a refund if my film isn't selected?
No. Submission fees pay for the time it takes to review every film and are not refundable.
If you're selected
What do I need to send?
A screening file (ProRes 422 or H.264, 1920×1080 or higher), subtitles if needed, and press materials: stills, a poster, a trailer if you have one, and a director headshot.
Do I have to attend?
No, but we strongly encourage it. Each screening ends with a filmmaker Q&A, and selected films receive festival passes.
Will you pay for travel or a screening fee?
No. As a growing community festival, we can't cover travel, lodging, or screening fees.
Who owns my film after the festival?
You do. You grant SEQFF permission to screen the film and use short clips, stills, and your poster to promote the festival. We never stream your full film online without your written permission.
Can I use the SEQFF laurel?
Yes. Selected films may use the Official Selection laurel, and award winners receive a winner's laurel.
Everyone else
How do I join an education program?
Choose "Education programs" in the inquiry form on this page and tell us which track interests you. We'll contact you when dates and enrollment are announced.
How can I volunteer, sponsor, or host a screening?
Use the inquiry form on this page and choose the topic that fits. We are looking for venues, volunteers, and partners across Southeast Queens.
Who do I contact with other questions?
Email info@seqfilm.co or call 212.414.5414.
Inquiry form
We reply within 2 business daysThanks for reaching out
Our team will reply to . For anything urgent, call 212.414.5414.
Festival inbox
New entries from the portal and forms on this page, newest first.
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