Global Short Film Fest held in New York with colorful events

The first edition of the 'New York Global Short Film Fest 2026' was held in New York with the participation of filmmakers, artists, and crews from different countries of the world. This day-long international short film and documentary festival, organized on August 8, received 282 films from 38 countries. After selection, 30 films were screened at two venues.

The festival, which also features awards in 11 categories, also features a special award. The entire event turned into an international gathering with filmmakers and film-related figures from different countries and cultures in attendance.

The Best Short Film award went to the American film 'Banana Triangle Six', directed by Mark E. Crandall. The Best Short Documentary award went to 'Back to One—Return to Ground Zero', directed by Sylvester P. Lukasiewicz.

France's Stéphane Martine won best director for "A Brushstroke," and the United States' Marge Kleinman won best documentary director for "Stoop Chat with Alithia and Ariam." Brazil's Santiago José Assef won best cinematography for "I Learned to Cry."

Bangladesh's Rahatud Zaman's "May Be, That's Why" won the Best Editing award. China's Guozhong Lu's "Spring in a Bottle" won the Best Experimental Film award, and Turkey's "Nemesis" by Zin Ataş won the Best Screenplay award.

Apart from this, India's Aruna Arya Gupta's 'One Rupee Sky' was selected as the best social impact film, and the US's Polly Rabinowitz's 'What Love's Worth' was selected as the best student film. Adam Baljevic received the award for the best amateur filmmaker for the film 'The Red Letter'.

The special 'Festival Spirit Award' went to 'In Your Shoes' by Zhengdi Li and Christina Orletska from the United States. The film, about bullying and awareness in schools, stars students from Midwood High School in Brooklyn.

The first session of the festival was held at the Queens Public Library Central Auditorium. There, 18 selected films from different countries were screened. The second session began in the afternoon at the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning. It included a 'meet and greet', a grand red carpet event, film screenings, and award distribution.