indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA Present:
The Coney Island Film Festival
May 2-4, 2025
2025 Call for Entries is now open!
Earlybird Deadline - September 6, 2024
Regular Deadline - November 8, 2024
Late Deadline - January 10, 2025
Extended Deadline - February 14, 2025
Our festival by the sea has gained a reputation for fostering a relaxed atmosphere where filmmakers and industry veterans alike gather to enjoy a jam-packed weekend of great films, parties, and amusement park rides.
Coney Island's independent spirit and irreverent attitude have helped the fest quickly thrive as something distinct from other NYC events. The opening night celebrations pay tribute to Coney Island's renowned carnival history with live performances by sideshow freaks, sword swallowers, fire eaters, and stars of the New York City burlesque scene!
The festival is entirely run by film, television, and audio/visual professionals, ensuring a high-quality standard to the event.
Early in 2001, the non-profit arts organization Coney Island USA aligned with indiefilmpage.com founder Rob Leddy to create an annual film festival, to raise funds for the not-for-profit arts organization, Coney Island USA. That fall, the Coney Island Film Festival became a reality.
Coney Island's characteristic blend of grit and whimsy has inspired filmmakers for generations. From Thomas Edison's first magical motion pictures of the Steeplechase ride, to 2010 Festival Honoree Darren Aronofsky's harrowing masterpiece “Requiem for a Dream”, Coney has a long and intimate history with American cinema. CIFF represents the latest chapter in that history. The Coney Island Film Festival screens a truly eclectic range of films. Our festival screens films from all genres. We are as diverse as the neighborhood that we represent.
"A showcase worthy of the neighborhood's amusement-rich history." - Christopher Zara, MovieMaker magazine
Coney Island Film Festival was voted "One of MovieMaker Magazine's Coolest Film Festivals in the World" and "25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee"!
"Without a doubt, The Coney Island Film Festival has the greatest location in the world. It also gives out the best trophy I've ever received." -Darren Aronofsky (Director Black Swan, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, Pi)
2024 Best in Category
Animation - Low Down Larry Versus the Giant Reptile
Comedy Short - The Real Big Brucey
Drama Short - The Uniform
Documentary Feature - Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between
Documentary Short - MUSE
Experimental - Bloodercream
Feature - Empire Waist
Horror - Born Again Reject
Made in Coney Island - Girl In Summer
Music Video - Back From Zero - “Taking Back the Night”
Sci-Fi - Jump Cut
2024 Photo Gallery Here
