Films & Screenplays

Join writers and filmmakers from Harlem to Hong Kong for the opportunity to showcase your work in the world famous cultural capital – Harlem, New York City!

The 20th Anniversary Harlem International Film Festival (Hi XX) opens the call to all FILMS & SCREENPLAYS around the world in any category, by anyone, about anything under the sun: Animation; Documentary; Narrative; Experimental; Music Video; Webisode; Youth Film as well as a specially discounted segment on locally-produced cinema. We welcome passionate, even controversial work and we reward it (click on the “Awards” tab above to see our most recent winners).

Since the inaugural in 2005, the Festival has screened over 1600 of the world’s finest films from scores of countries including: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Trinidad & Tobago, the UK and the US, providing a springboard to further success as well as bestowing over 500 awards including the illustrious annual Mira Nair Award for Rising Female Filmmaker.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Hi accepts and awards Short and Feature length projects. Feature Documentaries are considered 45 minutes and over and Narrative Features are 60 minutes and over (including titles and end credits). Short works in Narrative, Documentary and Experimental can apply under the general Shorts category.

Animation, Music Video and Webisodes each have their own category. Youth projects must have been completed while the director, producer and/or primary cast was/were under 21 years old.

DISCOUNTS AND LOCAL FILMMAKER INITIATIVES

Discounts are available for local residents, students and FilmFreeway Gold Members.

In line with its mission, Harlem International offers discounted admission to films produced uptown anywhere in the HUB (Harlem, Upper Manhattan & the Bronx), centered on the area and/or its rich history or featuring key cast or crew members from Harlem, other Uptown neighborhoods (North of 96th Street in Manhattan) or the Bronx.

In 2019 we initiated a new category, the Harlem International Science Cinema Youth Laboratory (Hi-Sci Lab). All cinematic approaches and formats including VR/360 concerning science and related fields/themes (environment/climate change, health, technology, engineering, agriculture, etc.) are welcome to apply as long as the producer/s and/or other key crew or cast were under the age of 21 at the time of project completion.  We are particularly interested in showcasing the work of underrepresented youth, those with limited resources and/or those that present unique and compelling perspectives on the subject.

Save time, money and help lessen our carbon footprint by applying online through our partner FilmFreeway.

DEADLINES AND NOTIFICATIONS

Early Deadline: November 29, 2024

Regular Deadline: December 27, 2024

Late Deadline: January 17, 2025

Extended Deadline: January 31, 2025

Filmmakers and screenwriters will be notified by April 3, 2025.