FESTIVAL 2024
The Astoria Film Festival took place in person Thursday, May 30 - June 2. 2024, with a celebration of filmmaking and animation from around the world and a showcase of films made by local students in Astoria Film Festival' s media education programming around NYC as well as a youth festival with films from around the country and around the world. Held at the prestigious Arri Rental LIC and at historic Kaufman Astoria Studios, with events online as well (from June 3-7), the festival featured an impressive lineup of screenings, filmmaker panels, industry panels, and networking events.
FESTIVAL 2024 WINNERS
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WINNING FILMS - MAIN FESTIVAL
GRAND JURY PRIZE - SHORT FILMS​
VOICE BOX, USA
NADER BAHU
PRIZE: SAMANSA DISTRIBUTION DEAL
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GRAND JURY AWARD - ANIMATION
MY MOTHER'S STORY, KOREA
KIM Soyoung, JANG Minhee
PRIZE: MONETARY
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BEST DRAMA SHORT FILM
MARKS OF CAIN, USA
VERONICA HEIN
PRIZE: FINAL DRAFT /COVERFLY SUBSCRIPTION
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BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
EYES, KOREA
NAM Hyokyoung, CHOI Yoojae
PRIZE: MONETARY
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BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
FERAL ROMANCE, KOREA
Elton Yong Gyun Kim
PRIZE: FINAL DRAFT /COVERFLY SUBSCRIPTION
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BEST COMEDY SHORT FILM
HOT IDIOT, USA
KATHRINE CHIN
PRIZE: NYWIFT MEMBERSHIP
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BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
I HAD TO
VINH NYUGEN
PRIZE: KTEK STINGRAY UTILITY HIP PACK SOUND GEAR
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BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE, USA
DUANE MICHALS
PRIZE: FINAL DRAFT /COVERFLY SUBSCRIPTION
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BEST HORROR SHORT FILM
BLOODLUST USA
Decker Harris, Violet Woodley, Liv Sinhart
PRIZE: Free Marketing Package by MARKETING MACABRE
https://www.marketingmacabre.com/
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BEST DANCE SHORT FILM
THE POLITICIAN, USA
MELISSA MARTINEZ
PRIZE: SACRED SPACE YOGA PASSES
https://www.sacredspaceastoria.com/
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BEST DIRECTING
HOLDING PATTERN, USA
MICHAEL FODERA
PRIZE: MOMI FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
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BEST EDITING
THOSE THAT LIVED THERE, USA
SHAWN ANTOINE II
PRIZE: FILM and IP LEGAL CONSULTATION WITH LAWTECH TANGO
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BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
HOLDING PATTERN, USA
NICK GALANTE
PRIZE: GIFT CARD TO L'INCONTRO by ROCCO
https://trattorialincontro.com/
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BEST SOUND MIXING- judged by GOTHAM SOUND
UNLUCKY IN LOVE, USA
JON PAUL and CRYSTAL ARNETTE
PRIZE: GIFT CARD TO GOTHAM SOUND
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BEST PERFORMANCES - PRIZES: GIFT CARDS TO BAREBURGER
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KELSEY COLLINGS
WRITING YOU DOWN, USA
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LENNON SICKELS
WHAT A TRIP, USA
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AUDIENCE AWARDS FOR MAIN FESTIVAL
TEYO - KEVIN GADDI
WHAT A TRIP! - COLLIN KORNFEIND
BLOODLUST - Decker Harris, Violet Woodley, Liv Sinhart
WHT DO YOU SEE? - JOHNNY HEDGER
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YOUTH FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS
PRIZES: Astoria Film Festival SWAG
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BEST YOUTH DRAMA
STATIC STARVATION
EMMA GRIGORYEV, BROOKLYN NY (MIDWOOD HS)
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BEST YOUTH COMEDY
NOISY TUTORING
MARIA IONESCU, QUEENS NY (ACTVF HS)
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BEST YOUTH EXPERIMENTAL
DREAM
JORDAN SANTAMARIA, QUEENS NY (ACTIVF HS)
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BEST YOUTH DOCUMENTARY
GUIDING LIGHT
India Anne Mitchell, INDIANA
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BEST YOUTH ANIMATION
SLAP THE DECK
ZOLO CETINEL
PRIZE: GAMESTORIA GIFT CARD
BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ANIMATION
GETTING USED TO LONELINESS, KOREA
SEO Pyoungwon
BEST YOUTH DIRECTOR​
NEIGHBORS
Ryo Helena Schreifels, NYC
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BEST YOUTH EDITOR
LATE NIGHT EDIT
Kyle M. Wegler, ALABAMA
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BEST YOUTH CINEMATOGRAPHER
RED
AMY ZHANG, NYC
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BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FILM
THE SOUND OF HAND (INDONSESIA)
Muhammad Fauzan
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BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCES
DREAM (ACTVF HS, NYC)
CONSTANTINE BOWDEN, BROOKLYN COLLEGE
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HENRY NEIQUIST (HS of ART & DESIGN, NYC)
INSOMNIAC
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ALIZE SMITH, NYC
NEIGHBOR
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AUDIENCE AWARDS FOR YOUTH FESTIVAL
RED - AMY ZHANG
NOISY TUTORING - MARIA IONESC
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LINK TO DOWNLOAD PDF OF ALL AWARD CERTIFICATES
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IN PERSON EVENTS (FINISHED):
THURSDAY MAY 30 OPENING NIGHT 6-10pm
ARRI RENTAL LIC
(47-27 36th St LIC/Sunnyside, NY)
*ASL INTERPRETERS PRESENT FOR PANEL from 7:30-8:30pm
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6-8pm Screenings and Filmmaker Panel, Moderated by Arri Rentals' Luis Feliciano
Don't Dismiss Us
The Sound of Hand - Indonesia
Meet Again - Korea
Voice Box
Unlucky in Love
Happy Anniversary
Kryptonite
Home - Korea
Cheese Maze: The Movie (An AFFWorkshopProduction)
#StopHateNYC PSAs for the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) and NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)
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8-10pm Step and Repeat Interviews and Party (Party-only tickets are available)
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FRI MAY 31, ANIMATION SESSION, ZUKOR THEATER,
KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS
(35 St/35 Ave Astoria NY)
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4-5pm HS of Art and Design/SONY Workshop projects and Panel, Moderated by Bryan Korn​ & Ruth Morrison
Pigeon
The Rats
Library
Bodega Cat
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5:30-8:30pm Animation Screenings and Creator Panel, Moderated by Bryan Korn (Emmy, BAFTA & Annie Award Winning Animation Executive) & Ruth Morrison (Animation Writer, Netflix & PBS)
The Spellening
Slumber Party
Getting Used to Loneliness - Korea
Allergy
Boundary - Korea
Bring Back
Catch The Moon
EYES - Korea
Coffee
Rally - Korea
The Conscious I - Korea
Kang's Kimbab
My Mothers Story- Korea
Bait
Lovie Dovie
Creek
Diary Booth - Korea
Slap The Deck
The Everything is OK Show
Thunder Fish
The Scramble
Swimming - Korea
Ode to Onions
Unfamiliar
In The Interim
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8:30pm Animation Awards Ceremony
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SAT JUNE 1, 2024 - ZUKOR THEATER, KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS
(35 St/35 Ave Astoria NY)
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9am-3pm Astoria Film Festival STUDENT SHOWCASE
(AFFWorkshop Films from the 2023-24 school year)
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9-11am SOLD OUT
Q300
& AFFWORKSHOP FILMS - OCT, NOV, MARCH
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11:30am-12:30pm SOLD OUT
FILMS FROM 122Q, Q429,​ 234Q, & 212Q
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1-2:30pm SESSION SOLD OUT
1-1:30pm
Words from our Sponsors at CCHR and OPHC
PSA CONTEST SUBMISSIONS for NYC's OHCR and CCHR
-funded by a grant from the NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and the NYC Commission on Human Rights
3 from our Workshop at IS429Q
Winning PSA
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1:30-2:30pm
TEEN FILMS
High School Showcase featuring work by
Art & Design HS, NYC
Blue Birthday
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Academy for Careers in TV and Film, LIC
A Day in the Life of Thea
The Voices
Nobody
Dream
Noisy Tutoring
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Film created by the 2024 Astoria Film Festival Media Production Lab
- funded by grant from Flushing Town Hall, New York Foundation for the Arts, & the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
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3-4:30pm Media Career Panel (Free panel of Industry Professionals talk about their work and their career paths)
Rosanne Limoncelli, PHD, Senior Director of Film Technologies, Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
Ben Lehman, Director and Frmr Showrunner, Sesame Street; Director, Tiny Time Travel
Dustin Ward, Director of Photography, HBO, APPLE, NETFLIX - IATSE Local 600
Mariana Díaz-Wionczek, PhD, Children's Media Researcher and Executive Producer
Ruth Fernandez, IATSE 798 HMU
Gabrielle Howard, Creative Development Manger, Fred Rogers Productions
Nick Huston, Sound Engineer, Sales Manager, Gotham Sound
Ed Kulzer, Senior Editor, Sesame Street
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5-6:30pm Media Education Panel (free panel but need to reserve a seat)
Moderated by Kevin Lopez, Principal, Motion Picture Tech HS
Adam Brier EdD, Deputy Executive Director, CTE at New York City Public Schools
Rosanne Limoncelli, PhD, Senior Director of Film Technologies, Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU
Cecilia Chien, ARRI RENTALS Outreach Coordinator/ IATSE Local 600 Camera Technician
Lori Greene, Founder LPG EDU, Professor - NYU and Fordham/ Former Netflix Global Education Manager
Hanan Harchol, Big Apple Award Winning Teacher/Director of the Film Department at High School of Art and Design
Jacob Stebel, Program Director, Ghetto Film School/FMR NYC DOE film teacher, The Cinema School
Jacquelyn Gutierrez, Film Production Teacher, Academy for Careers in Television & Film HS
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7-9pm YOUTH FESTIVAL
Screenings and Panel
Static Starvation
The Gift that Keeps Giving
The Sound of Hand - Indonesia
Guiding Light
Adult - Ukraine
Red
Dream
Insomniac
Playtime
Neighbors
Late Night Edit
Noisy Tutoring
9-9:30pm Youth Festival Awards
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SUNDAY JUNE 2, 2024 MAIN FESTIVAL
ZUKOR THEATER, KAUFMAN ASTORIA STUDIOS
(35 St/35 Ave Astoria NY)
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10am-1pm DITMARS SESSION
Screenings and Panel
The Day Spring Comes - Korea
Resurrection Under the Ocean - Turkey
5/3/0 - Serbia
See You On The Other Side - Korea
I Promise You Paradise - Egypt
Strange Garden - Korea
For Those That Lived There
Ashes to Ashes
I Had To
Shots
Feral Romance - Korea​
Unrest in Peace
Pumping Cool
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1:30-3:30pm STEINWAY SESSION
Screenings and Panel
The Muse
Do You Trust Me
In The Grey
Hot Idiot
Bus '83
I Had To
Want it Again
Beyond Skin Deep
Pizza Dreams
What Do You See?
The Politiican
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4-6pm BROADWAY SESSION
Screenings and Panel
Writing You Down
Holding Pattern
The Next Stop
What a Trip
Teyo
Bloodlust
Marks of Cain
The Ghost in the Machine
Entanglement - Portugal
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6:30-7:30pm Main Festival Awards Ceremony
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ONLINE EVENTS (finished)​
MON JUNE 3, 8pm ET Virtual Legal Workshop
Intellectual Property Law, AI, and Your Film
Dauna Williams Esq, LawTechTango (JD Harvard, BA Brown)
Deborah Branch, Esq, Branch Law, PLLC (JD Harvard, BA Brown)
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TUES JUNE 4, 8pm ET Virtual Career Panel
Moderated by Nina Fiore, Astoria Film Festival
Angela Morgenstern, Executive, Netflix, MTV, PBS
Irene Phan, SVP, The MBS Group
Valencia Coleman, Gameplay Engineer, Owlchemy Labs
Daniela Camargo, Film Marketing, Mercury Filmworks
Tommy Wu, Co-Founder, WLab Virtual Production Studio
Maddy Mermelstein, Production Coordinator, Nickelodeon
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WED JUNE 5, 8pm ET - Virtual Professional Animation Panel
Moderated by Bryan Korn, SONY - Hilda/Octonauts
Alexei Bochenek, Titmouse
Diego Molano, Cartoon Network
Ruth Morrison, Animation Writer, Netflix, PBS
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THURS JUNE 6, 8pm ET - Virtual Filmmaker Panel
Festival Filmmakers
Rachel Handler, Unlucky In Love
Nader Bahu, Voice Box
Ron James, Do You Trust Me?
Angelina Retodo, The Scramble
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THURS JUNE 7, 8pm ET - Virtual Korean Filmmakers Panel with translator​
Moderated by Yunah Chung, Astoria Film Festival Board Member and VP, Content for SAMANSA
"Getting Used to Loneliness", SEO Pyoungwon
"Meet Again (JAEHOE)", KANG Ap-sol
"Boundary", SO Hahyun
"Eyes", NAM Hyokyoung & CHOI Yoojae
"Rally", NOH Myojung
"Swimming", SEO Saerom
​"See You on the Other Side", JUNG Haeji
"The Day Spring Comes", SHIN Sooyeon
2024 JURY
One of our main goals as a festival is to get our filmmakers and creators work in front of industry professionals, so we are very excited to introduce you to this year's festival judges.
