named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Feature Film Program
Curated selection of feature films including world and regional premieres, shown during the festival.
Jury Awards
Jury composed of film industry professionals votes on winning short and feature films in various categories.
Retrospectives
Special screenings of classic or influential films, including anniversary events with cast reunions.
Short Film Program
Collection of short films across genres and themes, selected for exhibition during the festival.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 2 activities
- Host free outdoor film screeningsOrganizes free outdoor film screenings in Tompkins Square Park as part of the Movies in the Park series, continuing engagement with the community beyond the annual festival.
- Organize and present annual film festivalProduces and hosts an annual film festival in New York City featuring screenings, live events, and award ceremonies for independent films. The festival includes narrative, documentary, and animated shorts and features, with jury and audience awards presented in multiple categories.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 2 activities
- Provide fiscal sponsorship to filmmakersOffers fiscal sponsorship to independent filmmakers through its 501(c)(3) status, enabling them to receive tax-deductible funding for their projects.
- Support independent film projects through Stay Indie ProjectSupports independent film projects via the Stay Indie Project, which has helped filmmakers secure funding and distribution deals.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produce podcast on indie filmmakingProduces and hosts a podcast focused on independent filmmaking, providing a platform for discussion and insight into the indie film community.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$66K
Contributions & grants$1K2%
Program service revenue$61K92%
Investment income——
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$80K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$24K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$24K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 2
- ANTHONY SCULLY — DIRECTOR
- ROXANNE HUNT — DIRECTOR
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Benny Safdie Partner — Executive producer of the Best of Fest winning film "Public Access" at the 2026 festival.
- Champions Design Partner — Responsible for design and branding of the festival
- Charlotte Kaufman Partner — Jury member and director of the Oscar-nominated documentary The Alabama Solution, participating in film evaluation.
- Christine Vachon Partner — Jury member and independent film producer involved in evaluating festival submissions.
- Constance Zimmer Partner — Jury member and Critics’ Choice Award-winning actor participating in the evaluation of festival films.
- Falco Ink. Partner — Handles publicity for the festival
- Ghost World (2001) Partner — Hosted a 25th-anniversary retrospective with cast reunion for the film "Ghost World".
- International Center of Photography Partner — Festival screening venue and cultural institution dedicated to photography and visual culture on the Lower East Side.
- KGB Bar Partner — Festival screening venue housed in a historic Prohibition-era building with deep ties to East Village political and cultural history.
- Lucas Hedges Partner — Jury member and Academy Award-nominated actor involved in selecting award-winning films.
- Mary Neely Partner — Jury member and multi-disciplinary artist participating in the evaluation of festival films.
- Searchlight Pictures Partner — Partners with LESFF on the Movies in the Park free outdoor screening series.
- Steve Buscemi Partner — Executive producer of the Best of Fest winning film "Public Access" at the 2026 festival.
- Tompkins Square Park Partner — Hosts the festival’s free summer “Movies in the Park” outdoor screening series.
- Village East Cinema Partner — Festival screening venue located on the Lower East Side with historic and cultural significance.
- Whitney White Partner — Jury member and Tony Award-nominated director involved in film selection.
- aliceplati Partner — Photography partner for the 2026 festival
- brands of all shapes and sizes Partner — Collaborates with brands on event programming and audience experiences
- dozaphoto Partner — Photography partner for the 2026 festival
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist-Centered Curation and Supportmethodology: artist-centered_curationBy prioritizing artistic merit and reducing administrative barriers for underrepresented and low-budget independent filmmakers, the festival increases access to resources and recognition, because supporting artists directly fosters a vibrant, equitable independent film culture.
- Community-Engaged Programmingmethodology: community-engaged_programmingBy hosting free public screenings and recognizing local storytelling, the festival strengthens community ties and expands access to the arts in the Lower East Side, because embedding the festival in local culture increases relevance and participation.
- Podcast-Based Community Education and Outreachmethodology: podcast-based_outreachBy using a podcast platform to engage and educate the independent filmmaking community, the festival extends its reach and builds sustained dialogue beyond the event, because ongoing content fosters deeper connection and knowledge-sharing.