"The Big Apple Film Festival is what a film festival should be: it's not just a market or an excuse for swag, but a place where film, filmmakers and those who love them experience life outside the mainstream. Bravo Big Apple!"

- Alan Cumming (actor/director)

"The big apple film fesitval plays the films that you hope people will get to see but worry that they won't be able to -- specifically, the ones I have been in."

- actor Jesse Eisenberg

"Apple of the City's Eye"

-MovieMaker Magazine

About the Festival

The Big Apple Film Festival, presented by the Big Apple Film Society, takes place annually at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas in the heart of the greatest city in the world. The BAFF, named one of MovieMaker Magazine's top "25 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee",  is dedicated to showcasing and promoting the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world. Additionally, the festival is proud to honor a variety of New York City based filmmakers, writers, actors and artists who have played an influential role in the growth of independent filmmaking in the Big Apple. Each year BAFF presents its Golden Apple Award to one individual for exceptional artistic achievement in the New York City independent film community. Previous Golden Apple Award recipients include Alan Cumming and Ernie Hudson. In addition, in 2008 the festival presented its first NY Emerging Talent Award to Independent Spirit Award Nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, Rodger Dodger, Adventureland). Our goal is to celebrate the great city of New York through the exhibition of innovative filmmaking, which reflects the unique qualities of the city and its people. In addition, our mission is to bridge the gap between dedicated independent film audiences and filmmakers, as well as to connect emerging filmmakers with established industry professionals. The festival offers a variety of film screenings and special New York City premieres. Alumni films include “Suffering Man's Charity” directed by Alan Cumming, “Love, Ludlow” (Warner Home Video), “Owl and the Sparrow” (2007 Independent Spirit Award nominee), Chubb Chubb Saves X-mas (2007 Sony Pictures Release), "The Project" (2008 Slamdance Film Festival Audience Award Winner), "The Living Wake" (audience award winner, Woodstock Film Festival, Heineken Red Star Award, Cinevegas Film Festival), "Picture Day" (2008 Student Academy Award nominee), "Megatron" (winner Palm D'or, Short Film Category, Cannes Film Festival), "Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans and the Movies" (featuring Chazz Palminteri, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, Jack Valenti, David Chase, Ben Gazzara, Isabella Rossellini and others), iMurders (starring William Forsythe, Terri Colombino, Frank Grillo, Charles Durning). In addition, BAFF offers a series of interactive panel discussions with representatives from the New York City film community, special guests, networking parties and events, as well as a closing night awards ceremony, in which awards are presented to celebrate achievements in filmmaking. Previous panelists, guests and keynote speakers include representatives from Samuel Goldwyn Films, Magnolia Pictures, HBO, Current TV, Wellspring Media, Cinematical.com, Zeitgeist Films, Wild Bunch Films, First Run Features and Gen Art . In order to bring the most elite talent to the silver screen, BAFF is proud to partner with a variety of New York City independent film organizations and media outlets including IFP, The Village Voice, Indiewire.com, Cinematical.com, The L Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine.

.> Visiting the Big Apple