Imagine This Women's Film Festival

Overview

Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (ITWIFF) is an NYC-based festival dedicated to empowering and showcasing the remarkable talents of independent and emerging women and non-binary filmmakers from around the world. The 11th Annual Imagine This Women's International Film Festival (ITWIFF) returns September 25–27, 2026, at Regal Union Square in New York City. ITWIFF champions independent women, gender-expansive, and BIPOC filmmakers through bold programming, industry panels, and meaningful community. Now in its eleventh year, ITWIFF alumni films have earned Oscar wins, BAFTA wins, Academy Award nominations, and Daytime Emmy nominations. ITWIFF creates a vibrant platform that amplifies underrepresented voices and celebrates bold, original storytelling across narrative, documentary, short, and immersive works. We champion diverse creators, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and gender-expansive filmmakers, through educational panels, industry networking, and meaningful community-building opportunities. Congratulations to our incredible ITWIFF alumni on their outstanding achievements at the 97th Academy Awards and the 56th NAACP Image Awards! We’re thrilled to celebrate I’M NOT A ROBOT, which took home the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, and Superman Doesn't Steal, which took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form (Live Action). These wins are powerful testaments to the talent, vision, and impact of women and underrepresented voices in film. We are beyond proud to have been part of their journey! At its core, ITWIFF champions women by sharing their work with the public, advocating for equal opportunities for BIPOC women and LGBTQIA+ creators, providing pathways for educational and professional growth, and serving as a vital resource and support network for underrepresented voices in film. We welcome submissions from ALL filmmakers and storytellers. To be considered, at least one woman must occupy a pivotal position such as director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, or lead actor. ITWIFF proudly encourages submissions from BIPOC women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, student filmmakers, and creators from all backgrounds. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion fuels our mission to spotlight a rich spectrum of voices and perspectives. Join us for a powerful cinematic journey that uplifts, inspires, and redefines representation in film. Highlighted ITWIFF Alumni Films: I’M NOT A ROBOT – Directed by Victoria Warmerdam (2024) Winner – Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards (2025) Superman Doesn’t Steal – Directed by Tamika Lamison (2024) Winner – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form (Live Action) (2025) Bazigaga – Directed by Jo Ingabire Moys and Stephanie Charmail (2022) Nominated – BAFTA Film Award for Best British Short Film (2023) ALA KACHUU – Take and Run – Directed by Maria Brendle (2021) Nominated – Best Live Action Short Film at the 94th Academy Awards (2022) Sister Wives – Directed by Louisa Connolly-Burnham (2024) Oscar and BAFTA Qualified, BIFA Longlisted (2024) The Runt – Directed by Christy Stratton (2024) Oscar Qualified (2023) Sheer Qorma – Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari (2021) BAFTA Qualified and Shortlisted for consideration (2021) Reimagined Volume III: Young Thang – Created by Melissa Joyner, Julie Cavaliere & Michaela Holland (2024) Peabody Award Nominee – Immersive & Interactive category (2024) Eighty Thousand Steps – Directed by Crystal Chan (2024) Webby Award Nominee (2023) She Did That – Directed by Renae Bluitt (2018) Picked up by Netflix after screening at the Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival "Imagine This Productions has launched the Women’s International Film Festival with the aim to celebrate and empower independent and aspiring women filmmakers from around the world." - IndieWire "Celebrate the work of women filmmakers from around the world at the second annual Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (ITWIFF) in Brooklyn" - AFAR Magazine "When it comes to film screenings and industry events, there's plenty to get you off the couch this week. From a lesson in copyright licenses to a women's international film festival, read on for the week's top film events to add to your calendar. " - ABC 7 "Recent Hollywood scandals have underscored the importance of supporting women in the film industry, and the second annual Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival is a great place to do so. The films here–which include shorts and features, documentaries and fiction films–are as diverse as the women who made them." - CBS New York

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Legitimacy Analysis

Trust Signals

Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  This was such an incredible festival. There was a lot of great films and I was so privileged to be able to show my short “You Were Dead Yesterday”. The coordinators really care about film!

• Filmmaker

  An unforgettable premiere. ITWIFF delivers the warmth of a community-driven fest with the polish of a top-tier one. Seamless tech, thoughtful programming, and sold-out audiences. Grateful for the love, support—and the volunteers who made it all run.

• Filmmaker

  Thank you for such an incredible experience!! We were honored for this to be our Manhattan premiere of Stick Bug and to take part in this remarkable film community. It was really special to be among such talented and driven women filmmakers. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, communication, and programing as well as your enthusiasm and support for our film.

• Filmmaker

  Absolutely a wonderful festival with great communication throughout.

• Filmmaker

  This is an exceptional festival in every way. It is so well-run and thoughtfully programmed. The line-up of films was incredible. As a filmmaker, I felt genuinely supported and the communication was wonderful throughout. My film They Call Me The Tattoo Witch was honored with the Best Documentary Short award, and I was fortunate to be selected for the ITWIFF Emerging Voices Mentorship Program as a result, which has been truly invaluable. The most supportive festival and community!

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