Festival dossier
Forest Hills, United States · Est. 2016 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
The Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema (now rebranded as Festival of Cinema NYC) is a notable international film festival founded in 2016 in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, established to provide an alternative to the Tribeca and New York Film Festivals. It showcases over 400 independent films from 40 countries across all lengths and genres, including documentaries, experimental shorts, and music videos, with a mission to break stereotypes associated with independent cinema. The festival has gained significant recognition in the film circuit, ranking in the top 1.5% of over 8,000 global festivals on FilmFreeway and attracting thousands of visitors from around the world.
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
No red flags found
Founded
2016
Venue
108-22 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, New York 11375 United States
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Award Categories
1
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