nukhufest

Overview

nukhufest is an audience-powered online premiere program and New York City film festival presented by Nukhu, a curated, submission-based streaming platform built to help independent films get discovered, monetized, and supported beyond the traditional festival circuit. We call our releases Nuvees, meaning Nukhu movies. Nuvees include short films, feature films, documentaries, episodic work, music videos, and genre-bending visual stories curated for Concept, Aesthetics, and Relatability. Founded in New York by filmmaker and entrepreneur Sanjay Singh, Nukhu began as a creative studio in 2010, launched its streaming platform in 2014, and presented the first Nukhufest in 2015. Nukhufest 2026 at a glance • Online premiere program: Selected films premiere on Nukhu and become eligible for audience voting, revenue, and promotional support. • NYC festival week: September 11 through September 17, 2026, at Cinema Village in Lower Manhattan. • Theatrical Finalists: The Top 10 audience-voted Finalists will screen during Nukhufest week. • Awards Ceremony: The Best Nuvee will be announced in New York City on September 19, 2026. • Creator control: Filmmakers retain their copyrights and participate through a non-exclusive Content License Agreement. • Monetization: Filmmakers choose an eligible purchase price and currently receive 50 percent of eligible title purchase revenue under a Content License Agreement. • Mission: Nukhufest and Nukhu Foundation prioritize opportunities for underserved and underrepresented artists. How selection and activation work 1. Submit your film through FilmFreeway. 2. Films pre-approved by the Nukhu committee will receive a FilmFreeway Selected status. 3. Pre-approved filmmakers will then receive a personalized email from Nukhu containing: • A proposed Wednesday premiere date • A unique, one-time upload code • An upload deadline • Instructions for providing a trailer and promotional information 4. The one-time code allows FilmFreeway selectees to complete the required Nukhu upload without paying a second submission fee. 5. Once the upload is accepted, the Content License Agreement is completed, and the film premieres on Nukhu, it becomes an official Nukhufest 2026 Semi-Finalist. 6. Nukhu members watch and vote throughout the season. 7. The Top 10 audience-voted titles become Finalists on August 29 and will be programmed for theatrical screenings at Cinema Village. 8. The top-voted Finalist will be announced as the Best Nuvee on September 19. Online premieres and promotion Accepted films are generally scheduled to premiere on Nukhu on a Wednesday at 12:00 AM Eastern Time, in coordination with the filmmaker. The following Thursday at approximately 12:00 PM Eastern Time, Nukhu plans to publish a promotional trailer through its social channels. Filmmakers may provide collaborator handles, cast and crew accounts, and other tagging information before the post is scheduled. After a Nuvee is published, the filmmaker can complete and expand the title’s profile with: • A custom trailer • Subtitles • Cast and crew credits • Stills and production images • Filmmaker and studio information • Additional title details Filmmakers can also share the Nuvee’s direct URL and embed its public trailer on compatible third-party websites. In-person participation Each activated Semi-Finalist film receives two complimentary admissions to one Nukhufest screening block during the September 11 through September 17 festival week. Official Semi-Finalist status does not guarantee that the submitted film will screen theatrically. The Top 10 Finalists will be programmed for Cinema Village screenings. Select additional Nuvees may also be considered for programming based on audience demand, Request in Theaters activity, curation, rights availability, runtime, and scheduling capacity. Finalists are encouraged to attend their screening and participate in at least one filmmaker Q&A during festival week. Finalists also receive complimentary admission to the September 19 Awards Ceremony. Additional tickets and block passes are subject to availability. Important 2026 dates • Final upload and activation deadline: August 8 • Top 10 Finalists announced: August 29 • Cinema Village festival week: September 11 through September 17 • Best Nuvee announcement: September 19 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time Film eligibility • Films completed in 2024 or later are eligible for Nukhufest 2026. • The required Nukhu upload must be completed by August 8. • Prior festival screenings do not disqualify a film. • Online premiere history may be considered when coordinating the Nukhu release. • Any genre and any duration may be submitted. • Submission does not guarantee acceptance, online publication, theatrical exhibition, Finalist status, or an award. To become a voting member, visit nukhu.com. To be considered through FilmFreeway, submit your film by August 8.

Last updated Sep 18, 2026

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