Urbanworld Film Festival
Major legitimate festival with strong credentials
Urbanworld Film Festival is the longest-running and leading multicultural film festival in the United States, founded in 1997 by Stacy Spikes to amplify Black stories and diverse narratives from the African diaspora, Latino, Asian, and LGBTQ+ communities. It showcases a wide spectrum of narrative and documentary features, short films, web originals, music videos, and experimental works, serving as a premier launching platform for both independent filmmakers and Hollywood studio hits. The festival holds significant importance in the circuit as one of the largest internationally competitive festivals of its kind, having launched the careers of industry titans like Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, and Malcolm D. Lee.
Last updated Aug 15, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+59 pts)
- Oscar Qualifying Festival
- 30 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at 174 W. 4th Street, New York, NY 10014 United States
- 3 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
Red Flags (-0 pts)
No red flags found
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- FF_GOLD_BADGE
- FF_RATED
- Documented history with archived programs
Festival Details
Founded
1996
Venue
174 W. 4th Street, New York, NY 10014 United States
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Award Categories
1
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