July 25, 2026 New York City, USA Bengalis of New York (BoNY) is proud to present the annual Bengali Film Festival. Our mission is to celebrate Bengali culture and creativity by providing a global stage for filmmakers of Bengali origin and stories that reflect the richness of our heritage.

1. Submission Fees

Unlike some international festivals, the New York Bengali Film Festival requires a non-refundable submission fee to cover administrative costs.

• Standard Entry: $30 (Regular Deadline)
• Student Entry: $20 (Must provide valid student ID from a student email address)

2. Eligibility and Film Origin

The festival is open to:

• Filmmakers of Bengali origin (regardless of the film’s subject).
• Films that prominently feature Bengali culture, themes, or language, regardless of the filmmaker’s background.
• Films do not have to be centered on New York to be eligible.

3. Categories and Running Time

• Submissions are accepted in the following categories:
• Feature Films: Under 60 minutes.
• Short Films: Under 40 minutes.
• Documentaries: Under 60 minutes.
• Student Films: Created by currently enrolled students or recent graduates (Under 30 minutes).

4. Production Year and Language

• Production Year: Priority is given to films completed after January 1, 2025.
• Language: Films in any language are welcome, but non-English films must include hardcoded English subtitles or a provided SRT file.

5. Final Selection and Rights

The BoNY Selection Committee holds sole authority over film selection. By submitting, the filmmaker confirms they hold all legal rights and permissions for the work. BoNY reserves the right to use excerpts (up to 3 minutes) of selected films for promotional purposes across social media and press.

6. Withdrawal Policy

Once a film has been officially selected and the filmmaker has been notified, it cannot be withdrawn from the festival program under any circumstances.

7. Technical Specifications

• Format: Selected films must be provided as high-resolution digital files (MP4/MOV).
• Delivery: Final screening copies must be submitted via a secure downloadable link (e.g., Vimeo, Google Drive) by the requested deadline.

8. Deadlines for 2026

• Submissions Open: April 18, 2025
• Regular Deadline: April 15, 2026
• Notification Date: June 2, 2026
• Event Date: July 25, 2026

Correspondence & Queries: For any questions regarding the submission process, category eligibility, or student discounts, please contact:

Bengalis of New York (BoNY)

Email: contact@bengalisofnewyork.com

Submissions: FilmFreeway.com/BengaliFilmFestival