WFA 2021 Home Schedule Explore the Film Guide Education Parties News+Reviews WFA 2021 Winners
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Winter Film Awards, we’d like to thank you for taking part in our Film Festival. It’s going to be awesome!
See the back page of the Program for a schedule of Festival events and check our website for updates. You and a companion are welcome to attend all Festival events – just show your badge at the door.
Effective September 13, New York City is mandating that all visitors to bars, restaurants and theaters must be able to provide proof of vaccination. Please be sure to have your proof on hand. It is also always a good idea to wear a mask, though this has not yet been mandated.
Photography and filming may occur at any time in any are of this or any other WFA location during the Festival. Participation in and presence at any WFA location or event shall be construed as your express consent to any photography or filming in connection with WFA, including but not limited to the use and distribution of your name voice and likeness.
There are tons of opportunities for on-camera interviews at the Festival. Be sure to check out Top 5 Questions any filmmaker should be prepared to answer on camera for some useful tips.
Your Screening
Check our Schedule for your screening block – films are listed for each session in the order they will screen. Films play one after another with no break.
Following each primary screening will be a Q&A with all the attending filmmakers for that block. We ask that only one person come on stage to represent each film so it isn’t too crowded up there. Note that we do not have Q&A sessions for our weekday matinees.
Due to COVID travel restrictions, we are expecting a number of our filmmakers to attend Q&A via Zoom.
If you are bringing your friends to your screening, please let them know that your film is not the only one in the session. Remind them that they are expected to stay for the whole block in order to not disturb people there for other films in the session. All of the films we are screening are awesome and we guarantee they will not be disappointed!
If English is not your first language and you’d like to have someone on hand to translate, please contact Steffanie at submissions@nullwinterfilmawards.com. We have access to people who speak most languages and can make sure someone is there for you.
Films have all been carefully tested to ensure everything plays properly all the way through. However, every once in a while, a gremlin gets into the works and messes something up. It is never a bad idea to bring a DVD or BluRay or Thumbdrive with you just in case. In the past 9 years and nearly 850 films screened, we had to go to one of these just two times, but it never hurts to be prepared.
Virtual Q&A Sessions / Filmmakers Lounge
We are working with EventCombo to use their FIREWORKS application for our virtual Q&A sessions and the filmmaker’s lounge. Please do log in and use Fireworks to chat with your fellow filmmakers!
https://wfa21virtual.eventcombo.com
You should have received an email from EventCombo to “Join Fireworks for 2021 Winter Film Awards International Film Festival Online”. Please click the link there to get setup – note that you must access from the CHROME browser. If there are additional people who need to be included, please ask them to go to that URL and use the code “filmmaker21” to sign up.
If you will be attending your Q&A session virtually, please be sure to login in advance and be sure all is OK. About 20 minutes before the Q&A starts, please log in to the RECEPTION area. I will log in and promote the speakers to presenters for the session.
Venues & Locations
Opening Night party Harbor NYC, 621 West 46th Street. This is a free party and you are welcome to bring your cast, crew, friends, parents, roommate and anyone else you’d like! Be sure everyone has photo ID and proof of vaccination – you must be 21 to get in. Cash bar.
The Awards Ceremony will be at Club 230Fifth at 230 Fifth Avenue (at 27th Street). Take the 4–6–N–R–W to 28th Street. This is one of NYC’s most beautiful venues and has a lovely heated roof-deck with phenomenal views of the City. This is a free party and you are welcome to bring everyone you know! We’ll have lots of media, a living red carpet, live performances and general hoopla. Cash bar. Be sure everyone has photo ID and proof of vaccination – must be 21 to get in. If you are not 21, please contact Steffanie in advance. 230Fifth has restaurant service, so they will allow people under 21 if you come in before the mad crush and are specifically on the list.
We will have a variety of after-parties throughout the week at various bars in town. Please check our website for details.
Education Day on October 1 will be at NY Film Academy, 17 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004. Take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green or the 1 to Rector Street. Mask and proof of vaccination mandatory to enter.
All screenings and discussion panels will be at Cinema Village at 22 East 12th Street. Take the N–R–L–4–5–6 subway and exit the train at UNION SQUARE, then walk two blocks south (away from the Park). We will have an interviewer at the theater most evenings and will send out a schedule for on-site interviews as we get closer. There is limited wall space at the theater so we cannot hang your posters, but we do have a little table space if you would like to bring postcards.
Tickets & Badges
Each film will receive a pair of all-access badges. You can pick these up at our Opening Night party or at the theater during Festival hours (see Schedule). If you are not able to attend the Festival, you are very much encouraged to share your badge with a local friend. You do not have to bring the same friend to all events so long as you collect the badge to give to the next person!
If you lose your badge, contact Steffanie at submissions@nullwinterfilmawards.com
If you need additional tickets for screenings, please visit https://wfa2021.eventcombo.com/
All of our parties and educational sessions are free and open to the public. If you need more than 10 tickets or would like to purchase additional all access passes, please contact info@nullwinterfilmawards.com for a discount code.
Dress Code for Parties
Please note that parties are 21+ and require ID for entry and proof of vaccination. In general, the clubs have a dress code and do not allow blue jeans, sneakers or sports hats. Bring your badge! Check our website for updates, venues and details.
Our Awards Ceremony is at a swank club. Feel free to get dressed up in your spiffiest party wear! Here are photos from last year to give you an idea of what to expect.
Social Media
Please Tweet, Insta or Facebook your festival experience and tag @WinterFilmAward or #WFA2021 and visit us on Facebook to see Festival photos and updates.
New York City Advice
Welcome to New York City, the greatest City in the World! If you are looking for restaurant reservations, we recommend Eater NY, Thrillist or NY Magazine. Or, ask any New Yorker; we love recommending restaurants. Try to avoid eating in Times Square if you want decent food. Generally, you should expect to add 15-20% tip at restaurants. Check out this tipping guide for more.
New York City & Co has a number of good discounts for local hotels, restaurants and services – check them out here!
The City is safe and you will be absolutely fine riding the subways (even late at night) and getting around. However, it is a large City and you need to be careful – there are pickpockets, particularly in tourist areas, and any unattended bags will almost definitely be stolen. At WFA parties, be sure to hold onto your possessions or check them at CoatCheck. Do not put your bag down and go off to be interviewed – be sure someone is holding onto it at all times
CityMapper and Transit are two good mobile apps for transportation and maps. Most NYers just use Google Maps which includes mass transit options. Subway fare is $2.75, payable with MetroCard (sold at all subway stations). People 65 years or older and people with qualifying disabilities who show a proper form of identification (including Reduced-Fare MetroCard or a Medicare card) are eligible for reduced fare. If you expect to be riding the train or bus a bunch, the 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard is $33.
Citibike is a great option if the weather is decent. Day passes are $12 / 3-Day passes are $24 and include unlimited 30-minute rides on a CitiBike. There are extra fees if you keep a bike for more than 30 mins or take an e-bike. Remember – it is illegal in NYC to bike on the sidewalks. Stay in the bike lanes wherever possible.
More Information
Check out A bit of advice for your Film Festival experience and Top 5 Questions any filmmaker should be prepared to answer on camera for some useful tips.
If you have questions or need any assistance, contact any member of the WFA staff or email submissions@nullWinterFilmAwards.com. In case of dire emergency, text or call Steffanie at (646) 522-2004.
We are so excited to meet you and hope you have a wonderful experience!
