The 2027 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards, marking 70 years of the competition, is now open for entries.
This year, the TV & Film Awards introduced a dedicated Micro-Drama Category, recognizing mobile-first storytelling. Micro-dramas are designed for audiences who consume content in short episodes on mobile devices.
The 2027 competition will include two special signature awards. The WaterBear Award, presented through a partnership with WaterBear Network, honors filmmakers whose work encourages audiences to protect the planet.
JusticeAid, formed to promote justice through the arts and public engagement, has partnered with New York Festivals to present the JusticeAid Award for the highest-scoring submission across all Social Justice categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions.
With 14 category groups, the 2027 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards spans investigative journalism, documentaries, scripted series, branded content, streaming, sports, entertainment, and emerging storytelling formats.
The 2027 TV & Film Awards eligibility window runs from September 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, with a submission deadline of December 31, 2026.
“With entries from over 40 countries, New York Festivals TV & Film Awards honors the exceptional and innovative content being created today on all continents and seen across all platforms,” said Rose Anderson, Executive Vice President, New York Festivals.
“We respect the achievements of the many talented men and women who make up the worldwide creative community. You take your work seriously, and so do we.”
“Micro-dramas have emerged as one of entertainment’s fastest-growing formats and this year, mobile-first storytelling has its own place in the 2027 Entertainment category group,” added Anderson. “We also have categories for short-form verticals in the Streaming category group.”
2026 winners and Lifetime Achievement Award
The 2026 New York Festivals Lifetime Achievement Award honored Stephen Capus, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and former President of NBC News. The award recognizes industry leaders whose accomplishments have advanced their field and left an impact on the media landscape.
The Kimberley (Wild Pacific Media, Australia) received the 2026 WaterBear Award, presented to the highest-scoring documentary across the Climate Change & Sustainability, Environment & Ecology, and Nature & Wildlife categories.
My Father’s Hair (Keyi Productions, France) received the 2026 JusticeAid Award, recognizing the top-scoring entry across Social Justice categories in the NYF TV & Film and Radio competitions.
The 2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards winners were announced at the Storytellers Gala on May 21, 2026. The virtual event featured global highlights, winners’ acceptance speeches, and behind-the-scenes commentary from industry storytellers.
The New York Festivals Storytellers Gala will celebrate 2027 trophy winners at a virtual event on May 20, 2027.
For more information about NYF’s TV & Film Awards or to enter the 2027 competition, go here.
