2026 Festival Watch Guide: Only in NY

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BY THE EDITORS | MAY 22, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: Only in NY

Singular perspectives from the city that never sleeps.

Our 2026 program is overflowing with New York-centric stories that depict the city as not merely a place but an unshakable identity. Observe the mélange of residents depicted in Human Theories, the beloved staple of NY1 George Whipple, or a discarded MetroCard defending its legacy against a city that’s moved on in the short film Insufficient Fare.

MOUTH FULL OF GOLDS

Spotlight Documentary

Discover the story of Famous Eddie, a fashion icon responsible for the meteoric rise of culture-defining grillz. Archival footage alongside contemporary perspectives illuminate his legendary impact on the face of hip-hop.

Directed by Lyle Lindgren | Featuring A$AP Rocky, Famous Eddie Plein, Mike Tyson, Michele Lamy, Goldie Aka Clifford Price, and Dolly Cohen

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Free Help

TV

Filmmaker Bianca Giaever is selfish… or at least that's what her dad tells her. In this docu-comedy series, Bianca sets out to prove him wrong by offering free help to strangers across New York City. But as she inserts herself into other people's problems, her well-intentioned efforts spiral into messy, funny, and wildly unpredictable situations where the line between helping and interfering disappears.

Directed by Bianca Giaever

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Stand Clear of the Closing Doors

Shorts/Narrative

When a woman makes a simple request of a fellow NYC subway passenger, an everyday moment turns into a bizarre battle for space, peace, and dignity.

Directed by Stacey Sargeant | Featuring Stacey Sargeant, Grace Rex, and Claudia Logan

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Here I'm Alive

US Narrative Competition

One night. One city. Migrants, sex workers and dreamers hustle New York's digital underbelly in this neo-realist urban epic driven by underground rap and spiritual jazz. Raw, unforgettable and unmistakably New York.

Directed by Joshua Z Weinstein | Featuring Cheyenne Gallagher, Eddie Torrenegra, Caleb Zuzga, Krystaly Figueroa, and Emira D'Spain

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ChikaBOOM!

Shorts/Animated

Chika Batstone is an aspiring young magician whose curiosity accidentally unleashes Kaboom, a chaotic magical creature, into the heart of New York City.

Directed by c. Craig Patterson | Featuring Yara Shahidi, Daveed Diggs, Natasha Lyonne, Roy Wood, and Tika Sumpter

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Born to Kill

Shorts/Documentary

From the Vietnam War to the New York streets, Vietnamese refugees built the infamous 80s gang Born to Kill, bound by brotherhood, blood, and the mantra: Love. Money. Sin.

Directed by Sally Tran | Featuring Khang Pham, Hieu Bui, and Loi Xuan Ly

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Insufficient Fare

Shorts/Narrative

A discarded MetroCard defends its legacy against a city that's moved on, tracing its rise as a New York icon before facing obsolescence with a nostalgic farewell.

Directed by Michael Gugger and Varvara Kanellakopoulou | Featuring Lemon Andersen

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Survival of the Thickest

TV

Season 3 of Survival of the Thickest centers on Mavis Beaumont. Black, plus-size, and falling in love while loving herself, Mavis works hard to grow her brand as a stylist and designer. She's determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body-positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss. The scripted comedy is inspired by Buteau's acclaimed book of essays.

After the premiere: a conversation with Michelle Buteau and Amber Ruffin.

Created by Michelle Buteau | Featuring Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, and Marouane Zotti

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Homesick

Shorts/Narrative

Fleeing Russia, Jenia thought New York would be her escape — she was wrong. Yet she's determined to find her home.

Directed by Nadia Bedj | Featuring Liza Yankovskaya, Inna Yesilevskaya, Elyana Rodriguez, and Luan Taveras

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Fabric

Shorts/Narrative

Amid the glamour and chaos of New York Fashion Week, a photographer and a model trade access and beauty as they yearn for a real connection.

Directed by Frank Sun | Featuring Kate Pittard

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"NEW YORK IS DEAD" - LP Giobbi feat. little boots

Shorts/Music Video

Born during COVID, film rejects claims New York is dead, celebrating nightlife communities artists, DJs, drag performers, and patrons whose resilience, virtual shows, and spirit kept the city's magic.

Directed by Richard Burrowes | Featuring Justin Dawson, LP Giobbi, Zeta Jones, Egypt, and Iris Venancio

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Whipple's World

Spotlight Documentary

Attorney by day and beloved entertainment journalist by night, George Whipple has been a staple on NY1 for three decades, including his eponymous show Whipple's World. Juggling many different hats with aplomb, this documentary debut shows just how fascinating Whipple's eccentric life is.

Directed by Adam Paul Verity | Featuring George Carroll Whipple III, Robin Sander, and Sharon F Johnson

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Freestyle

Shorts/Narrative/International

In one charged morning practice, a kleptomaniac figure skater risks it all when her compulsions bleed onto the ice.

Directed by Jordan Britt | Featuring Natalie Johnson, Maurie Moore, Amelie Wilson-Bivera, and Anastasiia Perevozova

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Farm to Fashion

Shorts/Documentary

From upstate NY farms to Manhattan runways, Isabella Rossellini, Donna Karan, and Mimi Prober explore a shifting fashion system, reconnecting land, craft, and clothing in an era of overconsumption.

Directed by Oliver Halfin | Featuring Isabella Rossellini, Donna Karan, and Mimi Prober

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Human Theories

Viewpoints/Feature Narrative

New York City and its mélange of residents are the stars of this funny and relatable debut film, featuring intertwined vignettes in which everyone is searching for (and frequently failing to find) ways to connect with one another.

Directed by Jess Zeidman | Featuring Elise Kibler, Joey Dardano, Joanna Arnow, Sophie Zucker, Josephine Chiang, and Asha Ward

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Alicia Keys: Girl From Hell's Kitchen

Feature Documentary

Multi Grammy Award winner and New York City native Alicia Keys reflects on her childhood growing up in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen and the journey that led her from the gritty streets of '90s New York to the Broadway stage in Tribeca alum One9's moving tribute to a life of music, dreams, and the city that breaks them and makes them.

Directed by One9

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We have over 150 selections to explore at this year's Festival — from films and podcasts to talks and TV and more. Explore the full Festival Program Guide here.

BY THE EDITORS | MAY 22, 2026

2026 Festival Watch Guide: Only in NY

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