You are reading

Sunnyside Shorts International Film Festival Returns Next Month, New Teen Filmmakers Category

Oct. 12, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez

The ever-popular Sunnyside Shorts International Film Festival will be returning to the neighborhood in November, marking a tradition now its in eighth year.

The one-day film festival will take place on Nov. 3 at the Sunnyside Reformed Church, where 17 films will be screened through the afternoon and evening.

The festival includes a new “for teens, by teens” category this year, with nine films made mostly by young adults from places like Turkey, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and, of course, Sunnyside.

The teen shorts, to be played in the afternoon, range from documentaries about Turkey’s Mount Ida and its nearby inhabitants, a disillusioned high-school senior who receives advice from his older sister, and a director chronicling her estranged relationship with her mother.

The remaining films, to be played in the evening, represent directors from countries like Iran, India, Spain, and the USA. The shorts tell stories of asylum seekers who form bonds through a volleyball game, a young girl who looks for a treasure in the forest with her grandfather, and a black man running against Trump for president under the slogan, “Make America Black Again,” with an all-white campaign staff.

The film festival’s judges and volunteered screened through almost 100 films before selecting the top ones for viewing.

The festival begins at 1 p.m. with the teen film screenings, to be judged by teens for awards. The evening films will play at 7 p.m.

The teen component is free, with tickets to the evening film screenings available for $12 online or $15 at the festival.

The Sunnyside Shorts Film Festival has its roots in 2001, when Shinichi Murota, a Japanese exchange student studying at Hunter College, created it for a class project. The film festival went on a hiatus when Murota returned to Japan, and was revived in 2016.

sunnyside shorts
email the author: news@queenspost.com

5 Comments

Click for Comments 
Sandra H Statner

Looking forward to seeing this year’s films. Always a great time at this film festival.

1
11
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Catch the fall vibe at these western Queens breweries

Sep. 3, 2025 By Jessica Militello

September rings in the start of Oktoberfest from mid-September through October, featuring special brews, fun events and more fall fun. Western Queens is filled with breweries to enjoy seasonal brews, fall flavors and the start of cooler weather as Autumn approaches, making it a perfect time to meet up with friends at these local spaces.

Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.

A hidden gem in Sunnyside: Bistro Punta Sal blends Peruvian and Italian flavors

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

On a quiet street in Sunnyside, Bistro Punta Sal has its French doors wide open, letting the late August breeze emanate throughout the space, which is ornate with flowers, paintings and an array of tables and chairs for intimate dinners with friends or a romantic date night. The cozy restaurant, located at 45-51 46th St., is a hidden gem in the neighborhood that is just waiting to be discovered, as the sights and aromas of the restaurant invite guests in.