If you're looking for a way to travel around the world without leaving New York, now you can! The New York State International Film Festival happens in Albany every September since 2016. This international film festival in New York will give you the opportunity to see films from around the world and to learn about the arts and cultures of many far off places. Read on to learn more about it.

The New York State International Film Festival is a fun and exciting event that takes place at The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio on Central Avenue in Albany.

This event has been happening since 2016, although it skipped a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, since the first year, the festival has screened over 350 films from 23 different countries.

This film festival focuses on short films that have a run time of 30 minutes or less. Due to this fact, the festival is able to show more films than festivals that include longer-form creations.

The theater at The Linda is comfortable and spacious and there is plenty of room for everyone who wishes to attend.

Over a dozen films are shown on both days of the two-day festival.

After each film is shown, attendees can participate in panel discussions about them. In some cases, the filmmakers are even present to answer questions about their films and inspiration.

Of course, there are awards for the best films of the festival.

Anyone can submit a film to this festival. If you've made a film that is shown at the festival, perhaps you can go home with an award of your own. The New York State International Film Festival accepts films under seven different genres: drama, documentary, comedy, horror, animation, experimental, and music videos.

You'll also find food and wine at this film festival that is provided by local businesses.

In fact, a vast number of Capital Region businesses sponsor and support this film festival.

You'll have so much fun at this event! Plan on attending both days and bring your friends. You'll travel around the world and back again while watching these films from around the globe.

The New York State International Film Festival is a wonderful way to travel without even leaving New York. Once you attend once, you'll want to make it a tradition that you return to year after year.

If you're someone who loves festivals of all kinds, there are plenty of them in New York! Check out this list for some very interesting ones around the state: The 11 Weirdest And Wackiest Festivals In All Of New York You Can’t Miss This Year