Welcome to

Unisphere Film Festival

Unisphere Film Festival is coming back in summer 2026 for our third year! We are stilll continuing to support filmmakers, public art, and the greatest place on Earth, Queens!

Submissions are now open on FilmFreeway.

Unisphere Film Festival is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit run by local filmmakers highlighting the next generation of filmmakers celebrating the strong diversity of Queens from the art of filmmaking to its history and the evolution of storytelling.

Follow us on our social media for updates on our festival. We can’t wait to see you then!

Graphic promoting the UNISPHERE Film Festival in Queens, New York, featuring an illustration of a globe on a turquoise background.

Meet the Team

  • A man with black hair and medium skin tone wearing a blue t-shirt, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression against a gray background.

    Mridul Sharma

    Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, New York. Mridul is the founder and Creative Director of Unisphere Film Festival. After working for couple of festivals across New York City, Mridul found inspiration to provide a platform for filmmakers in Queens to have a festival they can easily call home. He intends to give Queens a prominent position in the landscape of New York City and is thriving on building more resources for the Queens community not only in art but in business as well.

    Mridul proudly calls Queens home and has no desire to move or live anywhere else.

    Graduate of the New York Film Academy's Screenwriting Program in 2020. An active reader in his spare time. Edits Wikipedia when he should be working on his next idea. And above all the world's biggest Mets fan.

  • A woman with short brown hair wearing a bright pink blazer and pearl earrings, smiling at the camera.

    Molly Jarr

    With a background in Interior Design, Molly Jarr is currently a design and project manager in the Corporate Real Estate department of a major international media corporation.

    Raised on the east coast, she has lived in New York City for the last 15 years. She loves traveling, and going to the movies and is looking forward to the day someone asks her how to get to Carnegie Hall.

  • A man with short dark hair, wearing a blue button-up shirt over a white T-shirt, posing for a photo indoors.

    Kevin Sanichara

    Kevin has been a Resident of Queens his entire life who appreciates the creativity behind film and the arts. He is one of the founders and designers that spearhead the infamous Queens The World's Borough Sculpture located in Forest Hills, Queens. 

    Outside of his business expertise, Kevin's goals are to help empower not just those in the film industry but other creatives, artists, and small businesses in order to get their name out in the public to keep the arts thriving. 

Read about our past programs

2024 Program

August 22-25, 2024

LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
Little Theater
Van Dam Street and 47th Avenue

2025 Program

July 7-13, 2025

Court Square Theater
44-02 23rd St, Long Island City

Awards

Unisphere Film Festival will be accepting submissions in the following categories:
Narrative
Documentary
Animation
Student

Unisphere Film Festival awards will be given to a single winner in each category. The awards are as follows

Best Doc Short
Best Doc Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Narrative Feature
Best Animation Award
Grand Jury Award

Our awards are made in Cambridge Jade Plaque - 4" W x 3" H x 3/4" D. Each award is made by our friends at Bennett Awards in Placerville, California.

All awards feature our name, logo, motto, category of the award, name of the winning film, and name of our recipients. Example of one of our awards from our previous name shown below.

Award Winners

Our winners in each category include the following films. Click on each poster to learn more about each film.

Narrative Short

Narrative Feature

Documentary Short


Documentary Feature


Best Animation


Grand Jury

A glass award plaque for the Queens Film Festival in New York, featuring a narrative film titled 'Broken Pieces' by Justin Ho, with a reflection of the text on the surface.

See the fun from our past two years

Queens Film Festival

August 22-25, 2024

Stage with a large projection screen displaying 'Queens Film Festival' logo and text, with four chairs in front and a black background.
Stage with six empty chairs in front of an illuminated screen displaying the Queens Film Festival logo and the text 'We are Queens, New York.' A person stands to the left of the stage, looking at their phone in a dark auditorium.
Empty theater with black walls, chairs, and a large white projection screen at the front. Several people are seen standing and sitting, preparing for a performance or presentation. Equipment and lighting are installed above the stage area.
The backdrop features logos and names of several organizations and events, including Queens Film Festival, TV Boy, Friends of the Queensway, Chip City, Lowery Bus & Tiler, GEMINI Crown Tech, and Court Square Theater, set against a teal background.
An indoor stage with a large screen displaying the Queens Film Festival logo with a globe and the text "Queens Film Festival" and "We are Queens, New York." There are chairs in front of the stage and a person standing to the right.
An indoor scene at a venue with a black wall, a screen displaying logos, and several people standing near rows of chairs. The ceiling has exposed pipes and lighting.
Table of canned La Colombe craft coffee drinks and a plastic bottle of Chick-fil-A water in a dark theater with empty chairs and a person standing in the background.
Audience watching a movie or presentation on a large screen in a dark theater or auditorium.
Audience watching a movie or presentation in a dark theater with a large screen showing a man standing outside on a street, near a staircase leading down from a building, with brick walls and city street background.
Two men standing together in front of a blue promotional backdrop, smiling, with their arms around each other's shoulders. The backdrop features logos for Queens Film Festival, Chip City, Queen's Square Theater, and other sponsors.
A woman in a bronze satin dress standing in front of a blue backdrop taking a photo with her phone of four people talking at an event.
A group of people standing and talking in a room with a black wall, some chairs on an upper level, and boxes of donuts on a table in the foreground.
A dark theater or auditorium showing a large screen with a man with gray hair and beard wearing a blue checkered shirt, sitting on a pink couch, with bookshelves in the background.
A large screen displaying an animated character shaped like a red fish with yellow fins and a big smile, in a dark room with chairs and a person seated watching the screen.
Three women sitting on stage chairs; the woman in the middle holds a microphone and talks, while the others listen.
A man and a woman are smiling and holding a sign that reads "Queens" with extra text underneath. They are standing outside on a concrete surface near a yellow and teal railing.
Entrance to the Count Square Theater with two orange traffic cones outside and a blue sign above the door.
Table with Queens-themed merchandise and promotional materials, set up outdoors against a brick wall, with a large Queens banner hanging on the front of the table.
A scene from a movie or TV show featuring two women talking outdoors, one with dark hair and the other with short curly hair, in a park setting.
Three men sitting on chairs on a stage, with a blank projection screen behind them. One man is speaking into a microphone, while the other two are listening.
People gathered in a dimly lit indoor space, with some seated at a table and others standing in small groups, possibly at a social or networking event.
Two people seated on stage, one with a microphone and notes, and the other gesturing with their hands, under bright stage lighting.
Presentation slide showing a photo of a group of people carrying backpacks walking outdoors in a desert landscape, and a close-up of former President Barack Obama speaking.
Large display screen showing the Queens Film Festival logo with a globe graphic and the text 'QUEENS FILM FESTIVAL' and 'We are Queens, New York'.
Three actors sitting on chairs on stage, engaged in a discussion or performance. The person in the middle is speaking, wearing glasses, a hat, and a tie. The stage has a large blank screen behind them.
A young man with curly hair, wearing large sunglasses, a black cap, and a gray T-shirt with 'Chip City' printed on it, stands behind a table with boxes of cookies at a bake shop or bakery. He is holding a bag of cookies and smiling.
Two women engaged in a conversation, one is holding a microphone and appears emotional, the other looks on attentively.
A young man wearing a black cap, glasses, and a gray t-shirt that says 'Chirp City' is opening a box of food with gloves. He is standing in front of a black wall in what appears to be a casual setting.
A person stands on stage in front of a screen that reads 'Queens Film Festival'. The stage has several empty chairs and audience members seated facing the stage.
A small theater or cinema with a large projection screen, some audience members seated in chairs, and stage lighting overhead.
An elderly man with white hair, glasses, wearing a white shirt and gray pants, standing with his hands in his pockets, smiling at the camera in front of a teal backdrop with various event logos and text.
People watching a video of the Empire State Building on a screen in a dark room.

Queens Film Festival

July 9-13, 2025

Three people standing in front of a teal backdrop with festival and event logos, smiling for the camera. The woman on the left wears a blue and white dress, the man in the middle wears glasses and a light-colored shirt with a brown strap, and the woman on the right wears a gray dress.
An elderly man with white hair and glasses holding a smartphone in front of a blue backdrop with event logos and texts, including 'GEMINI CROWN,' 'QUEEN FILM FESTIVAL,' and 'TV.BY'.
Close-up view of a digital screen displaying text and graphics, with a blue-green tint and reflections.
A man with glasses and a striped shirt sitting at a restaurant table, holding a Queens sign and a photo, with a plate of French fries and fried food in front of him, smiling excitedly.
Empty theater with rows of black chairs in front of a large screen displaying the Queens Film Festival logo, cookies, drinks, and informational pamphlets on a table in the foreground, and a few people sitting at the back.
A person giving a presentation in a dark auditorium with a large screen displaying slides, and a few audience members seated, some wearing headscarves.
An empty black-box theater or performance space with a few people on stage, some seated in the audience area, and a large projection screen on the wall.
Table with neatly folded black T-shirts and promotional materials, set against a blue brick wall with various theater posters.
People seated and standing in a dimly lit theater or comedy club with chairs and a stage, some waiting or socializing.
An empty theater stage with a few audience members seated on the right side, backstage black curtains, stage lighting equipment overhead, and chairs in the audience area.
Audience seated in a dark theater watching a presentation for Queens Film Festival with a screen showing a globe and text that reads 'Queens Film Festival, We are Queens, New York'.
Audience watching a large screen displaying a man speaking in an indoor setting with plants and windows in the background.
A group of seven people seated on chairs on a stage, engaged in a panel discussion or presentation. There is a large blank screen behind them and a microphone stand in front of the panel. The setting appears to be in a black box theater or auditorium.
Three people standing together at a film festival, posing for a photo in front of a step-and-repeat banner with various festival and sponsor logos.
A group of five people having a conversation backstage of a theater or performance space, with a black wall marked 'WC' in the background, stacked chairs and storage items on a high shelf, and brown velvet furniture in the foreground.
A presentation slide in a dark room, featuring the Gemini Crown Tech logo, a person holding a tablet, and text promoting Gemini Crown Tech's production software as a game-changer in video production.
People watching a movie in a dark theater with a large screen displaying abstract visuals.
A dark indoor space with a large illuminated screen displaying names of people, with some chairs and two people sitting on the right.
Three people sitting on chairs on a stage, engaged in a conversation during a panel discussion or interview. A woman holds a microphone and appears to be speaking with a smile. The stage has a large white screen or backdrop behind them, and the audience area is dark.
Three diverse smiling people standing together outdoors, with the two men on the left holding a sign that says 'Queens,' and the woman on the right holding a phone. Behind them is a woman sitting at a table under a covered area.
Audience watching a presentation or film in a dark theater or screening room with a large blank screen.
A white banner on a table reading "Queens" in large blue letters with a tagline "The World's Borough" in white letters on a red background, set against a brick wall. There is a person partially visible behind the banner, wearing glasses and headphones, working at a laptop.
Two women sitting up in bed, wrapped in white sheets, looking surprised while watching a television screen in a bedroom with floral wallpaper, a window with curtains, and a bedside lamp.
Three men sitting on stage in front of a large blank screen, engaged in a discussion. The man in the middle is speaking, holding a bottle, while the other two listen attentively.
Two men are sitting on chairs on a stage. The man on the left has curly black hair, is holding a microphone and some papers, and is looking at the camera. The man on the right has glasses, short dark hair, and is gesturing with his hand. There is a bright light source overhead, and a person in the background near a wall.
Audience watching a presentation on a large screen in a dark theater or auditorium with black walls and ceiling.
Three men sitting on chairs on a stage with a blank screen behind them, during a panel or discussion event.
Three people sitting on chairs in a dark theater or conference room, engaged in a discussion, with a plain white screen behind them.
Three men seated on a stage, engaging in a discussion or panel. The man in the middle is wearing glasses, a gray cap, and casual clothing, gesturing with his hand. The man on the left is holding a microphone and notes, dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans. The man on the right is wearing a gray t-shirt and shorts, sitting with his legs crossed and one hand on his chin. A large blank screen is behind them, and there are empty chairs in the foreground.
Two women engaged in a conversation, one holding a microphone. They are sitting in front of a plain backdrop, possibly at an event or panel.
Two people posing for a photo in front of a backdrop with various logos and text, at the Queens Film Festival. The woman on the left is wearing a black dress with white embroidery and sneakers, and has her hair styled in braids piled on top of her head with a flower accessory. The man on the right is wearing a black T-shirt with white text, jeans, and sneakers.
A young man in a black t-shirt holding a microphone on stage, listening to an older woman with braided hair speaking into the microphone at a panel or interview event.
Dark room showing a screen with the Queens Film Festival logo, featuring a globe and text, with silhouettes of audience members in front.
Step and repeat banner with logos for Queens Film Festival, Chip City, Ghosts of the Lower, Queensway, and Court Square Theater, set against a dark wall with red lighting.
A man standing on a stage with a microphone in one hand, in front of a large projection screen, in a dark theater or auditorium.
A group of people sitting and watching something in an indoor black box theater or performance space, with black curtains and stage equipment visible in the background.
Two women standing together at the Queens Film Festival, posing in front of a teal backdrop with event logos.
An elderly man with glasses holding a yellow iPhone with a pop socket, smiling at the camera. In the background, a younger man is smiling, and a blue banner with text and logos is partially visible.
Five people seated on a stage in front of a large blank screen, participating in a panel discussion or presentation. One person is speaking into a microphone, while the others listen.
Two men shaking hands inside a restaurant, smiling at the camera.
A table with colorful cartoon designs, holding boxes of cookies and pastries, cans of drinks, bottled water, and napkins with a cookie character, set against a black wall with chairs nearby.
An indoor theater or presentation space with a large screen, some people seated facing the stage, and a person presenting on stage.
A large screen on a stage displaying the logo for Queens Film Festival, which features a globe with a world map and the text 'QUEENS FILM FESTIVAL' and 'We are Queens, New York'.
A group of people in a casual indoor setting near a large window, some sitting and some standing, with a blue wall and a table with yellow tablecloths in the background.
Audience sitting in a theater watching a presentation at Queens Film Festival, with a large screen displaying the festival's logo and tagline in Queens, New York.
Several opened bakery boxes with cookies and pastries on a table, with a person standing nearby and a smartphone visible.
Dark auditorium with a large screen displaying a QR code and text promoting a free trial, surrounded by silhouettes of audience members.
Audience watching a presentation with a large screen displaying a sunset over water and the words 'MAN OVER AEGEAN'
People participating in a panel discussion on a small stage in a dimly lit theater, with an audience seated around the stage.
An empty stage with chairs, a large screen displaying 'Queens Film Festival,' and a few people standing and walking around the seating area.
A small audience seated in black chairs in a black-box theater with black curtains and stage lighting.
People sitting in a dark theater or auditorium, some appear to be watching a performance or presentation.
Audience members seated in black chairs facing a stage with a spotlight, in a dark theater or comedy club.
People seated on chairs around a small stage in a black box theater with black walls and ceiling, stage lights overhead, and some audience members looking at scripts or phones.
Three people sitting on chairs on a stage, with one person speaking into a microphone and reading from a paper. There is a large white projection screen behind them.
A man with glasses and a graphic T-shirt smiling and holding a sign that says "Queens, the World's Borough," at a film festival event in a theater setting.
A person speaking on stage at the Queens Film Festival, with a large screen behind displaying the festival's logo and text.
Projection screen displaying a photo of two young people outdoors near a large spherical metallic structure, with trees and a pool in the background.
Two people sitting on chairs on a stage with a large blank screen behind them.
Two men are sitting on chairs on a stage, with one holding a microphone. The man on the right is wearing glasses, a black T-shirt, and khaki shorts, and is gesturing with his right hand. The man on the left is reading from a paper, wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. There is bright stage lighting overhead.
Audience sitting in black chairs in a small theater or comedy club, watching a performance on stage. The stage is empty and black curtains are visible in the background. The room is dimly lit with some stage lighting overhead.
A small audience watching a black-and-white video projected onto a screen in a dark theatre or screening room. Four people are visible seated in chairs, two women and two men, with some taking notes or holding objects.
Stage with a large screen displaying Queen's Film Festival logo and text, chairs arranged on the side, spotlights and lighting equipment overhead in a black-box theater setting.
Three people sit on chairs on a stage with a large blank screen behind them. The person on the left has short curly hair and is speaking into a microphone. The person in the middle has long hair, glasses, and wears a cap. The person on the right has short hair and is smiling with legs crossed.
Queens Film Festival logo with a globe and the text "QUEENS FILM FESTIVAL" and "We are Queens, New York".
A woman taking a selfie in an auditorium with a large screen displaying the Dreamforce logo in the background.
Two people on stage, one holding a microphone and speaking, the other listening attentively, with neutral background.
Sign for Queens Film Festival with globe icon, attached to a black pole on a city sidewalk, buildings and trees in the background
A person speaking on stage at the Queens Film Festival, with a presentation screen displaying the event's logo and name behind them. Audience members are seated facing the stage.
Audience seated in a theater at Queens Film Festival, watching a presentation on stage with a large screen displaying the Queens Film Festival logo and slogan, 'We are Queens, New York.'
Audience members seated in a dark room, watching a performance or presentation on stage.
A group of people talking and socializing in a dimly lit backstage or rehearsal space, with chairs and storage boxes on a higher level in the background.
An older man with white hair and glasses holding a smartphone with a PopSocket, standing in front of a teal backdrop with event logos including 'Queens Film Festival', 'Gemini CNCrowd', and 'TV BAY'.
A glass award with the Queens Film Festival logo and text, reflecting on a surface, with a blurry background of kitchen items.
Two men standing next to each other and flexing their arms in front of a backdrop with event logos. One of the men is wearing a black T-shirt with white text that reads "Just a Kid from QUEENS," and the other man is wearing a gray T-shirt with a graphic design. Both are smiling, and the backdrop features logos for Chip City, Queens Film Festival, Queen's Way, Court Square Theater, Lowery, and GEMINI.
Four men sitting at a restaurant table with pizza and drinks, smiling and enjoying their meal.

Disclaimer

As we all know, scammers are becoming smarter and are taking advantage of more people than ever before.

Our festival does email and reach out to filmmakers, even by social media messages on Instagram, offering an opportunity to submit with custom discounts. This also includes FilmFreeway where we offer discounts on there for film projects recommended to us by FilmFreeway. We do this to support filmmakers all across Queens and the world. Our email format ends with @unispherefilmfestival.com

Any other format is a scam. If you suspect someone is impersonating us in any way, reach out to us on our contact page or on our Instagram @UnisphereFilmFestival - All of our social media handles end with our full name except for our Twitter which is @Unispherefest. Any other form or handle on social media is fake and not ours. Please do inform us if someone is impersonating us on social media. All of our official social media are linked on our site on our header and footer.

Our festival DOES NOT request or ask for personal information such as date of birth, phone numbers, or addresses. Nor do we ask for personal payment information such as credit/debit card numbers, and/or personal bank details as routing and account numbers. Nor do we accept or allow cash, credit/debit cards, direct deposit, or check payments for submissions. Submissions for filmmakers is handled by FilmFreeway where we receive submissions to our festival. We, as of this time, do not handle film submissions directly.

Ticket sales are done directly by us on our website when our festival is in motion. We do not ask for such information when we sell tickets. All of that information is handled securely by Squarespace and its system. If you believe someone is impersonating ticket sales in our name, please inform us. During our festival, off our website, only credit/debit card payments are accepted for tickets to be purchased. However, cash and check payments are not accepted until during the festival and ONLY IN-PERSON during the festival.

Please be safe and remember to think twice.