Coney Island Film Festival Press Release

Press Release 2026 Coney Island Film Festival

2026-04-21T11:14:21Z

2026 Coney Island Film Festival Press Release

Coney Island Film Festival May 1-3, 2026!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

															Contact: Rob Leddy, Festival Director

															Email: info@PROTECTED 

															High Res Photos can be found here.
Coney Island Film Festival Returns for Its 26th Annual Celebration of Independent Cinema

															Brooklyn, NY — The much anticipated 26th Annual Coney Island Film Festival will take place May 1–3, 2026 in the historic seaside neighborhood of Coney Island, Brooklyn. This year’s festival will feature 92 films across various genres, celebrating independent cinema in all its forms. Presented by indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA, the festival once again celebrates the intersection of independent film and the vibrant culture of Coney Island.
Now recognized as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and one of the “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” the event has become a beloved springtime tradition for filmmakers and movie fans alike.
A Weekend of Eclectic Film and Festive Spirit

															Over the course of three days, audiences will enjoy a rich array of screenings spanning genres including documentary, narrative shorts and features, sci‑fi, horror, animation, experimental works, music videos, and more. Screenings will take place at iconic venues located in Coney Island USA's landmarked building, including Sideshows by the Seashore and the Coney Island Museum, bringing cinema to life in settings infused with the area’s unique cultural charm.
The festival remains true to the independent spirit of Coney Island, blending bold creative voices with the area’s carnival heritage. Opening night features a party with live performances by the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.
Featured Programs
Opening Night Film:

																“The Longest Friday of the Year, Again”

																Directed by Jim McDonnell, USA, Documentary Feature, 01:10:00, World Premiere.

																A day in the life in Coney Island from the perspective of those who work in the amusement district. Shot on the summer solstice, the first night of Friday night fireworks, and the day before the annual Mermaid Parade, this documentary takes a close look at the hustle and bustle of Coney Island through the eyes of the people who make it come alive.
Comedy Shorts Program 2:

																Featuring a selection of hilarious short films guaranteed to bring laughter and light-hearted fun to the audience.
Horror Block Program 8:

																A spine-tingling selection of horror films guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat.
Program 10 – The Warriors (1979):

																Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 PM

																Directed by Walter Hill, USA, Feature, 90 minutes.

																WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAAYY YAAAY! The leader of New York's biggest street gang declares a truce, and gangs from all 5 boroughs venture to the Bronx for a clandestine meeting. When an assassination takes place, one gang stands wrongly accused, and the truce is off. Now they must fight their way back home to Coney Island, because a whole city is gunning for The Warriors! An annual tradition, this Coney Island cult classic is paired with an interactive film-going experience, where the audience is encouraged to talk back to the film and join in on the fun. Tickets for this program are $12 and can be purchased separately from the festival pass.
Coney Island Films Program 16:

																A celebration of the spirit of Coney Island, this program showcases films that capture its charm and unique atmosphere.
Celebrating Cinema and Community

															Since its founding in the early 2000s through a partnership between Coney Island USA and indiefilmpage.com founder Rob Leddy, the Coney Island Film Festival has grown into a vibrant platform for filmmakers from around the world. Screenings frequently sell out, reflecting strong community interest and a dedicated audience for independent storytelling.
Tickets and Participation

															Individual screening tickets are available now for $10 and can be purchased at https://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com , with advance purchase recommended as many events regularly reach capacity. Warriors screening is $12 and can be purchased separately.
Venue Information

															The festival will be held at 1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224, one block east of the Stillwell Avenue Subway Station (D, N, F, Q trains).
About Coney Island Film Festival

															The Coney Island Film Festival is a celebration of independent cinema, community, and the unique cultural spirit of Coney Island. It highlights films from all genres and supports filmmakers in sharing their stories with enthusiastic and engaged audiences.

Press Release, Coney Island Film Festival, September 16-18

2022-09-06T11:16:27Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rob Leddy
Festival Director
info@PROTECTED

22nd Annual Coney Island Film Festival announces lineup, 97 films in a jam packed weekend, September 16-18, 2022.

Brooklyn, NY: The 22nd annual installment of the Coney Island Film Festival (named one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" by MovieMaker Magazine) hits the shores of Coney Island from Friday, September 16th through Sunday, September 18th. This year's festival features 97 films from around the world; a stunning array of high, and low-brow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. Subjects range from the profound to the profane, showcasing the independent spirit and irreverent nature of the one and only Coney Island.

The festival kicks off on Friday Night, September 16th at 7:30pm at the Coney Island Museum with the New York City Premiere of the Documentary Feature "Back to the Drive-In", directed by April Wright. Following 11 different drive-in families across the country, “Back to the Drive-In” goes behind the scenes to visit eleven unique family-owned drive-ins across the country to experience their passion and determination to keep their theaters alive. It’s a story of human resilience.

Following the screening, it's our Opening Night Party, 9:30pm at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore. It's an evening of live performances featuring The Coney Island Circus Sideshow! Hosted by Adam RealMan. Beer, wine and food will be served.

The Coney Island Film Festival offers a wide variety of Drama and Comedy Shorts, Features, Documentaries, Animation, Experimental, Made-in Coney Island, Horror, Sci-Fi and Music Videos spread throughout 17 program blocks, making CIFF (Coney Island Film Festival), a festival with something for everyone.

Short highlights include the New York Premiere of P.J. Palmer's "North Star" on Saturday, September 17th at 5pm. A rural rancher and his ailing husband, struggling against poverty and isolation, make a heartbreaking decision in order to preserve the dignity of their marriage in the face of mounting pressures from relatives. Stars Colman Domingo (Fear The Walking Dead, Euphoria) and Kevin Bacon (Footloose, Murder in the First). Paper Geese, Directed by Elizabeth Chatelain, screens at 2pm on Sunday, September 18th. After an unsuccessful goose hunt, a young girl grapples with seeing her father in a new light. Stars Jefferson White (Yellowstone). And, in the same screening block CIFF Presents John Gray's "Christmas Eve". All is not what it seems when a father and son have a violent confrontation on Christmas Eve. Starring Xander Berkeley (The Walking Dead, 24).

The wildly popular Horror Shorts Program returns again this year. Saturday, September 17th at 8pm. Eight films, from the bizarre to the macabre, are bound to scare and spook the audience!

And, in keeping with annual tradition, the festival will screen the 1979 Coney Island cult classic "The Warriors", at 10:30pm on Saturday, September 17th.

On Sunday, September 18th at 3pm, it's the New York City Premiere of the Narrative Feature "Discontinued", Directed by Trevor Peckham. A depressed millennial discovers that the world she knows is just a simulated version of reality that is being shut down. Suddenly, she's the only one who wants to stick around.

Danny Garcia's Documentary Feature "Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC" screens Sunday, September 18th at 5pm."Nightclubbing" is the first ever documentary about the renowned New York City nightclub Max's Kansas City (1965-1981) which had an indelible impact on the world of music, fashion, art, culture, and the creation of the New York City Punk Rock scene”.

Wrapping up the festival's last screening block on Sunday, September 18th at 6pm, is "Coney Island Films", featuring films centered and themed around Coney Island.

An awards ceremony takes place Sunday, September 18th, 8pm at the Eldorado Auto Skooter, 1216 Surf Ave., where filmmakers and full festival pass holders get to ride the bumper cars, right after the awards are handed out!

Event details are as follows:
Coney Island Film Festival
September 16-18, 2022

Films screen at Coney Island USA's Sideshows by the Seashore (Ground Floor) and the Coney Island Museum (2nd Floor), both located inside the landmarked Coney Island USA building at 1208 Surf Ave., between Stillwell Ave. and West 12st in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Print res images with photo credit here.

By Subway: D, F, N or Q lines to the Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue stop.

Tickets:
Full Festival Pass (excludes "The Warriors"): $50
Opening Night Screening: $8
Opening Night Party: $25
Saturday Screening Pass: (all Saturday Screenings excluding "The Warriors"): $15
Saturday Night Screening of The Warriors: $12
Sunday Screening Pass: (all Sunday Screenings) $12
Any Individual Program Screening: $8

Schedule and advance tickets are available at: www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com

ABOUT: Coney Island USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts organization based in the amusement park area of the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn New York at 1208 Surf Ave. In existence since 1980, Coney Island USA has developed and produces a number of different programs including some of New York City’s best loved summer programming, such as the Mermaid Parade and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. Coney Island USA also operates the Coney Island Museum, and produces Ask the Experts, Burlesque at the Beach, Congress of Curious Peoples, Coney Island Film Festival, Music of Curiosities, Puppets Come Home!, Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition and the Coney Island Sideshow School.

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