Cayuga Film Festival

Cayuga Film Festival CFF highlights the work from high school, college, and emerging filmmakers under the age of 30 in Ne

An update on Cayuga Film Festival ✨
05/18/2026

An update on Cayuga Film Festival ✨

04/17/2026

✨ The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.
Free to the public, so bring a friend or two!

Saturday, April 18, 2026:
10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

04/17/2026

When I'm In The Water
dir. Kennedy Laylon
College Documentary (10-30 mins)

ABOUT THE FILM:
Amongst the hundreds of lively ponds that make up Cape Cod, there’s a thriving community of wildlife, foliage… and old women. Susan, the founder of “Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage”, has gathered a group of electrifying old women to battle the growing pollution in the ponds. Life itself can become polluted by loneliness, especially as we age, but through this project these women have unexpectedly revitalized their own lives, not just their environments.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS:
Kennedy Laylon (she/her) is a recent graduate from Ithaca College's Documentary Studies and Production program where she completed her thesis film, When I'm in the Water. Her hope is to continue creating women-focused films surrounding current events in order to inspire and impact others.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule in our bio.

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

We Are Crystal LakeDir. Robert Rios & Declan WellingHigh School Documentary (under 10 mins)ABOUT THE FILM:"We are Crysta...
04/16/2026

We Are Crystal Lake
Dir. Robert Rios & Declan Welling
High School Documentary (under 10 mins)

ABOUT THE FILM:
"We are Crystal Lake” is a powerful documentary that follows the community-led transformation of Crystal Lake, a 109-acre ecological treasure located in Newburgh, New York. Once a vibrant recreational area in the 1950’s, this green space fell into disrepair due to years of neglect. Now, local organizations, volunteers, and land stewards such as Jason are coming together to restore and protect it, with the goal of officially designating it as parkland to ensure its preservation for future generations.
This win would protect Newburgh's largest green space and address the nature gap that exists in this Environmental Justice community whose residents are in need of more green spaces, and recreational opportunities while pressuring a local government too often caught in its bureaucratic process.

Jason from ECP reminds us, the fight we are all part of is about economic justice and providing green space for communities that need it the most. He stresses the urgency of this moment, saying, "These pieces of land represent a once-in-a-generation chance to preserve green space for future generations. Preserving public spaces is essential, especially in America, where so much of our land is privatized. These spaces bring people together, help us reconnect with nature, and are a core part of rebuilding community."

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

04/15/2026

Untitled Artist
Dir. Lilly Goba
High School Narrative

ABOUT THE FILM: What is art and what does it mean to you? For this young teen, it's everything but the thought of a blank canvas it ALMOST too daunting to start.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: I'm an actor/producer who co-founded Next Generation Storytellers alongside Emmy-winner, Jacob Young. We created Next Generation Storytellers to bring Hollywood to Hometown. This film was written, directed, and acted with first time filmmakers with the support of Hollywood/NGS.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

The XYZ Boyzdir. Lucas ChioriniHigh School NarrativeABOUT THE FILM: X and Z make a tape.ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Lucas Chior...
04/14/2026

The XYZ Boyz
dir. Lucas Chiorini
High School Narrative

ABOUT THE FILM:
X and Z make a tape.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Lucas Chiorini is a student and aspiring filmmaker currently attending Wesleyan University. His new short film, "SHRIMP EARS," will be released this summer.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

04/13/2026

The Cherry Picker: A Portrait of Frank Piliero
dir. Makai Yllanes, Abigail Singer
College Documentary (10-30 mins)

ABOUT THE FILM:
Francis "Frank" Piliero, at the age of 78, explores his lifelong relationship with hockey and what healthy aging means to him.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Abigail Singer and Makai Yllanes are students at Ithaca College, majoring in Documentary Studies and Production. Singer is from New York City and loves character-focused stories about health and communication, while Yllanes is from Carbondale, Colorado, and his work focuses on finding unique stories in outdoor adventure sports. Together, they are the co-creators of The Cherry Picker: A Portrait of Frank Piliero.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

04/12/2026

Squeezing Seoul
dir. Logan Perzi & Liuliu Zhu
College Documentary (10-30 mins)

ABOUT THE FILM: In the heart of bustling Seoul, Korea, small neighborhood playgrounds become a sanctuary for children, adults, and grandparents alike. Squeezing Seoul observes three generations of visitors as they navigate the playground’s swings, slides, and open spaces, reflecting on memories, childhood games, and the simple joys of play. Through candid conversations and intimate b-roll, the documentary explores how these pockets of calm foster community, nostalgia, and connection amidst the city’s relentless pace. With a delicate balance of observation and storytelling, the film celebrates the quiet yet profound importance of public spaces in urban life.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Born in Los Angeles and based outside of Philadelphia, Logan is a film student at Ithaca College in New York. He is the founder of 1972 Productions LLC, an independent production company. He creates documentary and narrative works that explore human connection, memory, and place, often capturing quiet moments of reflection within everyday life.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

04/11/2026

✨ ONE WEEK until the Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.
This event is free to the public, so bring a friend or two!

Saturday, April 18, 2026:
10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule in our bio.

tags:
Film Festival Screening
Upstate New York Film Festival
Independent Films
High School Filmmaking
College Filmmaking

Spellbook dir. Aubrey Frigon High School Short Animation ABOUT THE FILM: An argument between two friends about a stolen ...
04/11/2026

Spellbook
dir. Aubrey Frigon
High School Short Animation

ABOUT THE FILM: An argument between two friends about a stolen spell book.

🎥 🎥 🎥

✨ Saturday, April 18, 2026: The Fifth Annual Cayuga Film Festival! ✨

10:00am – Doors Open!
11:00pm – BLOCK ONE BEGINS
1:00pm – BLOCK 2 BEGINS
2:30pm – Filmmaker Q&A
Watch the films of our Winners! Filmmakers are invited to arrive by 11am to pick up swag bags and meet other filmmakers. After the screening, we will invite our filmmakers up to the stage for a brief Q&A to learn more about their films.

📍 Auburn Public Theater

Find the complete schedule here: www.cayugafilmfestival.com

Cayuga Film Festival 2024 was an extraordinary weekend, and we have a lot of people to thank!Thank you to all the filmma...
11/10/2024

Cayuga Film Festival 2024 was an extraordinary weekend, and we have a lot of people to thank!

Thank you to all the filmmakers that submitted their vibrant work! It was wonderful meeting every single one of you and we hope you’ll continue to create art and submit your creations in the future!

A huge thank you to our third Harriet Tubman Freedom Award recipient Lagueria Davis for coming to the festival, screening her fabulous documentary Black Barbie, and allowing viewers to ask questions during her Q&A! The biggest thank you to  for sponsoring the Harriet Tubman Freedom Award!

Thank you to our partners  for providing a perfect venue and staff to celebrate the films, as well as and . Our wonderful volunteers and APT staff made this event run so extremely smoothly. 

A shoutout to Juliettezygpicturestudios for directing the festival for the fourth year - chances are if you were a filmmaker or judge, she was the one who was in contact with you and answered your questions!

You’ve probably seen her interview our talented filmmakers! Being a talented filmmaker herself (as well as a judge for the festival the last two years!) joined the CFF crew as our social media manager! She is the best!!

Thank you to our lovely photographer,  , who took the amazing photos and documented the event perfectly.

This was such a grand time and we can’t wait to do it all over again next year!

Submissions are NOW OPEN for ! We can’t wait to see what phenomenal work is submitted, and to welcome a whole new set of filmmakers (and maybe some CFF alum ;) to the festival next November!

Be sure to follow along on Facebook or Instagram for updates ! 🎥🎬📽️🎞️

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Auburn, NY
13021

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