02/24/2026
4th Annual Phoenicia Festival of the Arts Announces 2nd Annual Film Screening Series, Featured Filmmaker Gustavo Von Ha, and Expanded Industry Programming
Submissions Now Open — Advertisers and Community Partners Invited to Join What Promises to Be PFOTA’s Biggest Year Yet
Phoenicia, NY — August 21–23, 2026 — The Phoenicia Festival of the Arts (PFOTA) returns for its fourth year with the highly anticipated Second Annual Film Screening Series, an ambitious expansion of its cinematic programming and the continued evolution of the Phoenicia Film Festival.
Set in the heart of the Catskills, PFOTA transforms the hamlet of Phoenicia, New York into a multi-day celebration of art, film, music, performance, and creative community. Produced by Christina Varga, founder of VARGA Gallery, the festival has quickly grown from a grassroots gathering into one of Upstate New York’s most dynamic cultural events.
In 2026, PFOTA raises the bar.
The Film Screening Series — introduced last year to a sold-out, enthusiastically received audience — returns with expanded programming, a formal submission platform, new industry partnerships, and a sharpened curatorial vision under the leadership of Programming Coordinator Jack Warren and Featured Filmmaker Gustavo Von Ha.
A Festival on the Rise
Last year marked PFOTA’s first foray into film, presenting a powerful slate of shorts and documentaries at the historic Phoenicia Playhouse, home of the Shandaken Theatrical Society.
The inaugural lineup demonstrated PFOTA’s commitment to bold storytelling and cultural dialogue:
The Long Path (Dir. Shai Ben-Dor) followed ultrarunner Kim Levinsky’s 358-mile journey along the New York State Long Path, weaving endurance athletics with mental health advocacy.
The Gender Symphony (Dir. Phoebe Legere), an award-winning, visually opulent exploration of gender politics blending Commedia dell’Arte and hand-drawn animation, screened to critical acclaim.
Mixed Messages (Dir. Kathy Brew), a prescient feminist media critique that remains strikingly relevant decades after its creation.
Following the Thread (Dir. Kathy Brew), documenting Indigenous textile traditions in Peru and the global stakes of cultural preservation.
Sparrow: Hecho en Guanajuato (Dir. Paul Smart & Eduardo Padilla), a poetic meditation on place, language, and creativity.
The success of that first screening series confirmed what PFOTA audiences already knew: cinema belongs at the heart of this festival.
Now, the 2026 edition expands into a fully realized, curated short-form program designed to attract regional, national, and international filmmakers.
2026 Featured Filmmaker: Gustavo Von Ha
This year’s Film Screening Series is anchored by Brazilian visual artist Gustavo Von Ha, whose multidisciplinary practice spans cinema, public space, performance, and institutional critique. His work has appeared in major international exhibitions including the Yerevan Biennial and the Bienal do Mercosul, as well as institutions such as the Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo and the Museu de Arte do Rio.
Operating at the intersection of art systems, authorship, and cultural production, Von Ha’s presence signals PFOTA’s growing global reach and commitment to daring, conceptually rigorous work.
Programming Leadership: Jack Warren
Guiding the Film Screening Series is Catskills-based filmmaker and programmer Jack Warren, whose award-winning shorts have screened internationally, including at the Woodstock Film Festival and the Rome International Film Festival. Warren has curated genre and documentary programming for Gunpowder & Sky’s ALTER and DUST platforms and organizes regional screenings through the Cellar Door Cinema Club.
Warren’s leadership ensures the Phoenicia Film Festival will balance global cinematic excellence with deep regional roots — building sustainable exhibition platforms for independent artists in the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Submissions Now Open — A Call to Bold Filmmakers
PFOTA welcomes short films of all genres and subjects and encourages visionary, original, and emotionally resonant work.
Filmmakers are invited to submit via FilmFreeway:
www.filmfreeway.com/PhoeniciaFestivalOfTheArts
The festival is particularly interested in films that can expand into live experiences — including Q&As, panels, performances, installations, or cross-disciplinary collaborations that activate the festival environment.
Awards & Prizes
Best Woman Directed Short
Best Animated Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Art Short
The Award Ceremony and winning films will be presented at the Phoenicia Playhouse during the festival weekend.
A Major Opportunity for Advertisers & Sponsors
With growing regional tourism, expanded programming, and an increasingly national submission pool, the 4th Annual Phoenicia Festival of the Arts presents a prime opportunity for:
Regional businesses
Cultural institutions
Hospitality partners
Arts organizations
Independent brands seeking creative audiences
Advertisers gain visibility across festival print materials, on-site installations, digital promotion, and during high-traffic screening events at the Phoenicia Playhouse.
PFOTA draws artists, collectors, filmmakers, and audiences from across the Hudson Valley, New York City, and beyond — making 2026 the ideal year to align with a fast-growing cultural institution at a pivotal moment.
About the Festival
Taking place August 21–23, 2026, just two hours north of New York City, the Phoenicia Festival of the Arts presents three immersive days of visual art, live music, film, workshops, dance, and site-specific installations throughout Phoenicia.
What began as an intimate arts gathering has evolved into a vibrant, community-driven event that celebrates both the creative landscape of the Catskills and its expanding national cultural footprint.
Media & Advertising Inquiries:
[email protected]
Submissions:
www.filmfreeway.com/PhoeniciaFestivalOfTheArts
Event Dates: August 21–23, 2026
Location: Phoenicia, NY
Phoenicia Festival of the Arts — Where Independent Film and Creative Community Converge in the Catskills.
The Phoenicia Festival of the Arts (PFOTA) is an annual, multi-day celebration in Phoenicia, NY—an Upstate New York hamlet in the heart of the Catskills—that...
