Rochester
International
Film Festival

Presenting the best in short films since 1959

Attend the 2025 Festival!

Come To Our 2025 Festival!

May 1-3, 2025

The Best in Short Films

Join us! All four distinct screenings are FREE to attend at the George Eastman Museum’s famed Dryden Theatre 900 East Avenue in Rochester, New York.

  • May 1 Thursday, 7:30pm
  • May 2 Friday, 7:30pm
  • May 3 Saturday, 3pm matinee
  • May 3 Saturday, 7:30pm
3 DAYS. DOZENS of FILMS. Hundreds of FILM LOVERS.

Donations welcome. We are an all-volunteer non-profit organization.

Attend the 2025 Festival
View Programs from Previous Fests

Attend
a scheduled
Best of the Fest
community event

Learn More about Community Events

Best of the Fest, 2025
scheduled programs (open to the public)

February

  • Tuesday, February 18 at 5:00pm:
    Winton Branch Library, 611 Winton Rd N, Rochester

March

  • Monday, March 3 at 7:00pm:
    Irondequoit Town Library, 100 Titus Ave, Rochester
  • Friday, March 28 at 1:00pm:
    Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd, Penfield
    *Call 585-340-8655 to register

April

  • Wednesday, April 2 at 6:00pm:
    Pittsford Community Library, 24 State St, Pittsford
  • Friday, April 4 at 1:00pm:
    Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd, Penfield
    *Call 585-340-8655 to register
  • Wednesday, April 9 at 6:00pm:
    Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave
  • Friday, April 11 at 1:00pm:
    Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd, Penfield
    *Call 585-340-8655 to register

Raves & Praise

Audience members rave about our carefully selected programs of films from around the world. Many attend all four festival shows each year, year after year, and look forward to voting for the “Best of the Fest.” We hope this year you’ll be among them!

Kudos from RIFF Audience Members 2024

“We have been attending RIFF for many years. We truly look forward to this event and try to see as many shows as possible. The films can be funny, sentimental, deep, educational, beautiful, confusing, humbling, tough to watch at times and thought provoking. The films most appreciated and memorable are those you can’t wait to chat about afterwards! What was the hidden message? Did you understand everything the filmmaker was trying to convey? We always walk away knowing our eyes have been opened to a new and/or different world and for this we are very grateful!”
– Scott and Janet Rosenberg
“We eagerly anticipate the RIFF every year and are never disappointed. Such a great event for our community! We thought the films this year were outstanding!”
– Eileen Blakely
“The foreign films in this year’s festival provided unique insight into different cultures around the world.”
– Anonymous Film Fan
“The RIFF films are highly professional. They are short, but succeed brilliantly in both entertaining and making their point. No wonder this festival has been so successful for so many years.”
– Chris Pruszynski Director, Tom Hope Memorial Media Scholar Program
“The films were fabulous–great show.”
– Anonymous Film Fan
“Thank you and the filmmakers – so very excellent and uplifting.”
– Anonymous Film Fan
“It was a pleasure to attend the well-organized, well-attended, well-curated 2024 Rochester International Film Festival. An added bonus was that so many filmmakers were able to attend from all corners of the earth!”
– Taylor Whitney

Raves & Praise from Participating Filmmakers

Filmmakers appreciate the thoughtful feedback, audience reception, and engaging activities we offer them. Here’s how they describe some of the highlights that make coming to our festival a unique experience for them.

“A one-of-a-kind festival with a long and rich history, curated and organized by a team of hardworking, deeply-caring volunteers. With three jam-packed days of screenings, meals, and educational tours, there were many opportunities for growth and to get to know other filmmakers. For 2024, the program was full of thought-provoking films by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds with unique viewpoints and voices. Thank you to the Rochester Film Festival for bringing us all together.“
– Sebastian Boneta, “Runaway” (2024)

“This one is magic. This is the only festival where I left knowing every single other filmmaker there by their first name. Even the most hardened introvert will have trouble not making friends here. This is the only festival where I saw every single other film. This is one of only a handful of festivals that has created a true, authentic sense of community that, from here on out, you will be part of. It is truly unique, top to bottom, from the selection process, to the format, to the people running it. In a world of cookie cutter McMansions, you have just found that perfect little historic bungalow with authentic character. Submit! And if you get in, GO! Definitely, GO!“
– Kemp Brinson, “Just Laugh” (2024)

“Dating back to 2010, I’ve been in attendance at dozens of film festivals all across the US. I can only think of one other festival that cared so deeply and so personally for each and every filmmaker at the fest. From the homestay program to the amiability of each and every one of the veritable army of volunteers that makes the festival a success. I felt loved even before I showed up in Rochester, but once there was really treated as if I were a family member. I was also pleasantly surprised with the quality of the programming – again selected by volunteer jury members. This level of attention, volunteerism, and care is rare in my experience and it has me wanting to return to Rochester as soon as I can finish my next short!”
– Ryan Steven Green, “It’s for You: Ephemeral Art & the Death of the Public Phone” (2024)
“Rochester truly outdoes the festival experience. From the curation, to the networking events, to visiting Kodak and the outstanding hospitality, I can’t wait to keep going back every time I make a film. Much love to… all the volunteers who make it happen.”
– Jhanvi Mota, “Mirage” (2024)
“(There was a ) “jaw-dropping level of hospitality and support that came from the coordinators and volunteers of RIFF. Of ALL the festivals I have attended, this was certainly the best – and the reviewers have vast experience in film, production, and are extraordinarily generous with their time, knowledge, and making one feel welcome in Rochester. The conversations/interactions (with other filmmakers) were priceless. What an unforgettable experience.”
– James Middleton, “Political Asylum” (2024)
“An amazing and very family friendly festival. We have been fortunate, as distributors and as authors, to have been able to attend the festival several times and we can say, without hesitation, that it is one of the best festivals that are held and where they take the best care of the short filmmaker.”
– YAQ Distribution, “This Is Not Norway” (2024)

“I could not recommend this festival more! In fact, it was one of the highlights of my film-festival going experience. Rochester International takes care of the filmmaker in a way I’ve never experienced at another festival: every day is planned out and includes tours, meals, networking events, art galleries, and of course the screenings at the beautiful Dryden Theater. Plus, the screenings were filled with audience members! It was the kind of festival that encouraged genuine relationship building with other filmmakers. Rochester is worth the entry fee!“
– Doron Drew Feldman, “Pivot Pals” (2023)”

“As co-directors, we went in 2023 to the 65th Rochester International Film Festival and loved the whole experience! We had quality time with filmmakers from all over the world, to share, learn and build rapport during many fun and well-organized events. The festival took good care of all of us and provided host families to stay with, who are also film lovers and big supporters of the fest. It was heart-warming to attend and be welcomed into this community. We were excited to see all the films and appreciated high local attendance at the screenings.“
– Leslie Dann, “A Colonial Trading Woman: Margaret Hardenbroeck Philipse” (2023)

Are You A Filmmaker?

Learn More About Submitting a Film