The countdown to NYC Web Fest 2026 is officially underway, with the annual celebration of independent digital storytelling unveiling its highly anticipated award nominations ahead of its return to Manhattan next month. Now in its 13th year, the festival is preparing to recognise an impressive selection of international filmmakers, actors, podcasters, and creative professionals across 28 award categories, with three productions emerging as this year’s most-nominated projects.
Leading the nominations with six each are Montréal’s FEM (Season 2), New York City’s Everything’s On Fire, and Brooklyn’s 50 Worst Dates. Following closely behind with five nominations apiece are Malverne’s The Blue Buffoon, New York City’s Don’t Suck, and Brooklyn’s Girl Failure. The announcements highlight the diversity of creative talent represented at this year’s festival, with projects spanning comedy, drama, documentaries, podcasts, and short-form entertainment.
Taking place from November 13 to 15, 2026, NYC Web Fest will once again welcome creators and industry professionals to The Producers Club in New York City, bringing together screenings, exclusive premieres, professional development opportunities, and an awards ceremony celebrating achievements in independent production.
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“FEM”, “Everything’s On Fire”, and “50 Worst Dates” Dominate the NYC Web Fest 2026 Nominations
With six nominations each, FEM (Season 2), Everything’s On Fire, and 50 Worst Dates are among the leading contenders at this year’s awards, showcasing the strength of both international and New York-based productions.
FEM (Season 2) has secured recognition across several creative disciplines, including Best Director for Marianne Farley, Best Actor for Lenni-Kim, and Special Guest Star for Antoniya Carle. The Montréal production has also received nominations for its cinematography, music, and hair & makeup.
Meanwhile, Everything’s On Fire has earned nominations for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Special Guest Star, Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, and Short Film/Pilot. Hudson Flynn is recognised in the directing category, while Myles Windbush-Soules, Peter Dagar, and Jane Alexander are among the performers nominated for their contributions.
50 Worst Dates is another prominent contender, with nominations spanning Best Comedy, Best Director, Outstanding Achievement in Writing, and Best Host/Hosts. Mark Normand and Corey B have also secured individual nominations in the Special Guest Star category, further strengthening the production’s presence at the festival.
Other productions receiving significant recognition include The Blue Buffoon, Don’t Suck, and Girl Failure, each competing in five categories. Meanwhile, ‘Til You Make It, 18 TO 35, The Big Waffle, Assistant City, Mukbang, Penelope Partout, Cows Come Home, and Fort Macbeth have all secured four nominations apiece. Together, these productions demonstrate the breadth of talent represented at this year’s festival, with recognition spanning acting performances, technical achievements, and some of the event’s most prestigious awards.
NYC Web Fest Founder Lauren Atkins expressed her excitement about the calibre of submissions and the opportunity to bring so many of this year’s nominees together in person.
“We’re overwhelmed by the amount of talent this year. Our nominations are later than usual because the work was so strong that every decision took longer. So many of our nominees are traveling to be with us in person, including Best Web Series nominees, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate them. I’m so grateful to our jury, our partners and everyone who trusted us with their work,” said NYC Web Fest Founder Lauren Atkins.
NYC Web Fest 2026 Celebrates 67 Official Selections
The award nominations follow the announcement of NYC Web Fest 2026’s 67 Official Selections, which were exclusively revealed by Good Star Vibes on October 7, 2026. Marking the festival’s largest lineup since 2019, this year’s selection brings together independent productions from across the world, spanning web series, short films, pilots, podcasts, and micro-dramas.
With projects representing countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Iran, France, Israel, Brazil, and Belgium, the 13th annual festival continues to showcase the international reach of digital storytelling. The nominations now provide another opportunity to recognise the creative talent behind these productions, with the complete list of 67 Official Selections available in our previous exclusive announcement.
NYC Web Fest 2026 Announces World Premiere of Iranian Drama “This Is Me”
Alongside its awards programme, NYC Web Fest 2026 will present a selection of premieres, including the world premiere of This Is Me, a ten-episode drama originating from Qazvin, Iran.
The series centres on Sara, a woman in her early thirties attempting to rebuild her life following an extended period of isolation. After joining a theatre group as a stage assistant, she unexpectedly finds herself taking on the lead role in a production, setting her on a journey of personal discovery.
As rehearsals progress, Sara is forced to confront unresolved aspects of her past, including her relationships with family members and questions surrounding her identity. Through its theatrical setting, the drama explores personal transformation, self-reflection, and the challenges of embracing new opportunities.
Several other productions will also receive festival premieres, including Oddballs: The Improv Class, Bread and Butter, MANFARI, Raised By Her: A Special Intergenerational Presentation, and Magic Candy.
Additionally, The Fuckboy Diaries will celebrate its New York premiere during the festival. The production is also nominated for Best Web Series, with its director, Misha Calvert, scheduled to participate in the festival’s industry discussions.
Industry Panels, Speed Networking, and Festival Celebrations
NYC Web Fest 2026 is set to provide opportunities for creative professionals to connect, exchange ideas, and develop their understanding of the entertainment industry beyond the screenings and awards.
This year’s programme will feature panels covering comedy, podcasting, distribution, and other aspects of digital content creation. Among the confirmed participants are Misha Calvert, director of The Fuckboy Diaries, and Katie Uhlmann, representing Cows Come Home, both of which are nominated for Best Web Series.
The team behind fellow Best Web Series nominee The Big Waffle will also travel from Leuven, Belgium, to attend the event, demonstrating the festival’s continued international reach and its ability to bring creators together from across the world.
Alongside the panel discussions, speed networking sessions will offer filmmakers, podcasters, and industry guests the opportunity to meet individually, establish professional connections, and explore potential collaborations.
The celebrations will begin with an opening-night gathering at the Pig and Whistle on 36th Street, where attendees will be welcomed to the venue’s upstairs lounge.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, November 15, with its official awards ceremony at The Producers Club, followed by a cocktail reception bringing together nominees, winners, and guests to celebrate this year’s achievements.
The complete festival schedule and ticket information are expected to be announced during the first week of November.
NYC Web Fest 2026 Jury Brings Together Industry Talent and Festival Alumni
As exclusively revealed by Good Star Vibes on May 1, 2026, this year’s seven-member jury brings together professionals from acting, comedy, filmmaking, digital entertainment, and content distribution. The panel combines industry experience with a strong connection to NYC Web Fest’s history, with six of the seven jurors having previously received nominations or won awards at the festival.
The jury includes Black Panther actor Bambadjan Bamba, actor and singer Sean Anthony Baker, comedian Britt Migs, and Sally McLean, an actor and the creator of Shakespeare Republic. They are joined by comedy producer and Building Friendships creator Jon Sosis, actor and director Lara Toselli, and Jessie Behan, Partner and President of Aux Mode.
With the festival’s award nominations now announced, the jury’s role in recognising this year’s outstanding creative achievements comes into focus. Their combined expertise across different areas of the entertainment industry reflects NYC Web Fest’s commitment to celebrating independent storytelling while continuing to strengthen its relationships with former participants.
Backstage Joins NYC Web Fest as a New Partner for 2026
NYC Web Fest is expanding its industry partnerships for 2026, welcoming Backstage as a new partner alongside returning collaborators Aux Mode and Paramount Hotel Times Square. Together, these organisations will provide additional opportunities and support for participating creators and festival attendees.
Through its partnership with Backstage, every production selected as a NYC Web Fest 2026 Official Selection will receive access to the platform’s casting services, providing filmmakers with resources to connect with performers and potentially develop future projects.
Meanwhile, Aux Mode will offer one award winner a YouTube Strategy Session and Channel Optimization consultation, providing professional guidance on strengthening their digital presence, improving their YouTube channel, and reaching wider audiences.
Paramount Hotel Times Square also returns as the festival’s official hotel partner, offering a group rate for guests travelling to New York City to attend the three-day event.
By connecting creators with casting resources, digital distribution expertise, and accommodation options, these partnerships further support NYC Web Fest’s mission to provide opportunities for independent talent both during and beyond the annual festival.
NYC Web Fest 2026: Full List of Award Nominees
With 28 categories recognising everything from performances and directing to technical achievements, original concepts, and podcasting, the NYC Web Fest 2026 nominations celebrate the creative professionals responsible for bringing independent productions to life.
Below is the complete list of nominees for NYC Web Fest 2026, marking the 13th annual edition of the festival.
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting
- Tyler Afana – Homegirls Web Series
- Jesse Samas Leamon – ‘Til You Make It
- David Barrett – 18 TO 35
- Sara Vandegraaf, Viktor Wallmark – Eyes In The Woods
- Dylan Hancook – The Box: Police Interrogations
Outstanding Achievement in Editing
- Lorenzo Vicencio – The Big Waffle
- Joe Kady – Assistant City
- Jules Saulnier – Mukbang
- Rebecca Sherwood – A Tiny Revolution
- Antoine Flandre – Battle La Rényon
Outstanding Achievement in Sound
- Bridget Bourke – ‘Til You Make It
- Thomas Sédillot – Penelope Partout
- Rodolphe Kay – OFAST
- Max Repka – Gorillaville
- Bruno Pucella – Saturniids
Outstanding Achievement in Music
- Hayden Warren, Ian Dubock, Slikk Shola – The Blue Buffoon
- Mark Watson – Cows Come Home
- Emmanuel Alias, Antoniya, Camille Poliquin – FEM (Season 2)
- Ned Hartford – Metra: A Climate Revolution with Songs
- Sair Kaufman, Shane Dittmar, Noah Weisbart, Ammon Taylor – The Reality Shaper: A Musical Podcast
- Aalisha Jaisinghani – Girl Failure
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
- Carlos Baptista – Exile
- Alexia Toman – U-HAULING : ALGORITHME AMOUREUX
- Benoit Jones-Vallée – FEM (Season 2)
- Emile Desroches – Penelope Partout
- Fred Midgley – Everything’s On Fire
Hair & Makeup
- Charisse Willings, Veronica Bonilla – The Blue Buffoon
- Lizelle Choquette – Ayer’s Cliff
- Soraya Qadi (Hair) and Audrey Bitton (Makeup) – FEM (Season 2)
- Rafaela Lopes – 18 TO 35
- Rae Tenkate – Love In All The Small Places
Outstanding Achievement in Writing
- Aviva Zimmerman & Nils Hognestad – Fort Macbeth
- Gabrielle Lisa Collard and Manal Drissi – Shipwrecked
- Marika Lhoumeau and Eric Blouin – Devenir Margot
- Andrea Lewis – 50 Worst Dates
- Sasha Skulinets – Bread and Butter
Best Original Concept
- My life in stereo – Dave Colonna
- Groupe de soutien – Thierry Leblanc
- Man on the Mat – Hayden Arrington
- Dog Pics – Emily van den Blink
- Rogue Psychology – Kevin Saffer
Best Supporting Actress
- Jenny Price – Fort Macbeth
- Sasha Migliarese – Mukbang
- Mélanie Maynard – Devenir Margot
- Diana Rendon – Girl Failure
- Katie Ailion – Don’t Suck
Best Supporting Actor
- Xavier Rodney – The Blue Buffoon
- Shiv Pai – Girl Failure
- Paul Legallet – Assistant City
- Peter Dagar – Everything’s On Fire
- Christopher Trepinski – Don’t Suck
Best Host/Hosts
- Hayden Arrington – Man on the Mat
- Donnica Hawes-Saunders, Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders – Raised By Her: A Special Intergenerational Presentation
- Simran Jeet Singh – UNDIVIDED with Simran Jeet Singh
- Tata Sherise – 50 Worst Dates
- Jon Neeman – Rogue Psychology
Special Guest Star
- Antoniya Carle – FEM (Season 2)
- Kym Valentine – ‘Til You Make It
- Jeff Hiller – Don’t Suck
- Jane Alexander – Everything’s On Fire
- Mark Normand – 50 Worst Dates
- Corey B – 50 Worst Dates
Best Dynamic Duo
- Lola Castellano, Amir Baghdadchi – The Box: Police Interrogations
- Nicole Winthrop, Hanna Barlow – Assistant City
- Étienne Galloy, Luc Senay – My 80-Year-Old-Roommate
- Solange Neustadter, Dana Moon – MANFARI
- Lindsey Middleton, Allie Dunbar – Cows Come Home
Best Drama
- U-HAULING : ALGORITHME AMOUREUX – Dani Vermette, Martin Henri, Francis Corbeil-Savage, Jacinthe Robert, Renée-Claude Vigneault
- The last wish (Le dernier souhait) – Kimberley Ann Surin, Véronique Charbonneau
- Love Undone – Joseph Goncalves, Sonya Joyner, Ron Artis Jr., Shaquan Perkins, Joretta Morris, Han-‘Naeh Belser
- In A NY Minute Season 2 – Phyillicia Bishop, Erika Mays, Ralphy Lopez
- Look Up, Child – Allie Morgan, Mariana Duncan
Best Comedy
- Homegirls Web Series – Loren Maxine, Jurnee Woo and Camille Chambers
- Assistant City – Nicole Winthrop, Mary Niarhos, Sienna Petersen, Jamie Leuchs-Curtis
- Oddballs: The Improv Class – Lauren Arnett, Vince Moran
- 50 Worst Dates – Tata Sherise, Andrew Bossone
- Free Lunch – Kemp Atkinson, Seth Rosner, Dora Grossman-Weir, Matthew Celentano
Best Actress
- Fabiola Nyrva Aladin – Groupe de soutien
- Rose-Marie Perrault – Penelope Partout
- Marika Lhoumeau – Devenir Margot
- Raysa Peres – THE FIRST DATE
- Mary Kate Abner – Girl Failure
Best Actor
- Justin Wolfe Smith – The Blue Buffoon
- Nils Hognestad – Fort Macbeth
- Lou-Pascal Tremblay – Groupe de soutien
- Lenni-Kim – FEM (Season 2)
- Myles Windbush-Soules – Everything’s On Fire
Best Ensemble Cast
- Leila Henry, Skye Shepard, Charmaine Shaw, Jurnee Woo – Homegirls Web Series
- Wayne Tunks, Laura Dowling Shea, Jessica Alexandra Green, Diann Gogerty, Melissa Malone, Joshua R Pangborn, Sally Hassan – Moose on a Highway
- Natalia Gracious, Carlos Albornoz, Jean Yoon, Izaak Smith, Sean Cullen – 18 TO 35
- Frédérique Dufort, Minji Suh, Lorna Kidjo, Zoé Ntumba, Hinde Rabbaj, Varda Étienne, Benjamin Roy – Part timers (Temps partiel)
- Alison Wien, Raye Spielberg, Daniel Ison – The Fuckboy Diaries
Best Fiction Podcast
- The Hunting Season – Vincent C. Davis
- The Adventures of Bud & Herb – Anna Fitzgerald and Evan Bivins
- Tales From The Æther – Jackie Jorgenson
- Stories Told Again – Austin Baacke
- Tales of the Ever After – Tyler Boruff, Kate J White, Randall Marsh, Lin Shephard
Best Non-Fiction Podcast
- Hitting Her Mark – Jinny Wong, Monica Rodriguez Knox, Idalina Leandro
- Shadow Clock: Mr. Ramson Miller – Katie Mahalic
- Tales From The Brick – Jon Lazar
- Raised By Her: A Special Intergenerational Presentation – Donnica Hawes-Saunders, Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders
- The Drake Passage: A collection of stories – Todor Iliev
Best Unscripted/Documentary
- The Big Waffle – Elke Neuville, Ilse Colpaert
- Man on the Mat – Hayden Arrington
- VIBEDANCE – Laurent Everaerts
- UNDIVIDED with Simran Jeet Singh – Jack Gordon, Colby Gottert, Dilsey Davis
- A Tiny Revolution – Asha Dahya
Best Foreign Language
- Part timers (Temps partiel) – Edith Kabuya, Kimberley Ann Surin
- My 80-Year-Old-Roommate – Ethan Cole, Josh Schultz, Louis-Philippe Drolet
- Penelope Partout – Daphnée Côté-Hallé, Pablo Escobar Tuduri, Sarah Châtelain
- Saturniids – Neegan Sioui Trudel, Julie Prieur
- Battle La Rényon – Romuald Beugnon, Dieynaba SY, Lucie Portehaut, Sophie Flament
Best International
- Cows Come Home – Lindsey Middleton, Katie Uhlmann, David Carruthers, Keri Ferencz, Hari Ramesh
- Fort Macbeth – Aviva Zimmerman & Nils Hognestad, Sara Corry
- Rogue Psychology – David Lipson, Kevin Saffer, Ethan Matthew, Michael Strauss, Serena Tara, Geoff Lapaire, Josh Shultz, Ethan Cole
- ‘Til You Make It – Philip Hayden, Emma Choy, Scott Major, Riley Sugars, Gemma Louise Murphy
- 18 TO 35 – Charlie Whalley, Rahul Chaturvedi, Luisa Alvarez Restrepo, Andrew Phung
Best Micro-Episode
- In The Sticks – Doron Magali
- MANFARI – Solange Neustadter, Josia Elliot
- The Mom Calls – Megan Broussard
- THE FIRST DATE – Raysa Peres
- Dog Pics – Emily van den Blink
Short Film/Pilot
- Look Up, Child – Allie Morgan, Mariana Duncan
- The Blue Buffoon – David-Georges Renaud, Hayden Warren, Charisse Willings, Marlon King, Sarah Michelle Leger, Glendalis Moran
- The last wish (Le dernier souhait) – Kimberley Ann Surin, Véronique Charbonneau
- Everything’s On Fire – Hudson Flynn, Bennett Valentine Marino, Beccah Dunklin, Abigail Luis
- Magic Candy – Katherine Gorham
I Love NY
- The Big Waffle – Elke Neuville, Ilse Colpaert
- Girl Failure – Mary Kate Abner, Alan He, Makayla Leilua, Matt Liang
- In A NY Minute Season 2 – Phyillicia Bishop, Erika Mays, Ralphy Lopez
- Bread and Butter – Sasha Skulinets
- Don’t Suck – Tyler Isaac Martin, Enrique Cavazos, 10:04 Studios
Best Director
- Marianne Farley – FEM (Season 2)
- Kimberley Ann Surin – The last wish (Le dernier souhait)
- Kevin T. Landry – Mukbang
- Hudson Flynn – Everything’s On Fire
- Andrew Bossone – 50 Worst Dates
Best Web Series
- Cows Come Home – Lindsey Middleton, Katie Uhlmann, David Carruthers, Keri Ferencz, Hari Ramesh
- The Big Waffle – Elke Neuville, Ilse Colpaert
- Don’t Suck – Tyler Isaac Martin, Enrique Cavazos, 10:04 Studios
- Mukbang – Fanie Demeule, Kevin T. Landry, Mathieu Paiement, Philippe Allard
- The Fuckboy Diaries – Alison Wien & Misha Calvert
Celebrating 13 Years of NYC Web Fest
Established in 2014 by Lauren Atkins, NYC Web Fest made history as New York City’s first film festival dedicated specifically to web series. Over the years, the event has expanded its scope to recognise an increasingly diverse range of independent digital productions, including pilots, short films, podcasts, and micro-dramas.
The festival has welcomed numerous established entertainment professionals throughout its history, with previous guests and jury members including Kate Walsh, known for Grey’s Anatomy and Emily in Paris, Gina Torres of Suits and 9-1-1: Lone Star, and Francia Raisa, recognised for Grown-ish.
Other notable names associated with previous editions include Victor Williams, Julie Halston, Danielle Savre, Emmy Award winner Evan Shapiro, ESPN personality Arda Ocal, and April Reign, the creator of the #OscarsSoWhite movement.
Beyond celebrating outstanding creative achievements, NYC Web Fest continues to provide a platform for emerging and established talent to share their projects, develop industry relationships, and discover new opportunities within the evolving digital entertainment landscape.
The 13th annual NYC Web Fest takes place from November 13 to 15, 2026, at The Producers Club, 358 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City. With the award nominees now revealed, attention turns to the upcoming screenings, industry events, and the announcement of this year’s winners.
The full festival schedule and ticket sales information will be revealed next week. For further announcements and event details, visit the official NYC Web Fest website.
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