The Lower East Side Film Festival Turns 15!

THE LOWER EAST SIDE FILM FESTIVAL TURNS 15!

2025 will mark the 15th Anniversary of the Lower East Side Film Festival. For the last 15 years, LESFF has been a platform for independent film’s most innovative talent, a champion of one-of-a-kind cinematic experiences, and a celebration of community.

We spotlight low and micro-budget filmmaking, but we can’t do it alone.

We rely on support from community members like you to fuel our organization as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We need your help to continue to spotlight independent filmmakers from across the world and curate unparalleled events that celebrate vibrant, bold cinema.

Help us raise $15,000 as we celebrate 15 years of bringing independent filmmaking to NYC's Lower East Side.

We appreciate donations of all sizes - but if you need a little inspiration, see below for perks!

Who is LESFF?

In 2011, four friends - Damon Cardasis, Shannon Walker, Tony Castle and Roxy Hunt - joined together to transform a small storefront space on Norfolk Street into a micro indie movie theater for a month-long residency. Each night, 30 guests packed into the tiny space and enjoyed an intimate, unconventional, entertaining BYOB evening of indie film from cutting-edge new filmmakers - an experience that was uniquely New York.

15 years later, after dozens of other venues, hundreds of films, thousands of audience members, endlessly talented staff and volunteers, circus performers, rooftop pool parties, drive-in movies, comedy shows, and concerts - those 4 friends remain the heart and soul behind LESFF, incredibly proud that they have been able to carve out a piece of New York culture and create a long-lasting community of filmmakers and film-lovers.

Read More About Us

DONATION PERKS

$50+

With a $50 donation, you become an LESFF Norfolk Member! With your contribution, you provide ongoing support of our programming staff to compensate our submissions committee for their time spent programming.

To express our gratitude for your support, Norfolk Members get the following benefits:

$150+

With a $150+ donation, you become an LESFF Chrystie Member! With your contribution, you provide ongoing support of our festival staff to compensate our on-site teams for their time spent planning, organizing and hosting LESFF events.

To express our gratitude for your support, Chrystie Members get the following benefits:

$500+

With a $500 donation, you become an LESFF Delancey Member! With your contribution, you allow LESFF to create complimentary DCPs for all featured filmmakers that they are then able to use to screen their film at LESFF and any other festival.

To express our gratitude for your support, Delancey Members get the following benefits:

$1,000+

With a $1,000 donation, you become an LESFF Orchard Member! With your contribution, you help support The Stay Indie Project, a fellowship program where filmmakers work with LESFF and BFD Productions to develop and produce authentic independent films.

To express our gratitude for your support, Orchard Members get the following benefits:

$2,000+

With a $2,000 donation, you become an LESFF Essex Member! With your contribution you assist in the costs of screening at the historic Village East Cinema supporting not only The Lower East Side Film Festival, but also movie-going patrons of New York!

To express our gratitude for your support, Essex Members get the following benefits:

All the benefits of the Orchard Membership, plus:

Help keep independent filmmaking strong!

The Lower East Side Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization who supports underdog filmmakers who know that a huge budget does not equal a great film. As an LESFF Donor or Member, you will be supporting a community of innovative filmmakers and helping us create awesome screenings, events, and parties that celebrate their work.

More LESFF History

After the inaugural LESFF in the storefront on Norfolk Street, LESFF expanded its footprint and moved to the iconic Sunshine Cinema Theater. The Sunshine’s historic charm provided the perfect backdrop for filmmakers to share their stories, and for audiences to experience bold, boundary-pushing films.

When Sunshine Cinema shuttered in 2018, LESFF refused to let indie cinema leave downtown Manhattan. LESFF moved to Village East Cinema, an iconic venue that has since become the heart of our festival. Built in 1926, Village East Cinema has long been known for its stunning architecture and its role in showcasing the best of both classic and contemporary films.

In the last 15 years LESFF has supported several other independent film and community venues and has hosted events at Anthology Film Archives, DCTV, Essex Street Market, The Clemente, Tompkins Square Park, and even created its own Drive-In Movie Theater in a Lower East Side Parking Lot.

Our commitment to independent filmmakers and their craft remains unwavering. With Village East Cinema as our new home, LESFF continues to bring the most exciting, diverse, and thought-provoking films to the big screen in the heart of downtown Manhattan.

Whether it's a night of high-energy premieres or intimate Q&As, our festival offers a space for filmmakers and audiences to connect, share ideas, and experience cinema in its purest form. And yes, we often add a little extra fun with complimentary drinks, because what’s a night of indie film without a celebration?