This upstate New York international short film festival held in Ballston Spa, is celebrating its 10th year in 2017! It has become a one-of-a-kind destination on the short film festival circuit. BSFF takes place each August in a charming, walk-able, Victorian village in upstate New York not far from Albany and Saratoga Springs.
Our outdoor screenings (weather permitting) take place in the natural amphitheater of a creekside park built around a 200 year old mineral spring long thought to have curative properties. Just down the street is a historic inn where scenes from the 1973 movie “The Way We Were” were filmed.
In recent years our festival has accepted ¼ to 1/3 of films submitted for screening in competition. Our audiences typically range from 50-100 viewers for each of our two indoor screenings and from 100-400 viewers for each of our two outdoors screenings.
Over 1/3 of our films in recent years have been world and national premieres. Filmmakers have traveled to our festival from Ireland, Russia, Mexico and California to see their films debut.
Every film submitted gets screened by our selection committee.
Two of our long-time, returning festival judges were early advisors in the creation of the Sundance Film Festival.
The Ballston Spa Film Festival, Inc. (BSFF) is an independent not-for-profit, 501c3 corporation with the mission to promote an appreciation of films and filmmaking in the Ballston Spa and Greater Capital District communities of New York. We do this by presenting film festivals in which established, emerging and unknown filmmakers can display their films and by organizing public forums, discussions and workshops regarding films and filmmaking.
The Ballston Spa Film Festival will present the 10th annual International Short Film Festival, August 6 - 7, 2017.
This free, family-friendly event showcases world and national premieres along with award winning short films from around the globe and also the work of local filmmakers and area students.
Screenings will be in the Ballston Spa High School auditorium (BSHS) Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm and outdoors in Old Iron Springs Park, Front Street at 9pm both evenings. Fun pre-screening events will be held in the park 8 – 9 pm both evenings, and after parties follow the evening screenings both nights across the street at Brookside Museum.
Awards will include Best of the Fest, Best new film (for a world premiere at our festival), Young Filmmaker Best of the Fest, Committee Choice and many others.