The New York State International Film Festival is an annual independent cinema event held in Albany, New York, which has showcased hundreds of short films from global filmmakers since its establishment in 2016. Founded by Nico Altekin, the festival provides a platform for emerging talent, offering opportunities for audiences and filmmakers to connect through Q&A sessions, and includes awards such as the Brendan Fahy Bequette Young Filmmaker Award. It operates as an international short film festival, welcoming submissions across various genres including documentaries, animation, drama, comedy, experimental, music videos, and horror.