Festival of Cinema NYC is scheduled to kick off with a pre-launch party inside Resorts World NYC's famous 360º Bar and Lounge (110-0 Rockaway Blvd) on Wednesday, August 3. The festival run is August 3-13th screening over a 100 films, red carpets, panels, seminars, workshops, include below the line talent and documentary subjects.

Festival of Cinema NYC returns to the Regal UA Midway and the Queens Library at Forest Hills. The festival is opening its 7th year with a NY story from NY filmmaker Christina Kallas. Her film PARIS is in HARLEM is the opening night film on Thursday, August 4th. 

Festival of Cinema NYC Founder and Executive Director Jayson Simba, said, "This year's edition of the film festival embraces the idea of not simply screening our films and celebrating our filmmakers, but underlining the 'festival' in 'film festival', by emphasizing the connection of filmmaker to audience member via our panels, discussions, and Q&As, focusing on our accessibility, and increasing the interactive nature of FOC NYC.  It always begins and ends with great films, but it becomes special by highlighting why we love to come to the movie theater and the artistic accomplishments of our filmmakers."

This year, FOC NYC has invited organizations that offer further resources to filmmakers. Phil Cappadora, founder of The Astoria Filmmaker Club, will host a seminar discussing how to get involved with the community of filmmakers based in Queens. The film festival will also include a special screening block of selected short films from members of Ghetto Film School – a Bronx-based organization dedicated to educating and developing the next generation of great storytellers. Other seminars include a presentation by entertainment lawyer Patrick Kondas, on the legalities of film making and contracts; cinematographer Ray Preziosi will be holding a Cinematography workshop; and crowdfunding expert Melissa Center will talk about raising funds for indie film production. In addition, this year's festival welcomes FoHI Improv, giving attendees a chance to participate in an improv 101 demonstration, and an interactive presentation by members of The Station House Reading Series.

Also new this year will be the addition of a script writing competition where 13 un-produced scripts will compete for top honors. Attendees will be given the opportunity to attend a live staged reading of each of the 13 Finalists.

Tickets for the 2023 Festival of Cinema NYC can be purchased beginning July 5th by visiting FestivalofCinemaNYC.com. General admission tickets begin at $18 per screening block ($35 for opening and closing night films which include entry to the afterparty), with discounts offered to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Tickets can also be purchased to the Closing Awards Dinner for $75. All programming at the Queens Library at Forest Hills is free and open to the public.

The festival will conclude with Anna Baumgarten's film DISFLUENCY as the closing night film on August 13th and an awards ceremony will be held at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Jamaica, Queens.