The Americas Film Festival of New York 2025: The Voices & Sounds of America on Film
- Details
- Parent Category: Film Festivals
- Category: Previews
- Published on Wednesday, 04 June 2025 14:53
- Written by Brad Balfour
The 12th edition of The Americas Film Festival of New York (TAFFNY) hits NYC June 12th to the 25th, 2025. With screenings throughout Manhattan, TAFFNY is a free film festival open to the public that tells stories of people, languages, and cultures across America.
The festival opens June 12 at Instituto Cervantes NY (211 E 49th Street) with the New York premiere of Becoming Vera, directed by Sergio Vizuete. Set in Miami, Vera is a young pianist with extraordinary talent, who has just aged out of the foster care system. Alone and uncertain about her future, Vera finds solace and passion in the world of Latin Jazz, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience.
The festival concludes on Friday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. with the New York premiere of So Surreal: Behind the Mask, directed by Neil Diamond (Cree) and Joanne Robertson. Part caper, part road trip, part spiritual journey, the film follows Cree filmmaker, Neil Diamond, on a journey across the continent and across the Atlantic as he pieces together a groundbreaking story of cultural influence, reconnection, and restitution. The directors will be present for a Q&A session moderated by Maria Galban, Collection Manager at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.
The festival also includes The Americas Short Films Competition with more than 25 short films in the categories of Animation, Documentary, Experimental, and Fiction.
“Each year, filmmakers and their stories offer a mirror to the struggles, dreams, and hopes of their societies. For this edition, we chose to highlight narratives that celebrate women’s resilience, explore the complexities of love, and bring attention to issues of mental health and inclusion—especially within LGBTQ+ communities and among adolescents. The Americas are a vibrant mosaic of cultures—complex, illuminating, and deeply human—and TAFFNY’s mission is to bring these stories to the screen so New Yorkers can experience, reflect, and connect. Best of all: it’s completely free and full of joy,” says Diana Vargas, Artistic Director of TAFFNY.
To learn more, go to: https://www.taffny.com/
The Americas Film Festival of New York
June 12 - 20, 2025
Various Venues in NYC