33rd Annual Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF) Tickets on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the 33rd annual Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF). A showcase of thesis-level work from students and recent alumni of the School of the Arts MFA Film Program, CUFF will take place virtually April 23–May 3, 2021. The festival will include 22 short films, an evening of staged script readings, Q&As, panel discussions, award ceremonies, and social events. All films will stream and events will take place on the online platform Filmocracy.

This year’s festival marks the first CUFF since 2019; CUFF 2020 was postponed due to the effects of COVID-19. Hilary Brougher, Chair of the Film Program, notes that “each script and film embodies our students’ years of rigorous writing and filmmaking practice, as well as their commitment to helping each other. In most years this work happens in person. But this year our screen & TV writers, directors, creative producers, faculty, festival staff and volunteers had to collaborate even more intensely to transcend the many challenges of COVID-19, including our physical separation.”

Among the festival’s many awards, Cherien Dabis ’04 will receive the Andrew Sarris Award. Named for the late Film Program professor and world-renowned critic and theorist, the Sarris Award honors outstanding Film Program alumni and will be presented Friday, April 23rd at 7 pm ET during the Screenwriting Night as the first live festival event.

All access passes are available to the public for $20 online. Columbia University students, alumni, faculty, and staff can receive free passes with promo code. More detailed information about how to attend the festival can be found here, along with an up-to-date schedule of events.

To date, the Columbia University Film Festival has received generous support from Adobe, Adorama Rental Company, AFM & SAG-AFTRA, The ASCAP Foundation, The Beam Foundation, The Richard Brick Fund for Special Distinction in Line Producing, The Bridges/Larson Foundation, Brooklyn Brewery, Chockstone Pictures, Columbia Alumni Association, Joyce Draganosky and Laureen R. Callo, EuroChannel, Film L.A., Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Final Draft, Fox, Dan Gordon, HBO, The Michael Hausman/Filmhaus Foundation, IFP, The Ezra Litwak Fund, MBS Equipment, Movie Magic, MSR Studios, National Board of Review, Paramount, The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, Franz W. Sichel Foundation, SimonSays Entertainment, Technicolor PostWorks New York, Judith and Jesse Thompkins, Variety, and Vimeo.

Columbia University’s School of the Arts Film Program is one of the most prestigious programs in the country. The programs graduate list includes: Jennifer Lee '05 (Frozen), James Mangold '99 (Ford v Ferrari) Kathryn Bigelow '81 (The Hurt Locker), Nicole Holofcener '88 (Enough Said), Lisa Cholodenko '97 (Olive Kitteridge), Phil Johnston '04 (Zootopia), Sandi Tan '00 (Shirkers), Moira Demos '08 and Laura Ricciardi '07 (Making a Murderer), Deborah Chow '03 (The Mandalorian), Greg Mottola '91 (Superbad), Simon Kinberg '03 (The Martian), Kimberly Peirce '96 (Boys Don’t Cry), and many others.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Columbia University Film Festival

For an up-to-date schedule of events, visit the CUFF website.

Friday, April 23–Monday, May 3

All 22 festival short films available to stream.

Friday, April 23

Screenwriting Night, 7 pm ET

An evening of screenplay readings and awards. Cherien Dabis ’04 will receive the Andrew Sarris Award at this event. 

Sunday, April 25

Filmmaker Q&A for Program Block A, 7 pm ET

A group Q&A with the filmmakers behind the shorts in Program Block A: Beauty Marks, Entre tú y Milagros, Last Days First Days, The Missing Chair, and We Are A Family.

Monday, April 26

Filmmaker Q&A for Program Block B, 7 pm ET

A group Q&A with the filmmakers behind the shorts in Program Block B: El Clásico, Must Love PieI, Space Vamps, and Stay Don't Go.

Tuesday, April 27

Filmmaker Q&A for Program Block C, 7 pm ET

A group Q&A with the filmmakers behind the shorts in Program Block C: Anita, Disappearing, The Wood Thrush, and Yitik.

Wednesday, April 28

Filmmaker Q&A for Program Block D, 7 pm ET

A group Q&A with the filmmakers behind the shorts in Program Block D: The Day He Returns, Ese verano nos quedamos en casa (That Summer, We Stayed at Home), Forastera, and Lucia. 

Thursday, April 29

Filmmaker Q&A for Program Block E, 7 pm ET

A group Q&A with the filmmakers behind the shorts in Program Block E: Beau, Duet, An Evening With Laila, Jensen, and Muscle Memory. 

Monday, May 3

Awards Night, 7 pm ET

Awards ceremony of the films designated as Jury Selects of the festival. The 2021 festival jury consists of five outside jurors from within the film industry: Programmer Caryn Coleman (Nitehawk Cinema), producer Chanelle Elaine (First Match), producer Gerry Kim (I’m No Longer Here), executive Jonathan Sehring (IFC Films), and executive Sasha Silver (Hulu). Attendees are encouraged to watch the Jury Selects program immediately before the event.