New Media Film Festival Unveils World Premieres Featuring Emmy Winners, SXSW Award Winning Creators & Broadway Talent

The 17th annual edition brings together creators across 28 classic and tech-forward categories for two days of innovative programming in June.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 8:19am

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The 17th Annual New Media Film Festival will take place on June 3-4, 2026 in Los Angeles, showcasing world premieres and Los Angeles premieres of new media projects from Emmy winners, SXSW award-winning creators, and Broadway talent. The festival welcomes submissions across 28 classic and tech-forward categories until the April 6 deadline.

Why it matters

New Media Film Festival is the original and only festival dedicated entirely to new media innovation, championing emerging technologies and creative formats in storytelling long before they entered mainstream conversation. The festival has a long history of featuring industry leaders and thought leaders who have helped shape the future of media.

The details

The festival will feature world premieres and Los Angeles premieres of new media projects, including a feature film directed by Gregory Blair, a new digital comic by Emmy-winning writer Richard T. Wilson, the second season of the podcast "We're Alive: Descendants" directed by KC Wayland, a musical short film featuring Broadway talent, and a VR experience created by SXSW award winner Jonah King.

  • The 17th Annual New Media Film Festival will take place on June 3-4, 2026.
  • The submission deadline for the festival is April 6, 2026.

The players

New Media Film Festival

The original and only festival in the world dedicated entirely to new media innovation, championing emerging technologies and creative formats in storytelling since 2009.

Gregory Blair

A longtime festival alum who is directing the world premiere of the feature film "The Mystery of Emma Thorn".

Richard T. Wilson

An Emmy-winning writer whose new digital comic "Halloween Girl – Gods and Monsters" will have its Los Angeles premiere at the festival.

KC Wayland

The creator of the original "We're Alive" universe, who is directing the world premiere of the second season of the podcast "We're Alive: Descendants".

Ava Della Pietra

Broadway talent featured in the Los Angeles premiere of the musical short film "2 Can Play".

Jonah King

A creator whose work has previously won at SXSW, and who is presenting the Los Angeles premiere of the VR experience "Honey Fungus".

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What’s next

The festival is accepting submissions across 28 classic and tech-forward categories until the April 6, 2026 deadline.

The takeaway

New Media Film Festival has established itself as the global authority on new media innovation, championing emerging technologies and creative formats in storytelling long before they entered mainstream conversation. The festival's 17th annual edition promises to deliver another cutting-edge program that showcases the future of storytelling.