New Media Film Festival Announces 2026 Lineup Highlighting Global Innovation

Selections span narrative and documentary projects, classic and tech driven categories, scripts, music driven visual work, science programming and emerging media.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:03am

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An extreme close-up of shimmering, glittering film reel textures in dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting, conveying the glamour and spectacle of the film industry.The New Media Film Festival's 2026 lineup promises to dazzle with its celebration of global innovation in film, music, and storytelling.Los Angeles Today

The New Media Film Festival today announced its full 2026 lineup, featuring an expansive slate of narrative films, documentaries, science driven projects, innovative storytelling formats and music culture collaborations from international filmmakers, award recognized creators and globally known artists. The 17th annual festival will take place June 3–4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Why it matters

The New Media Film Festival has become a leading platform for showcasing the latest innovations in filmmaking, music, and storytelling. This year's diverse lineup reflects the global nature of the industry and the festival's commitment to discovering and celebrating creators who are pushing the boundaries of their craft.

The details

This year's slate includes 35 world premieres, 5 U.S. premieres and 18 Los Angeles premieres, representing 58 premieres across 80 new media films and projects. Creators represent the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Malta, Serbia, Panama, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Japan. The festival's classic and tech driven category highlights span a wide range of genres and formats, from narrative and documentary films to experimental and immersive experiences.

  • The 17th annual New Media Film Festival will take place June 3–4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The players

New Media Film Festival

A Los Angeles-based event dedicated to honoring stories worth telling, showcasing work across more than 28 categories, spanning classic and tech driven formats including narrative and documentary projects, pilots, web series, scripts, animation, music driven visuals, experimental work and emerging media.

Susan Johnston

The Festival Director of the New Media Film Festival, who emphasized the festival's continued commitment to innovation and championing creators who push the boundaries of story, technology, and culture.

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What they’re saying

“Each year we champion creators who push the boundaries of story, technology, and culture. The 2026 lineup reflects the global imagination shaping the future of new media.”

— Susan Johnston, Festival Director, New Media Film Festival

What’s next

The 17th annual New Media Film Festival will take place June 3–4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California, showcasing the latest innovations in filmmaking, music, and storytelling from a diverse array of international creators.

The takeaway

The New Media Film Festival has established itself as a leading platform for discovering and celebrating the most innovative and forward-thinking creators in the industry, reflecting the global and interdisciplinary nature of modern media and entertainment.