About the GDFF
The 3rd annual Geneva Downtown Film Festival is a celebration of the film and video artists who have stories to tell and the passion to tell them. GDFF highlights diverse voices that advance the field through innovation and an unflinching commitment to the art of cinematic expression. This year's festival features an eclectic selection of films from diverse backgrounds – from films made in the Finger Lakes to films made on the other side of the world. Most of the works are regional premieres, available to Geneva/Finger Lakes audiences for the first time ever, and several of the selections have screened at noteworthy festivals including Sundance and South by Southwest.
This year’s main program will include the same mix of thoughtful, humorous, and emotionally resonant films that our audiences have enjoyed in previous years. For the first time, we are also excited to share a selection of scary, dark, and strange work, films definitely not for our young audience members. This After Dark program will begin at 10:45.
The GDFF will award juried prizes as well as an audience choice award. We're proud to be able to exhibit world-class short cinema on the big screen in Geneva, and look forward to seeing you there!
6:00-10:00 – General Program, including student, and awards
10:00-10:45 – Reception in Speakeasy (The Smith's cabaret), featuring a cash bar and local food
10:45-12:30 – After Dark Program (mature audience only)
The Geneva Downtown Film Festival is part of the 2024 Winter Arts Festival, and is brought to you by the generous support of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. The film festival is a collaboration between the HWS Center for Media and Society program, The Rochester/Finger Lakes Film Commission, The Smith Center for the Arts, and the Geneva Business Improvement District.
Congratulations to our 2024 Winners:
Student Category - The Cadenza, Andrew Ragan
General Category - Funny Face, Jude Hope Harris
After Dark Category - In the Flesh, Daphne Gardner
Audience Choice Award - The Waiting Room (aka I Didn’t See God), Jahaad Shairi
Congratulations to our 2023 Winners
Winner of the Audience Choice Award: “Dreaming” Tyler Stimpson, Geneva
“Dreaming” is about a troubled young man at a crossroad, grappling with his identity, relationships, and future. Exacerbated by the tumultuous times we live in today, he begins to experience difficulty coping - but how much of it is reality or just in his head, and will he ever reach a resolution?
Winner of the Juried Prize: “Standoff” Lisa Channer, USA
“Standoff” is a feminist comic short about a four-way standoff that goes differently than anyone expected.
