Founded by two independent filmmakers who learned first-hand how hard it can be to find an independent film an audience, Manhattan Film Festival has become one of the largest, truly independent film festivals in the world. MFF has a seventeen-year history of fearless programming. Hosted in the media capital of the world, they have never backed down, and will always defend and promote the creative freedom of independent filmmakers. The festival will again be hosted at Cinema Village just steps from Union Square. The famous Cinema Village marquee has been featured in film and television productions including Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and David Chase’s “The Sopranos.” MFF has been named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” “25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee," and "Top 100 Best Reviewed" on FilmFreeway!

THE THEME OF SCIENCE NEW WAVE XVII IS SIGNAL. Bird calls, alarm sirens, satellite transmissions. Communiques from ice cores and flower petals. The air thrums with codes and messages, bright and dire, mundane and extraordinary. If only we are listening, if only we are able to interpret them, what might we be able to understand? This year's Science New Wave Festival tunes in to 64 unique beacons from the technological, animal, botanical, cellular, and planetary spheres, decoding existence and reimaging the science film. Not every signal is a film, but every film is a SIGNAL. The 17th Annual Science New Wave Film Festival, running from October 18-25, 2024, in New York and on Labocine, is a vibrant celebration of hybrid forms and the diversity that fuels creative ecosystems. This year’s festival showcases an eclectic mix of films that defy traditional boundaries, blending science with art, experimentation, and personal expression. Anchored in the Science New Wave’s ethos, which thrives on innovation and collaboration across disciplines, the festival highlights the rich variety of voices shaping the future of science cinema. From emerging talents to seasoned creators, the Science New Wave is where diversity feeds the ecosystem, sparking new ways to see and understand the world. The 64 DNA-coded films in this year's festival, which runs October 18 - 25, 2024, reflect just as many very different expressions of Science New Wave ideals. Alongside the festival, we proudly present the October issue titled The Ecosystem, dedicated to films that explore and reflect the world we inhabit. The festival also introduces the Scenes from the Forest initiative, a special program highlighting cinematic works deeply rooted in nature and environmental storytelling. Together, these initiatives embody the Science New Wave’s commitment to innovation and diversity.