Coney Island Film Festival returns for 26th annual celebration of independent cinema

Coney Island Film Festival photo by Norman Blake

The 26th annual Coney Island Film Festival will take place May 1–3, 2026, featuring a lineup of 92 films across a variety of genres. Presented by indiefilmpage.com and Coney Island USA, the event will be held at iconic neighborhood venues including Sideshows by the Seashore and the Coney Island Museum.

The three-day festival includes documentaries, narrative features, sci-fi, horror, animation, and experimental works. Opening night will feature a party with live performances by the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

The featured opening night film is the world premiere of “The Longest Friday of the Year, Again,” a documentary directed by Jim McDonnell. The film provides a look at the Coney Island amusement district through the perspective of its workers, filmed during the summer solstice and the eve of the annual Mermaid Parade.

A highlight of the festival is the May 2 screening of the 1979 cult classic “The Warriors.” The annual tradition includes an interactive experience where the audience is encouraged to talk back to the film as the characters fight their way back to Coney Island.

Other scheduled programs include:

Comedy Shorts Program 2: A selection of short films focused on humor.
Horror Block Program 8: A collection of spine-tingling horror cinema.
Coney Island Films Program 16: A showcase of films specifically capturing the charm and atmosphere of the historic neighborhood.

Since its founding in the early 2000s by Rob Leddy and Coney Island USA, the festival has been recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “Coolest Film Festivals in the World.”

Individual screening tickets are available for $10, while tickets for “The Warriors” are priced at $12. Tickets can be purchased at coneyislandfilmfestival.com, and advance purchase is recommended as many screenings regularly reach capacity.

The festival is located at 1208 Surf Ave., one block from the Stillwell Avenue Subway Station.

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Lily Vakili is set to release her intimate six-song Live Wire EP May 8 (pre-save here). Recorded with her collaborator, the Grammy-Award winning, Emmy-nominated producer/engineer Reed Turchi, Live Wire an old-school, live in-studio, audio and video recording of songs named for what fans and critics alike say is a perfect description of her charismatic performance style. She will be playing a special EP release show in NYC on May 6 at Francis Kite Club – get tickets here and in Philadelphia May 20 at Nikki Lopez – get tickets here.

Looking for news and events beyond NYC? Finding Connecticut and Finding The Hudson Valley have the latest happenings just north of the city!

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