The Woodstock Film Festival brings independent films to Woodstock, Rhinebeck, Saugerties and Kingston each October, founded in 2000 by Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto. An Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films, it presents annual Maverick Awards to honorees who have included Susan Sarandon, Ethan Hawke and Paul Schrader.
Its town identity and cinema reputation make it a strong New York film row.
Named for the town of Woodstock rather than the famous 1969 music festival, which was actually held roughly 60 miles away in Bethel, New York, the film festival is a nonprofit organization that has grown into an Academy Award-qualifying event in the Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film and Documentary Short Film categories
Its signature Maverick Awards, presented on the Saturday night of the festival, honor veteran directors, actors and industry figures, with past Honorary Maverick Award recipients including Paul Schrader, Ethan Hawke, Julie Taymor, Susan Sarandon and Steve Buscemi, alongside a parallel Career Achievement track recognizing producers and executives
The Maverick Awards
presented each year on the festival's Saturday night
have become the festival's signature event
honoring both veteran creative talent through the Honorary Maverick Award and industry professionals through a separate recognition track
a tradition that has continued since the festival's earliest years
14–18 October 2026
Driving is usually required.
Casual to smart-casual clothing works for most screenings, with a warmer layer for October evenings moving between venues; the Maverick Awards ceremony draws slightly dressier attire among...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
Woodstock
Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.
USD
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Woodstock Film Festival is listed for 14–18 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Woodstock, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
5 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Woodstock, NY
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