A micro-drama festival is set to take place in New York City next October, in a newly announced partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.
Alza Festival is scheduled to take place from October 16 to 18 with premieres and screenings of small dramas, industry talks, networking events, masterclasses and brand activations. Per a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the festival will also include the launch of the Created in NY program, which will include educational panels and workshops, inclusion in the Created in NY showcase (a showcase block for the program’s finalists), and the opportunity to win a Made in NY award, which will be the first time this award has been presented to a content creator.
“New York has always defined what’s next in media, and vertical storytelling is no exception,” said Commissioner Rafael Espinal of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “Launching ‘Created in NY’ alongside the ALZA Festival is about recognizing that the next generation of filmmakers and creatives is already here. Our mission is to help open doors, develop talent, and make sure New York remains the best place in the world to build a creative career.”
The festival was created by Pete Torres, former COO of the Tribeca Festival, along with Rita Vinick, former TikTok executive and Katie Korvage, who previously served as vice president of development at the Tribeca Festival. The founders have launched an open call for applications.
“Vertical storytelling has evolved into one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world, yet it has not yet had a dedicated cultural home – so we created ALZA to change that,” said Pete Torres, founder and CEO of ALZA Festival. “Our goal is to bring together creators, platforms, studios, brands and audiences to celebrate this amazing new medium while helping to shape its future. There is no better place than New York City to launch this conversation, and we are proud to work with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to highlight the city’s next generation of storytellers.”
