Welcome to Queens World!
Founded in 2010 and nurtured into existence by Queens residents and filmmakers Donald Preston Cato and Katha Cato, Queens World became a 501c3 non-profit in 2014. Queens World is dedicated to supporting international and local filmmakers at every stage of their career with a multi-venue, multi-day film festival, mentoring and professional development programs, industry panels, school based immersion programs, the Pop Up Film School, The Listening Tour and ongoing Encore Screening opportunities for festival alumni.
To date, Queens World has screened 1,979 films representing 98 nations, with 274 films from filmmakers located in Queens including 31 by Queens public school students. Queens World has produced over 600 screening events serving over 80,000 audiences with exciting films and engaging talk backs designed to connect film lovers and filmmakers.
On March 19, 2020 Queens World was the first festival in the world to move online in response to the global pandemic. Broadcasting live from Queens, the festival produced an 11 day free virtual festival with 191 films from 31 nations earning over 30,000 views from a world that had suddenly shut down. We work with our city agencies, local elected officials and a vast network of NYC cultural organizations to bring Queens to the world and the world to Queens.
WE’LL SEE YOU IN QUEENS!
