A microdrama festival is set to take place in New York City this October, with a newly announced partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Alza Festival is scheduled for Oct. 16 through Oct. 18 with premieres and screenings of microdramas, industry conversations, networking events, masterclass and brand activations. Per the partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the festival will also feature the launch of the Created in NY program, which will feature educational panels and workshops, inclusion in a Created in NY showcase (a screening block for finalists in the program), and the opportunity to win a Made in NY Award, which would mark the first time this award is 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 NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “The launch of ‘Created in NY’ alongside the ALZA Festival is about recognizing that the next generation of filmmakers and creators is already here. Our job 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, the former COO for Tribeca Festival, along with Rita Vinnik, a former TikTok executive and Katie Korfhage, who previously served as Tribeca Festival’s Vice President of Development. The founders have put out an open call for submissions. 

“Vertical storytelling has evolved into one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment in the world, yet until now it hasn’t 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 incredible new medium while helping shape its future. There is no better place than New York City to launch that conversation, and we’re proud to work with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to spotlight the city’s next generation of storytellers.”