ALZA Festival Announces Inaugural Dates (October 16-18), Opens Submissions for First-of-its-kind Festival Dedicated to Vertical Storytelling and Microdramas

Introduces Strategic Program with NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to Uplift NYC Creator Community with the Launch of “Created in NY”

Watch the launch video featuring Commissioner Espinal here; Program logo assets here

New York, NY, July 16, 2026 – ALZA Festival, a first-of-its-kind festival dedicated to microdrama and vertical storytelling, today announced that the event will take place October 16-18, 2026, in New York City (AMC 19th Street, East 6), with submissions now open at www.alzafestival.com/submissions.  As a premier stage for this new wave of storytelling, ALZA Festival also announced a strategic program with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to demonstrate the breadth of NYC’s vertical storytelling community with the launch of “Created in NY.” The program consists of vertical storytelling education opportunities for New Yorkers at the festival, inclusion in the “Created in NY” showcase, and the chance for one lucky New Yorker to receive an iconic “Made in NY” Award, to be presented for the first time ever to a content creator, during the festival.

"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."

“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.” 

ALZA Festival, founded by Torres, the former COO for Tribeca Festival, along with cofounders Rita Vinnik, a former TikTok executive and Katie Korfhage, who previously served as Tribeca Festival’s Vice President of Development, aims to transform digital-native storytelling into curated, in-person cultural moments. It is designed specifically to meet the rise of microdramas and vertical series, connecting creators, audiences, and brands in ways that extend far beyond the screen.

Kicking off Friday, October 16, ALZA Festival’s three-day event will feature official premieres, competitive screenings, creator spotlights, industry conversations, masterclasses, networking events and immersive brand activations —bringing the most compelling voices in short-form storytelling into a shared, real-world experience. Selected projects will screen before audiences of industry leaders, platforms, brands, media, investors, and fellow creators while competing for ALZA Festival honors.

The festival welcomes creators and submissions from around the world, reflecting the rapidly expanding global ecosystem of vertical storytelling. Full details on ALZA Festival’s submission rules, regulations, and eligibility are available at www.alzafestival.com/submissions.

ALZA Festival is produced by the live events platform Torres Live led by its founding partners Torres, Vinnik and Korfhage.