YoFi Fest runs November 6 through November 15, bringing 156 films from 24 countries to venues across downtown Yonkers. The ten-day program includes an opening-night event, weekend workshops and filmmaker Q&A sessions.
The opening-night party begins at 6:30 p.m. November 6 with A Taste of Yonkers, a red-carpet reception featuring local food and drink, according to Yonkers Times. The evening also includes a selection of short films and an after-party; after-parties are planned throughout the festival.
A nonprofit organization runs the festival, which began in 2013. The Yonkers Times report says co-founder and executive director Dave Steck described it as a chance for people in the creative community to connect. Co-founder and programmer Patty Schumann told the publication that many filmmakers are expected to attend this year.
Where the Screenings and Workshops Happen
Screenings and workshops are scheduled at the Yonkers Riverfront Library theater and YoFi's Digital Media Art Center (DMAC), both in downtown Yonkers. The library theater is across from the Yonkers Metro-North station, and organizers point to nearby parking lots. DMAC also serves as a year-round base for YoFi beyond festival season.
Access and year-round context
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority lists Yonkers station as accessible, with elevators, tactile warning strips and audiovisual passenger information systems. According to YoFiDMAC, the Digital Media Art Center opened in 2018 as the year-round home for YoFiFest, which began in 2013; its description does not enumerate specific year-round programs. For broader regional context, Westchester Magazine reports that Westchester County's Arts Access program will distribute $1.025 million to 81 arts and cultural organizations in 2026-27. That report does not identify YoFi as a recipient.
Workshops are scheduled for both festival weekends, with morning networking events at the start of each weekend day. Most film programs are followed by live filmmaker Q&A sessions. Schumann identified those conversations as a notable part of the festival, according to the Yonkers Times report.
A Lineup Built On Diversity and Independent Work
The slate includes features, documentaries, shorts, animation, music videos, web series and student work, including films made in Yonkers. The Yonkers Times report describes the festival's mission as supporting arts and culture in the community, with organizers presenting the lineup as both an entertainment program and an educational and cultural opportunity.
The festival has also received recognition outside Yonkers. Yonkers Times reports that FilmFreeway named it one of its top 100 best-reviewed festivals nine times and that Westchester Magazine gave it a Best of Westchester distinction twice. The Journal News and lohud also included it among the top ten reasons Yonkers was voted the Lower Hudson Valley's hippest town, the report says.
The full schedule, ticket information and other details are available at YoFiFest.com. For attendees, the schedule, venue locations and transit information can help with planning across the ten days of screenings and events.
