New York’s first microdrama film festival searches for its audience

New York’s first microdrama film festival, Alza, brought vertical videos and mobile-first dramas to cinema screens, as creators argued that the format could become a major part of entertainment. The event highlighted growing interest in vertical storytelling, though the screenings raised questions about whether content designed for phones works on a large, horizontal screen.

Held from 16 to 18 October, Alza featured premieres, panels and projects including a vertical adaptation of *Pride and Prejudice*, *Billionaire’s Broken Vow* and the series *Blood Surfer*. Some audience members laughed and gasped during romance-focused screenings, while GammaTime executives said their platform aims to reach mainstream women throughout the day, including viewers who might otherwise watch daytime television. The article notes that vertical video apps are expanding to televisions and streaming services are experimenting with vertical clips, but concludes that the festival did not settle whether the future of entertainment is vertical.