ALZA Festival made its debut in New York City on October 16–18, 2026, bringing together creators, filmmakers, industry leaders, brands, and audiences for three days celebrating the future of vertical storytelling.

From premieres and screenings to industry conversations and special events, the inaugural festival showcased the creativity, innovation, and growing cultural impact of stories made for the vertical screen.

Explore the inaugural festival:

2026 FILM PROGRAM

2026 INDUSTRY PROGRAM

The inaugural ALZA Festival took place October 16–18, 2026, at AMC 19th Street East 6 in New York City.

Explore the 2026 Film and Industry Programs for a look at the festival's debut edition.

Stay connected and check back for updates on future programming, events, and opportunities to be part of what's next. We’re just getting started.

ALZA serves creators and studios working in short-form storytelling, fans who actively engage with micro-content, and brands seeking authentic ways to participate in creator culture.

Stay connected! Follow ALZA Festival on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for announcements about future events, programming, partnerships, and submission opportunities.

Submissions for the 2026 festival are closed. Thank you to all the creators who shared their work with us.

Check back for future submission opportunities, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Members of the media may contact press@torreslive.com for information about press credentials, interview opportunities, press materials, and other media inquiries.

Yes. Our venues, projection systems, and programming layouts are designed specifically to showcase vertical and mobile-native content in immersive live environments.

Micro-stories are a new generation of short-form entertainment created specifically for the vertical screen. Designed for mobile viewing, they deliver compelling narratives in just a few minutes and can take the form of standalone shorts or serialized storytelling.

Micro-series are episodic micro-stories, typically consisting of one- to three-minute episodes designed for binge viewing. They combine the narrative ambition of television with the accessibility and pace of mobile-first entertainment.

Torres Live is a live events platform and festival producer dedicated to the next generation of storytelling.

Launched in New York City in Fall 2026 with the inaugural ALZA Festival, Torres Live transforms digital-native content—particularly micro-dramas and vertical series—into curated, in-person cultural experiences.

The platform brings together creators, audiences, and brands through premieres, live screenings, conversations, and immersive activations.

Founded by former Tribeca Festival COO Pete Torres alongside Founding Partners, Rita Vinnik and Katie Korfhage, Torres Live is building the premier stage for micro-storytelling and a new bridge between internet culture and real-world experiences.

Combining expertise across live events, creator culture, content strategy, and operations, the company is creating a new platform for the future of entertainment.