AWARDED $10,000 THROUGH STAND FOR THE ARTS AWARDS 

BY SPECTRUM AND OVATION TV

FEATURED ON NY1, DEADLINE, HYPERALLERGIC, GOTHAMIST, BROOKLYN MAGAZINE, BK READER, NEWS 12 BROOKLYN, 

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The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) celebrated its 16th edition this year from October 25th – October 29th, screening over 125+ films from Brooklyn and around the world. The festival included live screenings hosted by Williamsburg Cinemas, an Opening Night Red Carpet Reception, presented by Spectrum with specialty cocktails by Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky, on October 25th at Brooklyn Borough Hall. For the third consecutive year, Johnnie Walker has been a proud sponsor of the Bushwick Film Festival, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing storytellers, championing diversity and encouraging bold strides forward. Other festival events included a Movie Industry Conference held at Be Electric Studios featuring engaging panel discussions and a lively Sweet 16 Party at Lot 45. 

The festival culminated with an award ceremony on Sunday, October 29th where over 10 films and filmmakers received awards. The award winners told bold stories, embodied the independent spirit and featured extraordinary characters that reveal tales of change, self-discovery, and transitions into new phases of life.

This year’s jurors included Theo Rigby, (Founder/Director, iNation Media ), Danelle Eliav (Producer, Menashe and Omara), Melody C Roscher (Writer/Director/Producer, Martha Marcy May Marlene and White Wedding), Petra Ahmann (Executive Producer, Silverline Cinema), Amenya Makuku (Head of Development and Production with Courtney Lee Mitchell's 4TH Power Films (KINDRED with FX; in development on UNCATCHABLE with Apple and Appian Way)), Courtney Andrialis-Vincent (Former VP, Production Management for Warner Bros Discovery Sports & Bleacher Report), Niki Williams (Senior Manager, Production & Development, Nickelodeon), and Kweighbaye Kotee (producer, Starlit Pictures, BFF Founder)

Below is the full list of winners:

FEATURE NARRATIVE CATEGORY

Best Feature Narrative

Darla in Space

Director: Susie Moon, Eric Laplante

Special Jury Prize

Bittersweet

Director: Haroldo Borges

Honorable Mention

Playing Sam

Director: Ramon Felipe Pesante

SHORT NARRATIVE CATEGORY

Best Short Narrative

The Old Young Crow

Director: Liam LoPinto

Special Jury Prize

The Vacation

Director: Jarreau Carrillo

Honorable Mention

Bodies Will Tumble and Roll

Director: Eli Vazquez

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY

Best Feature Doc

Storming Caesar's Palace

Director: Hazel Gurland-Pooler

Special Jury Prize

Estamos Unidos

Director: Alvaro Manuel Morales

Honorable Mention

Esu and The Universe

Director: Thiago Zanato

SHORT SERIES CATEGORY

Best Series

Story of Godia

Director: Mouayed Zabtia

Special Jury Prize 

Awesome

Director: Paul Munger

Honorable Mention

Monologue

Director: Nick Clifford, Stef Smith

During the Opening Night Ceremony, Ovation TV awarded Bushwick Film Festival a $10,000 check through the Stand For The Arts Awards, a partnership with Spectrum that recognizes local arts, cultural, and educational organizations and programs. Since the initiative started in 2017, Ovation TV and Spectrum have given out 70 awards totaling $700,000 towards arts education. Bushwick Film Festival is one of 10 organizations receiving support in Spectrum markets across the country. Select arts organizations are awarded $10,000 Stand For The Arts contributions based on the following criteria: support of creatives and artists via community-driven programming; as advocates for equity and access to the arts; and for providing accessible spaces for creative expression.