BFF is a 10-day International-competitive festival. Our 26th event will run from June 2 - 11, 2023.

The 26th BFF will be staged online, where all the selected films will play non-stop for ten days. And indoors at a few venues in Brooklyn. For the latest news on this matter, please check our website: www.brooklynfilmfestival.org.

Although we are a fully inclusive organization and our events are accessible to everyone, discovering and promoting independent filmmakers at their first or second film is at the very center of our year-round efforts.

BFF’s mission is to provide a forum to advance public interest in film; to support every year a new generation of filmmakers with a unique vision; to draw worldwide attention to Brooklyn as a center for cinema; and to promote artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure.

BFF is a festival for and by independent filmmakers. The organizers bring to this annual event 25 years of festival experience. BFF accepts submissions in six categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation.

Submissions are open from June-July to March of the following year. The final selection of 150 films is announced in April-May and the event starts in early June. All the films that end up being part of our final lineup come from submissions only.

All selected films are eligible for several awards and even the smallest film can end up winning the very top award: the Grand Chameleon. In addition to our film programs, BFF also hosts multiple filmmaker events and a variety of innovative opportunities to network and get involved.

Many of our award-winning films have been picked up for theatrical releases, nationwide broadcasts on PBS and HBO, and to be nominated and awarded by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the American Academy Awards. BFF is also a proud Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival.

BFF, inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization with headquarters in Williamsburg-Brooklyn since 1998.

Awards & Prizes

Through the resources of BFF’s sponsors, the festival offers prizes totaling about $50,000 in cash, film services, and products. In 2022, our award sponsors included UPPER MARKET GALLERY, BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY, BLUE TABLE POST, CINELEASE, XENO LIGHTS, ABELCINE, BE ELECTRIC, MPE, FINAL DRAFT, MEDIA SERVICES, LENTINI COMMUNICATIONS, PAPAPIETRO PERRY WINE, NOBLE JEWELRY

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LIST of AWARDS:

* GRAND CHAMELEON AWARD
This Award is intended to reward the film that best represents the annual festival theme.
Eligibility: Often improperly called Best Film of the Year, the Grand Chameleon is chosen among the the 6 winners of of the 6 film categories.
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival Board of Directors
Prizes: CHAMELEON STATUETTE (trophy)
$1,000 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

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BEST IN CATEGORY AWARD
Assigned to the best film in each category
Eligibility: All films in competition
Jury: Assigned by the panels of external Judges.

* BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE
- Prizes: $5,000 credit towards a studio rental offered by be electric
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software - $250
Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - $375

* BEST FEATURE DOC
- Prizes: Abel Cinetech (panasonic hd camera rental package) - $5,000
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software - $250
Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - $375

* BEST SHORT NARRATIVE
- Prizes: Xeno Lights / credit towards a light package rental - $5,000
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software - $250
Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - $375

* BEST SHORT DOC
- Prizes: $3,000 credit towards post-production equipment rental at MPE
$500 credit at Lentini communications
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* BEST EXPERIMENTAL
- Prizes: Brooklyn Film Society - $200 cash
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software - $250
Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - $375

* BEST ANIMATION
- Prizes: Brooklyn Film Society - $200 cash
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software - $250

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* BEST BROOKLYN PROJECT
Assigned to the best film shot in Brooklyn or made by a Brooklyn director.
Eligibility: All films shot in Brooklyn or made by a Brooklyn director
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival Board of Directors.
Prizes: Credit toward lighting and grip package with Cinelease - $5,000
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Assigned to the best upcoming director
Eligibility: All filmmakers in competition with their first film are eligible
Jury: Assigned by an external panel of Judges.
Prizes: $8,000 credit towards a colorist with facility at Blue Table Post
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

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SPIRIT AWARDS
Films in which the festival recognizes its own spirit (festival favorites)
One award in each category (x6) gets assigned
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible
Jury: Spirit Awards are assigned by the BFF's Board of Directors
Prizes: Each winner gets a copy of Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* FEATURE NARRATIVE
* FEATURE DOC
* SHORT NARRATIVE
* SHORT DOC
* EXPERIMENTAL
* ANIMATION

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CERTIFICATES of OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
The festival issues only one certificate in each of the below fields of competence which can be assigned within any of the 6 film categories (i.e. Best Editing means "best" among all films included in the festival lineup)
Eligibility: All filmmakers in the festival are eligible
Jury: Certificates are assigned by external panels of Judges and festival board of directors jointly.

* BEST PRODUCTION
Prizes: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* BEST SCREENWRITING
Prizes: Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)
$200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Prizes: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* BEST STYLE
Prize: Case of Papapietro Perry Wine ($800)

* BEST EDITING
Prizes: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Final Draft 12 screenwriting software ($250)

* BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Prize: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST ACTING (female)
Certificate of Excellence

* BEST ACTING (male)
Certificate of Excellence

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AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Awards are assigned in each of the 6 categories below:
Eligibility: All films in the lineup are eligible.
Jury: Festival Audience.
Prizes: Each winner gets a copy of Final Draft 12 software - $250

* FEATURE NARRATIVE
* FEATURE DOC
* SHORT NARRATIVE
* SHORT DOC
* EXPERIMENTAL
* ANIMATION

Rules & Terms

DEADLINES
Early-bird: November 30, 2022
Regular: January 5, 2023
Advanced: January 31, 2023
Late: February 25, 2023
Extended: March 13, 2023

CATEGORIES
Feature Narrative
Feature Doc
Short Narrative
Short Doc
Experimental
Animation

OVERALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Language: All films must be in English or with English subtitles.
Film Age: Submitted films must be not older than 2 years (completed after June 15, 2021)

SCREENING or RENTAL FEES:
BFF does NOT CONSIDER films that require SCREENING/RENTAL FEES.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME:
- Feature Narrative: No less than 40 minutes
- Feature Documentary: No Less than 40 minutes
- Short Narrative: Less than 40 minutes
- Short Documentary: Less than 40 minutes
- Experimental: no limitations
- Animation: no limitations

PRIOR SCREENINGS:
Entries cannot have a theatrical run (commercial release) or be broadcast (TV) anywhere in the US before June 15, 2023. Previous screenings at other film festivals, as well as private, industry, and press screenings are OK. The "New York Premiere" status is preferred, but not mandatory.

COMPLETION DATE:
Projects submitted to the Festival must have been completed after June 15, 2021. Works-In-Progress are considered only during the final submission deadline stage and only if the film can be completed by May 10, 2021.

INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION:
Films produced, financed, or initiated by a major motion picture studio are not eligible for the BFF competition. Films that have a distribution agreement that includes sales in the US are not eligible to participate to BFF.

FILM PROMOTION & INTERVIEWS:
BFF will forward any interviews requests directly to filmmakers or their publicist for them to arrange and coordinate. The BFF PR Department pitches the overall festival program and events to maximize exposure and build buzz in advance of and during the festival by procuring curtain raisers (festival preview features) and capsule reviews/film picks/highlights with local media including print dailies & weeklies, TV & Radio, and online/blogs. Brooklyn Film Festival may use segments (up to 5 mins) from any film submitted and accepted into the final lineup for promotional purposes.
90 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Matt Soar

    The BFF is an energetic festival with excellent programming, and a delight to be involved in. The team was incredibly friendly and professional. Highly recommended.

    July 2022
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  • Twisted Bag Films

    It was an absolute honor to be a part of Brooklyn Film Festival for the World Premiere of our feature "Leon's Fantasy Cut". What a fun and supportive festival! Well organized and the selections were all fantastic. We made a lot of great friends and will always cherish our experience with the festival!

    June 2022
    Helpful
  • Lynn Dow

    Brooklyn Film Festival was amazing!

    June 2022
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  • Eduardo Moreno Fernández

    Had a great time at this fest! The films were excellent, there were lots of opportunity to network and meet other filmmakers, and the staff was very friendly and supportive. I'm definitely submitting my next projects.

    June 2022
    Helpful
  • Simon Ruscinski

    I had an incredible experience with my film "Premium Pornography" at the Brooklyn Film Festival. All of the staff were incredibly communicative, thorough, and supportive throughout the entire festival. I met a ton of very talented, enthusiastic people through the fest and submitting again is now a priority of mine!

    June 2022
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