BFF is a 10-day International-competitive festival. Our 27th event will run from May 31 - June 9, 2024.

The 27th BFF will be staged indoors at a few venues in Brooklyn and online, where all the selected films will play non-stop for ten days. 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 indie 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 26 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 14 to March 13 of the following year. The final selection of roughly 150 films is announced in April-May. 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 release; nationwide broadcast on PBS and HBO; and/or nominated/awarded by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the American Academy Awards, and the Canadian Screen Award for which BFF is also a proud qualifying festival. This year (and for the past 8 years) BFF has been selected by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the "50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee".

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 in cash, film services, and products. This year, our award sponsors included BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY, BLUE TABLE POST, CINELEASE, XENO LIGHTS, ABELCINE, BE ELECTRIC, MPE, MEDIA SERVICES, LENTINI COMMUNICATIONS, PAPAPIETRO PERRY WINE, and NOBLE JEWELRY.

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 6 winners of the 6 film categories.
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival Board of Directors
Prizes:
- CHAMELEON STATUETTE (trophy)
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 6 winners of the 6 film categories.
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival Board of Directors
Prizes:
- CHAMELEON STATUETTE (trophy)
- $500 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 panels of external Judges.

* BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE
Prizes:
- $10,000 credit towards a studio rental offered by Be Electric
- Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - valued $375
- $400 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

* BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Prizes:
- AbelCine (credit towards an hd camera rental pkg) - valued $2,500
- Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - valued $375
- $400 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

* BEST SHORT NARRATIVE
Prizes:
- Xeno Lights / credit towards a light package rental - valued 5,000
- Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - valued $375
- $400 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

* BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Prizes:
- $3,000 credit towards post-production equipment rental at MPE
- $500 credit towards sound equipment rental at Lentini Comm.
- $400 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

* BEST EXPERIMENTAL
Prizes:
- Brooklyn Film Society - $400 cash
- Media Services software: the showbiz software suite - valued $375

* BEST ANIMATION
Prize:
- $400 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY
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* BEST BROOKLYN PROJECT
Assigned to the best film shot in Brooklyn or made by a Brooklyn director
Eligibility: Films must be shot in Brooklyn or made by a Brooklyn director
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival Board of Directors
Prize: Credit towards a light/grip pkg rental by Cinelease - valued $5,000

* 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.
Prize: $4,000 credit towards a colorist fee & facility rental: Blue Table Post

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SPIRIT AWARDS
Films in which the festival recognizes its own spirit (festival's 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 and key festival staff
Prizes: N/A

Categories:
* FEATURE NARRATIVE
* FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
* SHORT NARRATIVE
* SHORT DOCUMENTARY
* EXPERIMENTAL
* ANIMATION

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CERTIFICATES of OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
The festival issues only one certificate in each of the below fields of competence. Certificates can be assigned to any film in competition regardless of its category (i.e. Best Editing means "best" among all the 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's board of directors jointly.

* BEST PRODUCTION
Prizes: $400 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST SCREENWRITING
Prizes: $400 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Prizes: $400 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST STYLE
Prize: Case of Papapietro Perry Wine ($1,000)

* BEST EDITING
Prizes: $400 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Prize: $400 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society

* BEST ACTING (female)
Certificate of Excellence
- $250 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

* BEST ACTING (male)
Certificate of Excellence
- $250 cash offered by BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY

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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, including films out of competition.
Jury: Festival Audience.
Prizes: N/A

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

Rules & Terms

DEADLINES
Early-bird Feature Narrative and Feature Doc: October 31, 2023
Early-bird Short Narrative, Short Doc, Experimental, and Animation: November 30, 2023
Regular for all categories: January 5, 2024
Advanced: January 31, 2024
Late: February 25, 2024
Extended: March 13, 2024

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, 2022)

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

TOTAL RUNNING TIME:
- Feature Narrative: No less than 50 minutes
- Feature Documentary: No Less than 50 minutes
- Short Narrative: Less than 50 minutes
- Short Documentary: Less than 50 minutes
- Experimental: no time limitations
- Animation: no time limitations

PRIOR SCREENINGS:
Entries cannot have a theatrical run (commercial release) or be broadcast (TV) anywhere in the US before June 15, 2024. 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, 2022. Works-In-Progress are considered only during the final submission deadline stage and only if the film can be completed by the end of April, 2024.

INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION:
Films produced, financed, or initiated by major motion picture studios (i.e. Paramount Pictures) are not eligible for the BFF competition. Films with a distribution agreement that includes sales in the US are not eligible to participate to the BFF competition.

FILM PROMOTION & INTERVIEWS:
BFF will forward any interview request 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) taken from any film submitted and accepted into the final lineup for promotional purposes.
102 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anthony Nicolau

    Fantastic festival with impeccable programming. It was a pleasure to screen our film here.

    July 2023
    Helpful
  • Apollo Bakopoulos

    This place holds a special place in my heart, as it truly resonates with me and it felt like I was home. The entire team went above and beyond, creating an environment where I could be my authentic self and that's so important. They provided us with a space that allowed us not only to be ourselves but also to thrive. I am grateful for the recognition and honor upon my debut film, as the the ''best producer''. I am looking forward submitting my next film to this festival and staying connected with this wonderful community.

    July 2023
    Helpful
  • camille wormser

    Such a wonderful fest. All the films were so so good. Honored to be a part of it!

    July 2023
    Helpful
  • cynthia white

    BFF was a stellar experience for us. The communication and Hospitality exceeded expectations. Very well organized and offered immediate support. Thank you for including us in this talented lineup of filmmakers!

    June 2023
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  • Gerald Decker

    I had my premiere here and was very happy with the experience. The staff was fantastic. The venue was fun. Great crowd. Met a lot of talented filmmakers. They truly did everything to make the experience special. And to put it over the edge we won an award for style! If I have to make a new movie to attend next year, so be it!

    June 2023
    Helpful