The 24th Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), will run from June 4 - 13, 2021 at multiple Brooklyn venues.
Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), is a 10-day International, competitive festival. Discovering and promoting independent filmmakers at their first or second film is at the very center of the festival's year-round efforts. BFF’s mission is to provide a public forum in Brooklyn in order to advance public interest in films and the independent production of films; 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 of BFF bring 23 years of festival experience to this annual event. BFF accepts submissions in six categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation. Submissions are open from July to March of the following year. The final selection of 150 films is announced in May and the festival takes place in early June. All the films that make up our final lineup come from submissions only.
At our physical venues, each selected film plays twice. All films are eligible for several awards and the smallest film can win the top award: The Grand Chameleon. In addition to our film programs, BFF also hosts multiple filmmaker parties and networking events at venues around Brooklyn.
Many of our award-winning films have gone on to have theatrical releases, nationwide broadcasts on PBS and HBO, and to be nominated and awarded at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the American Academy Awards. BFF is also proud to be a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival.
BFF, inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization with headquarters in Williamsburg-Brooklyn since 1998.
Through the resources of BFF’s sponsors, the festival offers prizes totaling over $50,000 in cash, film services, and products. Our award sponsors include WNET’s REEL 13, ABELCINE, XENO LIGHTS, BE ELECTRIC, SOBRE VISTA RESORT, WNET, REEL 13, MPE, FINAL DRAFT, LENTINI COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA SERVICES, NOBLE JEWELRY, THE POD, PAPAPIETRO PERRY WINERY, BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY.
List of Awards:
* GRAND CHAMELEON AWARD
This Award is intended to reward the film that best represents the festival theme.
Eligibility: chosen among the 6 winners of the 6 BFF film categories. Often improperly called Best Film of the Year, the Grand Chameleon is picked regardless of its length, category, or format.
Jury: This award is assigned by the Festival.
Prizes: 5-night stay at Sobre Vista Resort ($25,000) – Chameleon Statuette ($500)
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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 Judges.
* FEATURE NARRATIVE - Prizes: credit at Xeno Lights ($5,000) – Final Draft software ($250) – Media Services software ($375)
* FEATURE DOC - Prizes: camera rental Credit at AbelCine ($5,000) – 5 nights at the Pod for 1+1 ($1,500) - Final Draft software ($250) - Media Services software ($375)
* SHORT NARRATIVE - Prizes: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society - Final Draft software ($250) - Media Services software ($375)
* SHORT DOC - Prizes: $3,000 credit towards post-production equipment rental at MPE – Media Services Software (value $375)
* EXPERIMENTAL - Prizes: $200 cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society - $500 credit at Lentini Communications
* ANIMATION - Prize: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
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* BEST BROOKLYN PROJECT
Assigned to the best film shot in Brooklyn or by a Brooklyn director
Eligibility: All films shot in Brooklyn or by a Brooklyn director are eligible
Jury: Assigned by the Festival
Prizes: $4,000 credit for studio rental offered by Be Electric - Final Draft software ($250)
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* BEST PITCH AT BFF EXCHANGE
Assigned to the Director/Writer who offered the best content and performed the best pitch during the Pitch segment of BFFX
Eligibility: All films are eligible. Submissions are open to all.
Jury: BFFX Producers
Prize: 10 hours with a Colorist at bluetablepost. Value $4,000
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* BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Assigned to the best upcoming director
Eligibility: All filmmakers in competition are eligible
Jury: Assigned by the panels of Judges.
Prizes: $200 offered by Brooklyn Film Society - Final Draft software ($250)
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* SPIRIT AWARD
Films in which the festival recognizes its own spirit
Spirit Awards are assigned in each category (6)
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible
Jury: Spirit Awards are assigned by BFF's Board of Directors
Prizes: 6 jewels (one per category) offered by Noble Jewelry ($600)
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* CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
Certificates for outstanding achievement to the categories below:
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible
Jury: Certificate Awards are assigned by the panels of Judges
* PRODUCTION - Prizes: $200 offered by BFS - Final Draft software ($250)
* SCREENWRITING - Final Draft software ($250)
* CINEMATOGRAPHY - Prize: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
* STYLE - Prize: case of Papa Pietro Wine ($700)
* EDITING - Prize: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
* ORIGINAL SCORE - Prize: $200 cash offered by Brooklyn Film Society
* ACTING (female) - No prizes
* ACTING (male) - No prizes
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* AUDIENCE AWARD
Audience Awards are assigned in each of the 6 categories below:
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible.
Jury: Festival Audience.
* FEATURE NARRATIVE
* FEATURE DOC
* SHORT NARRATIVE
* SHORT DOC
* EXPERIMENTAL
* ANIMATION
