The 17th Annual Bushwick Film Festival Announces 2024 Winners

View Festival Photos Here

Brooklyn, NY – October 30, 2024 – The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) is thrilled to announce the winners of its 17th annual event, which celebrates outstanding independent storytelling across various genres. The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, October 19th, at Gracemoon Arts Theater Salon and Gallery.

This year, BFF continued its tradition of recognizing exceptional talent with awards in categories like Best Feature, Best Short, Best Episodic, Best Actor, and more. The winning films and performances told bold stories, showcased the independent spirit, and featured compelling characters that resonated with audiences.

The jurors for this year’s festival included industry leaders like Malcolm Barrett (Actor, Average Joe, Timeless ), Craig Butta (Founder/Producer, BASE 12, Ghost: RIte Here Rite Now), Nicole Emanuele (Producing Partner, Le Train Train Productions, Not Waving But Drowning), Vianni Novich (Executive at HBO, Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die), Jika Gonzalez (Documentary Filmmaker, After The Flood), Cass Gardiner (Filmmaker, The Edible Indian), June Cross (Founder, professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism), Matt Thurm (Producer, Crown Heights), Molly O'Keefe (Producer, End of the Party), Justin Joseph Hall (Director/Founder, Fourwind Films & Quatre-Vents), Kavery Kaul (Director, Cuban Canvas), Natasha Florentino (Documentary Filmmaker, Abundant Land: Soil, Seeds and Sovereignty), Mike Prall (Producer, The Sound of Silence), Richie Doyle (Producer, Dad & Step-Dad), Clare O'Kane (Actor/Comedian/Writer, Saturday Night Live).

A full list of winners can be found below, and photos of each winner can be found through the LINK HERE. 

• Best Feature Narrative: Failed State directed by Christopher Jason Bell & Mitch Blummer

• Feature Narrative Honorable Mention: Doubles directed by Ian K Harnarine

• Best Feature Documentary: All We Carry directed by Cady Voge

• Feature Documentary Honorable Mention: The Opener directed by Jeff Toye

• Best Short Narrative: Tea directed by Blake Winston Rice

• Short Narrative Honorable Mention: Super High: A Period Piece directed by Bianca Lambert

• Best Short Documentary: David Again directed by Adam Elliott

• Short Documentary Honorable Mention: Aliza Nisenbaum: Painting from Life directed by Ian Forster

• Best Web Series: Dreams & Schemes directed by Daniel Fermín Pfeffer & Carlos Cardona

• Web Series Honorable Mention: Cache Money directed by Bruno Dramatik

• Best Performance Winner: Meagan Kimberly Smith (But He's Gay directed by Michael Calciano) Nominess: Dale Smith (Failed State), Joshua Rivera (Dreams & Schemes) Stéphanie Colle (My Tomato Heart), Darren Gilshenan (Jason Is My Dad)

This year’s theme, Producing The Dream, highlighted the journey of realizing a dream and celebrated the passion and effort it takes to achieve it. The festival screened nearly 100 films from Brooklyn and beyond, featuring a range of events including an Opening Night Yellow Carpet Reception presented by Netflix with cocktails by Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky, live screenings at Williamsburg Cinemas, a Comedy Night, a Screenplay Reading, an Industry Lunch, and an awards ceremony. The festival concluded on Sunday, October 20th, with a day of screenings of their award-winning films.

Since its founding, the Bushwick Film Festival has been a platform for emerging and underrepresented filmmakers, championing unique voices and bold storytelling. From global brands to beloved local businesses, we are incredibly grateful and humbled to have the support of the following 26 sponsors and supporters, all coming together to uplift talented filmmakers and create meaningful cultural experiences:  Netlfix, Spectrum, Johnnie Walker, DCP For All, Lot 45, All Things Iceland, World Owned, Brooklyn Cooperative, Moxy Williamsburg, Gracemoon Arts Company , Broadway Stages, Lovejoys, FirstLive, Bushwick Print Lab, The Tiny Cupboard, The Bird House Salon, Be Electric Studios, Artichoke Pizza, Abe's Pagoda Bar, Inca Chicken, Brooklyn Comedy Collective Tony’s Pizzeria Ollie’s Ice Cream.

About the Bushwick Film Festival:

The Bushwick Film Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to discover emerging voices, share great stories, and build community through the power of film. As an MWBE organization, we are proud to be part of the 12% of film festivals in the U.S. that are owned by women of color. With over 1000 yearly film submissions from 60+ countries, the festival draws 5000 attendees and features the top 100 indie films from NYC and beyond. BFF has received recognition from City and State Elected officials for its significant contribution to Brooklyn's cultural, artistic, and economic growth.With the generous support of partners and sponsors, the festival offers free public programming and filmmaking initiatives designed to empower and uplift underrepresented storytellers in the Brooklyn community.

Connect with the Bushwick Film Festival:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bushwickfilmfest

X: https://x.com/BushwickFilm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BushwickFilmFestival/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bushwickfilmfest

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCho76RKwKp12jb6W_LkBnmg

Press Contacts:

Samantha LaPare | Big Picture Media

Sam@BigPictureMediaOnline.com

Kerri-Ann Seredinsky | Big Picture Media

KerriAnn@BigPictureMediaOnline.com