Brooklyn Film Festival

Brooklyn Film Festival

Also known as: BFF, Brklyn Film Festival, Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival, Brooklyn International Film Festival
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Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) is an international competitive festival of independent cinema in Brooklyn, New York, run by a non-profit organisation. It began in 1998 as the Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival, was later known as the Brooklyn International Film Festival and took its current name in 2010. Films are submitted in six categories: narrative feature, documentary feature, narrative short, documentary short, experimental and animation. Entering the jury competition requires at least a New York premiere, while every selected film is eligible for the audience award in its category. The top prize, the Grand Chameleon, goes to the film that best reflects the theme of the edition and is chosen among the category winners.

Alongside screenings at Brooklyn venues, the festival has also offered its programme online, and it runs BFF Exchange, a series of industry panels and pitch competitions. The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television lists Brooklyn Film Festival among the international festivals whose jury awards qualify documentaries and short films for the Canadian Screen Awards. The 2027 edition takes place from 20 May to 3 June 2027.

Country

United States (USA)

Categories

Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Feature, Short

Dates

20 May 2027 — 3 June 2027

Awards and prizes

Grand Chameleon Award: the festival's top prize and Chameleon statuette, given by the Board of Directors to the film that best represents the theme of the edition, chosen among the six Best in Category winners. Best in Category: one award in each of the six competition categories (Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Animation, Experimental), decided by panels of external judges. Best New Director: one award across all categories, decided by the judges together with the Board of Directors. Best Brooklyn Project: for a film by a Brooklyn director or shot in Brooklyn, decided by the Board of Directors. Spirit Awards: one per category, the Board of Directors' choice. Certificates of Outstanding Achievement: Production, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Editing, Style, Original Score, Acting (female), Acting (male), decided by the judges. Audience Awards: one per category, by audience vote at the venues and online. BFF Exchange: pitch competition awards for documentary, narrative and student projects. Prizes include cash, film services and products from sponsors. A film must be at least a New York premiere to enter the competition.

Contacts

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