Brooklyn Film Festival (24)

Festival start: 04 June 2021      Festival end: 13 June 2021

The 24th Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) will run at multiple venues in Brooklyn, NY and online from June 4 - 13, 2021.

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; to encourage the rights of all Brooklyn residents to access and experience the power of independent film-making; and to promote artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure. BFF, inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

The festival is 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 Features, Documentary Features, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation. Submissions are open from June to March of the following year. The final selection of 150+ films is announced in May, and the festival takes place in June. All the films that make up our final lineup come from submissions only. Each selected film plays twice. They are all eligible for several awards and the smallest film can win the top award: Grand Chameleon. In addition to our film programs, BFF also hosts multiple filmmaker parties and networking events at venues in and around Brooklyn.

Many of the award-winning films from the Brooklyn Film Festival have gone on to have theatrical releases, to have nationwide broadcasts on PBS and HBO, and to be nominated and awarded at both the British and the American Academy Awards. BFF is also proud to be a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival.

Cash Prizes: 5,000$

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, PP 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

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 Board of Directors of the Festival.
Prizes: 5 day stay at the Sobre Vista Resort – Chameleon Statuette as trophy - Value about $26,000

BEST IN CATEGORY AWARD
Assigned to the best film in each category
Eligibility: All films in competition
- Feature Narrative - Prize: Sponsored by AbelCine ($5,000 service)
- Feature Documentary - Prize: Sponsored by Media Services ($300 service) - $2,500 credit towards camera rental at NYC Camera Co.
- Short Narrative - $2,500 credit towards camera rental at NYC Camera Co. & Media Services ($300 service)
- Short Documentary - $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
- Animation - $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
- Experimental - $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Jury: Assigned by the panels of Judges.

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 BFF's Board of Directors
Prize: – $3,000 credit towards post-production equipment rental at MPE.

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Assigned to the best upcoming director
Eligibility: All filmmakers in competition are eligible
Jury: Assigned by the panels of Judges.
Prize: $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society

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
prize:n/a

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
Certificates are assigned for outstanding achievement in the following categories:

Production - Prize: $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Screenwriting – Prize: $200 Cash Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
Cinematography - Prize: $200 Offered by Brooklyn Film Society
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
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible
Jury: Certificate Awards are assigned by the panels of Judges

AUDIENCE AWARD
Audience Awards are assigned in each category as follows:
Feature
Documentary
Short Subject
Animation
Experimental.
Eligibility: All films in competition are eligible.
Jury: Festival Audience.

DEADLINES

BFF 2021 Edition submissions opened on June 15, 2020 and will close on March 10, 2021.

Postmarked by = Submission packages can be mailed until the day of the deadline.

CATEGORIES
We accept submissions of Feature Narrative, Feature Doc, Short Narrative, Short Doc, Experimental, and Animation.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Language: All films must be in English or with English subtitles.

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

Duration/Running Time:
- Feature Narrative: No less than 60 minutes
- Feature Documentary: No Less than 50 minutes
- Short Narrative: Less than 60 minutes
- Short Documentary: Less than 50 minutes
- Experimental and Animation : no limitations

Prior Screenings:
Entries cannot have a theatrical run (commercial release) or be broadcast (TV) anywhere in the U.S.A. before June 7, 2021. 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 7, 2019. Works-In-Progress are considered only during the final submission deadline and if the film can be completed by May 8, 2021.

Independent Production:
Films produced, financed, or initiated by a major motion picture studio are not eligible for the BFF competition.

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. It is understood that the Brooklyn Film Festival may use segments from any film submitted and accepted into the final lineup for promotional purposes only.