FESTIVAL 2025
Dates:
May 30-June 8
VENUES:
This year BFF will run both at a few physical venues and online. The main physical venue, Windmill Studios in Greenpoint (300 Kingsland Avenue, Brooklyn, 11222), will run from May 30 – June 8. Additional screenings will be held at Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg (80 Wythe Ave, 11249) from June 2 – 5. BFF will also be available online via BFF’s website (virtual event) from May 31-June 8.
FILMS:
160 films will be competing for a total of 30 awards. NOTE: Even the smallest festival film can win the top festival award, The Grand Chameleon.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
BFF is an international competitive festival. Films are submitted as and divided into six categories: Feature Narrative (15 programs), Feature Documentary (11 programs), Short Narrative (7 programs), Short Doc (4 Programs), Experimental (3 programs), and Animation (3 programs). In total, BFF will show 160 films grouped into 43 two-hour programs.
INDOOR FILM SCHEDULE AT WINDMILL STUDIOS:
The indoor programs below will be presented at Windmill Studios in Greenpoint from Friday May 30 to Sunday June 8. The schedule is still subject to change.
Windmill Studios: 300 Kingsland Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222.
May 30, Fri: 7:00pm (Opening Night)
May 31, Sat: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 1, Sun: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 2, Mon: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 3, Tue: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 4, Wed: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 5, Thu: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 6, Fri: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 7, Sat: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 8, Sun: 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 8pm (Awards Ceremony)
INDOOR FILM SCHEDULE AT WYTHE HOTEL:
Additional programs will play at Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg on Monday June 2, Tuesday June 3, Wednesday June 4, and Thursday June 5. The programs will start every day at 6, 8, and 10pm.
Wythe Hotel: 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn 11249
June 3, Mon: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 4, Tue: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 5, Wed: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
June 6, Thu: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
IN PERSON THEATER PASSES & TICKETS:
The price for the Single Program Ticket is $18. The price for a Full Pass, (including Opening Night screening and party) from May 1-20 will be sell it promotionally at $100. All Theater tickets will be available via our site and at the venues. All tickets and passes purchased online can be picked up at the venue starting one hour before the show. BFF offers discounted single tickets to Seniors and Students ($15) at the venue only (cannot be purchased online).
ONLINE FILM SCHEDULE:
The entire lineup [160 films – 43 programs] will be available for viewing from May 31 through June 8 around the clock (24/7) without interruptions.
ONLINE PASSES & CATEGORY SALES:
BFF’s films online are divided in six categories. In our Virtual Festival, BFF sells films by category (i.e. 15 Feature Films are priced $50 in total) and not by individual film. Sales are priced without time limit restrictions and regardless the number of visualizations. That means that each (and all) of the (i.e.) 13 feature films can be played as many times as the viewer wants from May 31-June 8.
FULL SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN & SALE PRICES:
Theater Festival
Opening Night (includes Screening and Party with DJ, Appetizers, and Drinks): $40
Single Program: $18
Discounted Single Program Ticket for Seniors and Students (available at the venues only): $15
Full Festival Pass (43 Programs including Opening Night): $200 (at a promotional level, only $100 from May 1-20)
Online Festival
For the online festival, BFF will only sell films by category, not by individual films.
Category prices are as follows:
Full Online Festival Pass (43 Programs – 160 Films): $100
Online Feature Narrative Category (15 Films): $45
Online Feature Documentary Category (11 Docs): $30
Online Short Narrative Category (7 two-hour Programs): $40
Online Short Documentary Category (4 two-hour Programs): $20
Online Experimental Category (3 two-hour Programs): $20
Online Animation Category (3 two-hour Programs): $20
AWARDS & PRIZES:
BFF awards (30 in total) will be associated to prizes totaling about $50,000 in cash, film services, and products. All films in the festival are in competition with a few exceptions. To participate to the competition, a film must be at least a NY Premiere. That said, all films, including the non-premieres, can participate in the Audience Award competition. The audience can vote for their favorite films both online and at the venues, where all the festival films are presented. While are still working on the prizes’ breakdown for 2025, check here a draft based on the last past festival: Awards & Prizes (reference).
THEME
‘THE EVENT” is the theme of the 28th Brooklyn Film Festival. The idea for a film or even the idea of becoming a filmmaker in the first place is always triggered by a life event. Although the personal growth of each filmmaker is truly individual and unique. And although each filmmaker’s personal growth almost never runs on a straight line and changes continually, usually is a dominant event, recent or remote, that drives life choices and creativity in general. While the 2025 festival will strive to be a life changing experience for its audience, the festival will observe “The Event”, its between the lines, and its repercussions on the festival at large…more later.
NETWORKING & SPECIAL EVENTS:
To keep up with the festival developments check our Latest News page and the ongoing conversation on our Social Media.
FESTIVAL BACKGROUND:
Organized by the same people who brought to you the Williamsburg Brooklyn Film Festival and the Brooklyn International Film Festival, the 501(c)(3) Brooklyn Film Festival is an organization developed from 25 years of experience. Re-branded in 2010, the new BFF rides an enriched mission.
FILM SUBMISSIONS:
BFF accepts paperless entries via FilmFreeway.com from July 1 through March 10 of the following year. For DEADLINES, FAQ, rules, and to submit visit: + SUBMIT A FILM
MISSION:
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 filmmaking, and to promote artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure.
To promote, foster, stimulate, increase, and advance Brooklyn’s public interest in film through the following means:
- – To organize, sponsor, and present forums, lectures, and discussions related to the creation of independent films.
- – To conduct classes and workshops for the development of new filmmakers and the public exhibition of new and existing works.
- – To partner with like-minded organizations to exhibit new and existing works.
To support arts organizations with compatible missions.
To hold an annual competitive film festival in Brooklyn.
BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY