The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) announced the winners of its 18th annual event, honoring exceptional independent filmmaking and storytelling across genres. The festival, held in Williamsburg and throughout Brooklyn, showcased a diverse lineup of feature films, shorts, documentaries, and episodic projects, spotlighting bold narratives and compelling performances that resonated with audiences.
The top honor, Best Feature Narrative, went to Todos Somos Justos, directed by Carlos Leiva Barahona, while runner-ups included The Color of Air (Oliver Moser) and Drip Like Coffee (Anaiis Cisco). Join The Club by Kip Andersen & Chris O’Connell captured Best Feature Documentary, with Slumlord Millionaire as the runner-up. Short films also received recognition: Them That’s Not directed by Mekhai Lee won Best Short Narrative, and Jon Waldman’s Brims of Tradition: The Dual Legacy of a Black Hat Maker was named Best Short Documentary. Episodic storytelling was celebrated with Carlos Cardona’s Born 2 Lose winning Best Episodic, alongside runner-ups and honorable mentions across categories. The Best Screenplay award went to Zoé Paddon for Screentime.
The festival jury included a mix of actors, directors, producers, and industry leaders, such as Giancarlo Esposito, Malcolm Barrett, Andre Ozim, Kaliswa Brewster, Crosby Fitzgerald, and Chien-Ping Lin, bringing a wealth of expertise and perspective to the selection process.
The awards ceremony capped off a weekend filled with screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and community engagement. Highlight screenings included Cinqué Lee’s Rare and Grand Alignment, attended by Esposito himself. The festival also featured 11 world premieres, 10 East Coast premieres, and 24 New York premieres, ensuring a dynamic mix of emerging and established voices in independent cinema.
The festival’s closing events included an industry brunch hosted by Lovejoys and an awards ceremony at Great Jones Distilling Co., supported by long-time partner Hadley M. Fisher. Guests enjoyed world-class whiskey tastings, live jazz by Diego Campo, and DJ sets, celebrating not only independent storytelling but the vibrant Brooklyn creative community.
BFF’s 2025 festival continued to honor its mission of uplifting underrepresented voices in film. With support from partners including Spectrum, Brooklyn Cooperative, Freelancers Union, and Adobe, the festival highlighted the importance of storytelling as a vehicle for connection, dialogue, and cultural impact.
Now in its 18th year, the Bushwick Film Festival remains a cornerstone of Brooklyn’s arts scene, showcasing over 100 standout films annually and welcoming more than 5,000 attendees. By championing emerging voices, BFF reinforces its commitment to fostering creativity, diversity, and community through independent cinema.