2024 BROOKLYN FILM FESTIVAL


SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

BFF accepts paperless entries submitted via FilmFreeway.com. The platform provide cost-saving and online entry to major film festivals with one master entry form. BFF is now open for submissions. We will close the entry gate of the 2024 festival on March 13.

Brooklyn Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world’s #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.


BFF rankes as one of the Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals on FilmFreeway! According to reviews from real FilmFreeway users, our festival ranks in the top 1% of more than 13,000 film festivals and creative contests around the world.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHEN IS THE NEXT FESTIVAL?

The next Brooklyn Film Festival will take place May 31 – June 9, 2024

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED IF MY FILM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED

Whether Filmmakers have been selected or not, the festival will announce the full lineup and notify every participant via email by May 3.

IN WHICH FILM CATEGORIES DO YOU ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS

Categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Experimental, Animation. + View categories and rules

IS THE FESTIVAL COMPETITIVE?

Yes.

DOES THE FESTIVAL GIVE AWAY PRIZES?

Through the resources of industry-related sponsors, the festival awards the winners with a total of approximately US $50,000 in prizes: cash, products, and services. + AWARDS

ARE ALL THE FILMS IN COMPETITION?

To participate to the competition, a film must be at least a NY Premiere. All the films though, are eligible for the Audience Award. BFF offers an Audience Award in every category.

WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK OR COMMENTS ON MY FILM?

NO. Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, we are unable to provide feedback on all film submissions. However, after the festival is over, filmmakers can contact the festival office to requests feedback. BFF does not offer feedback about films that have been withdrawn from submissions.

HOW MANY FILMS DO YOU ACCEPT IN THE FESTIVAL?

For the 2024 edition the festival’s film lineup will include roughly 150 films.

SCREENING FORMATS FOR SELECTED FILMS:

The Festival will request from the selected filmmakers a copy of the film as APPLE PRO RES 422 (1920X1080). We accept both NTSC and PAL. Also we accept .MOV H.264 video file encoded at 15-30 Mbps. The festival in 2024 will supports both Surround Sound 5.1 and Stereo Sound.

ARE THERE ANY TIME RESTRICTIONS?

Narrative Features must be no less than 50 minutes, Narrative Short films no longer than 50 minutes. Documentary Features must be no less than 50 minutes, Documentary Shorts no longer than 50 minutes. Animation and Experimental categories have no time restrictions.

CAN I RELEASE MY FILM THEATRICALLY OR ON BROADCAST TELEVISION BEFORE THE FESTIVAL?

Entries cannot have a theatrical run (commercial release) or be broadcast (TV) anywhere in the US, or be posted online by a film distributor who owns the film rights before the last day of the festival. Previous screenings at other film festivals, as well as private, industry, and press screenings are OK. If the film is posted online by a filmmaker who still owns the film’s rights, we kindly request to remove/hide it from public view up until the last day of the upcoming festival. Although the “New York Premiere” status is not mandatory to be selected by the festival, it is required to enter BFF’s Competition.

CAN I SUBMIT MY FILM IF PREVIOUSLY SCREENED AT OTHER FESTIVALS?

Yes. There is no maximum number of festivals at which the film may be screened however the “New York Premiere” status is required to be selected for the BFF competition.

ARE THERE ANY LIMITS ON THE FILM’S AGE?

BFF accepts only films that are no older than 2 years.

I SUBMITTED MY FILM LAST YEAR BUT IT WAS NOT SELECTED. CAN I RESUBMIT MY FILM?

We allow it, but we don’t encourage it. A film may be resubmitted more than once if it has been worked on in the last year.

WHAT IS THE SHIPPING ADDRESS FOR PACKAGES?

Mail your complete submission packages to:
Brooklyn Film Festival
180 South 4th Street, Suite 2 South
Brooklyn, New York, 11211 – USA

CAN I SUBMIT A WORK-IN-PROGRESS OR “ROUGH CUT”?

Filmmakers might submit a Work-in-progress only if the film is scheduled to be completed at least one month before the beginning of the festival (end of April). Please list which elements of your film are missing.


AGREEMENT WITH BFF

I grant BFF, its festival director, and its sponsors the full and free right and permission to use up to five minutes of my ENTRY for broadcast, duplication, and advertising in association with BFF, for the purpose of viewing on television, in theaters, on the internet, on the BFF website, on sponsors’ websites, podcasting and/or for archival purposes and for any other valid, lawful purpose in any and all media now known or hereafter developed or devised, worldwide and in perpetuity. I may opt-out from any future use by providing a thirty day written notice after the final date of the festival, that my ENTRY may no longer be used. A copy of ENTRY may still be kept for archival purposes.

I hereby release, discharge and agree to hold harmless BFF, its officers, agencies employees and sponsors, and Brooklyn Film Festival, agencies and employees, from and against any liability as a result of any use, distortion, blurring or alteration that may occur or be introduced in any use or broadcast of the material.

I grant BFF permission to give a copy of the ENTRY to industry members if requested. Industry, includes but is not limited to network executives, agents, managers, casting directors, press and others that can aid in securing of future work and/or distribution for my ENTRY.

I waive any and all rights to compensation for any broadcast, duplication, and advertising of any ENTRY presented at the festival. All ownership of all ENTRY remains with the personnel who contributed to the ENTRY. I own all material submitted with application and that will be viewed at BFF. I understand that BFF, its producers and sponsors are relying on this release and accordingly, I hereby irrevocably waive any and all rights to seek or obtain any injunction or other equitable relief against BFF, its officers, agencies, employees, and sponsors.

I warrant that the use of the rights granted here and of any material supplied by me/us will not violate the rights of any third party. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless BFF, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors from any claims by third parties alleging that our content material infringes on any third party’s rights. This Release and Hold Harmless Agreement shall bind my assigns and any representative.

This contract is the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and replaces and supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, verbal or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment, addendum, modification or waiver of this contract or any portion hereof shall be valid unless contained in a writing signed by both parties hereto.

In exchange for release, I receive the opportunity to have my ENTRY shown at BFF and accept that there is no promise of additional payment, in any form for likeness, image, biography, recording, equipment, or for any other contribution by us on this production.

This contract shall be deemed to be entered into in Kings County, New York, and shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of NY applicable to agreements entered into and carried out entirely within NY. I agree that any and all disputes or controversies arising under this contract or any of its terms shall be resolved under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association, under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, through its NY office; provided, however that I agree that my remedies for any breach of this contract by the Brooklyn Film Festival, its officers, agencies, employees and sponsors will be limited to damages to an action at law to recover and in no event will I be entitled to rescind or terminate this agreement or to seek injunctive or any other equitable relief.

I hereby certify that I am over eighteen years of age and competent to contract in my own name. If I am signing on behalf of an organization, I certify that I have authority to do so and that my signature binds the organization and its members to all elements of this contract.

I have read the foregoing release and authorization and agreement, and warrant that I fully understand the contents thereof.

I am authorized to give consent for everyone (including but not limited to performers, writers, directors, technical crew, distributors who contributed to all ENTRY(IES) and all materials submitted with this application to the Brooklyn Film Festival.

We reserve the right to refuse to consider any submission at our discretion.


Submission deadlines for the (next) 2024 edition are:

Early-bird Feature Narrative and Feature Doc: October 31, 2023
Early-bird Short Narrative, Short Doc, Experimental, Animation: November 30, 2023
Regular: January 5, 2024
Advanced: January 31, 2024
Late: February 25, 2024
Extended: March 13, 2024