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ANTONIO REYNOSO TH COUNCIL MEMBER, 34 DISTRICT, BROOKLYN & QUEENS
October 10, 2018
It is an honor to welcome you to this year’s 11th Annual Bushwick Film Festival. After a decade full of incredible screenings and moments that are unique to Bushwick, the festival is as committed as ever to its passion for sharing stories with a distinct point of view. As the years go by, I grow no less grateful that I can attend the festival as the Council Member representing this great community. Thank you all for letting me watch with you.
For over a decade now, Bushwick has been a creative haven where residents and artists from all over the world have honed their artistic skills. The inaugural Bushwick Stories workshop has been an important part of this legacy, by providing student filmmakers with the resources to grow artistically and share their voices with the community. This is an exciting development, and I look forward to seeing the work that these young directors have created.
Without the festival, we might not be seeing these valuable pieces of art. The program is also emblematic of what makes BFF one of Brooklyn’s most influential cinematic events. Over the course of the festival, we will experience filmmakers from not only Bushwick and the five boroughs of NY, but also dozens of countries around the world. Included in those films you find stories of joy, love, friendship, the community as well as films that deal with the imminent social tensions of today. Today, screening films that represent the strength and unification that foster diversity is paramount.
Finally, I would like to recognize BFF founder Kweighbaye Kotee for being a leading voice in the arts community in Bushwick and her team who have continuously made BFF a success over the past 11 years. Of course, I must also shoutout the filmmakers: their works are eclectic and topical, and audiences will be able to dream away, draw inspiration, and discover themselves in stories that reflect them and their challenges, in the way that only film can.
Welcome to the 11th Annual Bushwick Film Festival
Sincerely,
Antonio Reynoso Council Member, 34th District
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Founded in 2007, The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) is a leading independent film and media company in Brooklyn. The festival is hailed as one of Brooklyn’s most influential cinematic events for its contribution to the borough’s artistic, cultural, and economic growth. The festival attracts film and entertainment industry leaders at national and international levels; and showcases films created by the best and most diverse emerging independent filmmakers in Brooklyn and worldwide. BFF provides a platform for emerging filmmakers to share their stories and provides spaces for audiences from all backgrounds to connect and discover new independent movies and experience unique cultural events. Having made difficult choices while curating a record breaking 1,300 submissions, the Bushwick Film Festival is now thrilled to present the 100 best films of 2018 to you!
MEET THE TEAM
KWEIGHBAYE KOTEE TILO ZINGLER JOSEPH VASSILY NATHALIE THOMAS AMY CHANG Founder & CEO Director of WILLWERTH Marketing & Production Copy Editor Marketing Director of Coordinator Programming
DERRICK BEANIE BARNES TEDDY CHELSEA TAYLOR CHEN ZENG CAMERON Feature Film COLLATOS Feature Film Short Film Feature Film Programmer Feature Film Programmer Programmer Programmer Programmer
2018 VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS
Aaron Abeccha Melissa Romeo Adrianna Redhair Miguel Posada Alex Williams Jake Prince JAMES BOO DIONNA MATT GILL Short Film MCMILLIAN Programming Amber Suzor Raginee Nath Programmer Short Film Assistant Cafega Haynes-Ro- Sammy Robison Programmer driguez Samuel Lynch Christine Nguyen Steph Shober 2018 PRE-SCREENERS Cody Noble Tavia Cummings Dante Fresse Tiffany Ruiz Carrie Radigan Aurora Alänge Dwanet Perry Tiy Hampton Savannah Magruder Liliana Tandon Harris Awan Victoria Suyas Anaiis Cisco Nancy Asiamah-Yeboah Hayat Aljowaily Will Tarry Kira Boden-Gologorsky Rachel Garber Cole Jamie Lynn Perritt Zayin Allen Kevin D’Angelo Raul Rubio Kye’Asia Pluck Teresa Lu Matthew Gonzalez THE 11TH ANNUAL TABLE OF BUSHWICK FILM FESTIVAL WOULD LIKE TO CONTENTS
THANK ITS SPONSORS WELCOME 2 AND PARTNERS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL 4 SPONSORS & PARTNERS 6 RISING STAR AWARD 8 PROGRAM SCHEDULE 10 - 13 JURY 14 SPECIAL EVENTS 16 PANELS 17 NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS 18 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS 19 SHORT FILM PROGRAMS 20 - 23 RISING STAR AWARD
STEFON BRISTOL is a film obsessive, something that the mentors he encountered during his time at NYU immediately noticed. One of those mentors, Mr. Spike Lee, even served as an Executive Producer on Stefon’s forthcom- ing debut feature, See You Yesterday, an evolution of his visceral short of the same name. That short was made as a graduate thesis project partially financed by the 2016 Spike Lee Production Grant, going on to premiere here at Bushwick Film Festival in 2017. The short exists in the present tense, using sci-fi as a tool for communicating issues that are, for some, political, but personal for the filmmaker.
Many people in the U.S. haven’t tried to put themselves in the shoes of those who have lost their loved ones due to unnecessary police violence, and the beauty of science-fiction is that it allows us to simultaneously escape from and ground ourselves in reality. The beauty of Stefon is the way he uses the inventive pursuits of his characters and tactful use of SFX to create a world that is disguised as unlike our own. It has been a crazy journey since See You Yesterday was awarded an honorable mention for Best Short Film here at BFF just 1 year ago: distribution by HBO, a job on BlacKkKlansman, the completion of principal photography on his first feature film… Still, Stefon’s candor and humanism are honestly what we find most awe-inspiring about him. See You Yesterday (the feature) was shot in Brooklyn, right around where Stefon grew up, and he has already set himself apart from other young film-nerd direc- tors by having a natural talent for working with child-actors. This year, we celebrate a star who has risen, but who lets the work talk for him. WEDNESDAYWEDNESDAY THURSDAYTHURSDAY THURSDAYTHURSDAY FRIDAYFRIDAY FRIDAYFRIDAY SATURDAYSATURDAY
3:30PM 3:30PM ONE BEDROOMONE BEDROOM RT: 1 hr, 25 minRT: 1 Q&Ahr, 25 min Q&A
5:30PM5:30PM 5:30PM 5:30PM SEAMANSEAMAN AND 207 AND 207 DOUBLE BILL:DOUBLE A DAY BILL: A DAY 5:45PM 5:45PM 6:00PM6:00PM RED CARPET RED CARPETRT: 1 hr, RT:20 1min hr, 20 min WITH MARTHAWITH MARTHA/ WIKI / WIKI VICTORIOUSVICTORIOUS OPENINGOPENING @ HOY @ HOY Q&A Q&A 6:30PM -6:30PM 8:30PM - 8:30PM RT: 1 hr, 10RT: min 1 hr, Q&A 10 min Q&A RT: 1 hr, 45 RT:min 1 Q&Ahr, 45 min Q&A INDUSTRYINDUSTRY MIXER MIXER 8:00PM8:00PM OPENING OPENING FILM FILM PRESENTEDPRESENTED BY BY BUSHWICKBUSHWICK BEATS BEATS 7:40PM7:40PM UPNORTHUPNORTH 7:30PM 7:30PM Q&A Q&A DIE BESTEDIE ALLER BESTE ALLER *INVITE ONLY**INVITE ONLY* ARE YOUARE GLAD YOU I M GLAD I M8:00PM - 9:30PM8:00PM - 9:30PM WELTENWELTEN (THE BEST (THE OF BEST OF HERE HERE FILMMAKERFILMMAKER PARTY @ PARTY8:20PM @ 8:20PM PRESENTEDPRESENTED BY BY ALL WORLDS)ALL WORLDS) RT: 1 hr, 25RT: min 1 hr, Q&A 25 min Q&ATHE ROOKERYTHE ROOKERY SHORTS: THESHORTS: GANG S THE GANG S SPECTRUMSPECTRUM RT: 1 hr, RT:45 1min hr, 45 min *INVITE ONLY**INVITE ONLY* HERE HERE RT: 1 hr, 25 minRT: 1 Q&Ahr, 25 min Q&A
10:05PM10:05PM 10:00PM10:00PM 9:45PM 9:45PM 10:00PM10:00PM AFTER PARTYAFTER PARTY LOST IN APOCALYPSELOST IN APOCALYPSE SAVAGESAVAGE YOUTH YOUTH KARAOKEKARAOKE NIGHT @ NIGHT @ 10:35PM 10:35PM @ LOT @45 LOT 45 RT: 1 hr, 30RT: min 1 hr, Q&A 30 min Q&A UPNORTHUPNORTH (SANGE I SOLEN)(SANGE I SOLEN) RT: 1 hr, RT:40 1min hr, 40 min MIXMAGMIXMAG SONGS IN SONGSTHE SUN IN THE SUN ALL STARALL DJS STAR DJS RT: 1 hr, 10 minRT: 1 hr, 10 min 12:00AM 12:00AM PRESENTEDPRESENTED BY BY SHORTS: SHORTS: 12:15AM 12:15AM BRUGALBRUGAL 1888 1888 MIDNIGHTMIDNIGHT PEEP SHOW PEEP SHOW SHORTS BLOCK:SHORTS AFTER BLOCK: AFTER PARTIDAPARTIDA TEQUILA TEQUILA RT: 1 hr, 15RT: min 1 hr, Q&A 15 min Q&A MIDNIGHT MIDNIGHT RT: 1 hr, 10 minRT: 1Q&A hr, 10 min Q&A
GO TO WWW.BUSHWICKFILMFESTIVAL.COMGO TO WWW.BUSHWICKFILMFESTIVAL.COM CHEMISTRYCHEMISTRY CREATIVE CREATIVE - 305 Ten - 305 Eyck Ten St, Eyck Brooklyn, St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 NY 11206 HOUSEHOUSE OF YES OF -YES 2 Wyckoff - 2 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn,Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 THE ROOKERYTHE ROOKERY - 425 Troutman - 425 Troutman St, Brooklyn, St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 LOT LOT45 - 45411 -Troutman 411 Troutman St, Brooklyn, St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 UPNORTHUPNORTH - 17 Wyckoff - 17 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 SYNDICATEDSYNDICATED - 40 -Bogart 40 Bogart St, Brooklyn St, Brooklyn NY 11206 NY 11206 BRAVENBRAVEN - 52 Harrison - 52 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 LIGHTSPACELIGHTSPACE STUDIOS STUDIOS - 130 -Thames 130 Thames Street, Street, Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY NY FINE ANDFINE RAW AND CHOCOLATE RAW CHOCOLATE - 288 Seigel - 288 Street, Seigel BK, Street, 11206 BK, 11206 SATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAYSUNDAY SUNDAYSUNDAY SUNDAYSUNDAY SUNDAYSUN. SUN.
12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM 12:00PM SHORTS: SEASHORTS: CHANGE SEA PANEL:CHANGE BLOCKCHAINPANEL: & BLOCKCHAIN & SHORTS: ALLIES: WORLDSHORTS: THEALLIES: ORGANIZER WORLD THESCREEN ORGANIZER SCREEN RT: 1 hr, 15 minRT: 1 hr, 15 minTHE FUTURE OF ARTSTHE FUTURE & ENT. OF ARTS & ENT. CINEMA CINEMART: 1 hr, 45 min RT:PLAY 1 hr, 45 min PLAY RT: 1 hr, 35 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 35 min Q&A READING READING @ @ 1:30PM 1:30PM PRESENTED PRESENTED PANEL: WOMENPANEL: IN FILM WOMEN IN FILM BY BY 2:00PM 2:00PM FINE & RAW FINE & RAW & TV & TV ANISSA 2002 ANISSA 2002 CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE 2:35PM 2:35PM RT: 50 min Q&A RT: 50 min Q&A 2:45PM 2:45PM SHORTS: FEMALESHORTS: FEMALE 2:40PM 2:40PM MY NAME IS MY NAME IS CINEMATOGRAPHERCINEMATOGRAPHER3:10PM 3:10PM SHORTS: YOU, THE SHORTS: MYEISHAYOU, THE MYEISHA STRANGER STRANGER RT: 1 hr, 15 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 15 minPANEL: Q&A 3 ARTSPANEL: ENT. 3 ARTS ENT. RT: 1 hr, 25 min RT: 1 hr, 25 min 3:30PM 3:30PM RT: 1 hr, 25 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 25 min Q&A 4:00PM - 5:00PM4:00PM - 5:00PM BUSHWICK BUSHWICK FILMMAKER FILMMAKERHAPPY HAPPY HOMECOMINGS-HOMECOMINGS- HOUR HOUR THE RECORD THE RECORD PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BRAVEN BY BRAVEN 4:55PM 4:55PM RT: 1 hr, 35 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 35 min Q&A 5:10PM 5:10PM *INVITE ONLY**INVITE ONLY* 5:00PM - 7:00PM5:00PM - 7:00PM SHORTS: PA LANTESHORTS: PA LANTE SHORTS: SHORTS: (ONWARDS, FORWARDS)(ONWARDS, FORWARDS)PERSPECTIVA PERSPECTIVALATINA LATINA 5:45PM 5:45PM PANEL & RECEPTIONPANEL & RECEPTION BUSHWICK STORIESBUSHWICKOH STORIES ME OH MY OH ME OH MY RT: 1 hr, 25 minRT: Q&A1 hr, 25 min Q&A 5:55PM 5:55PM RT: 1 hr, 25 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 25RT: min 1 hr, Q&A 30 min RT: 1 hr, 30 min PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BYSHORTS: SHORTS: Q&A Q&A MY PAINTBRUSH BITESMY PAINTBRUSH BITES PARTIDA TEQUILAPARTIDA TEQUILA PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY RT: 1 hr, 15 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 15 minB&H Q&A PHOTO & VIDEOB&H PHOTO & VIDEO 7:25PM 7:25PM 7:40PM 7:40PM 7:40 7:40 7:30PM 7:30PM SHORTS: FEARSHORTS: OF A FEAR OF A 8:00PM 8:00PM AWARDS + CLOSINGAWARDS + CLOSINGAWARDS AWARDS DON’T BE NICEDON’T BE NICE SCREENINGS SCREENINGS BLACK PLANETBLACK PLANET BUSHWICK BEATSBUSHWICKRECEPTION BEATS RECEPTION RT: 1 hr, 15 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 15 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 35 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 35 min Q&A ALL SHORT FILM ALL SHORT FILM RT: 1 hr, 25 min Q&ART: 1 hr, 25 min Q&A CATEGORIES CATEGORIES PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY BROOKLYN FIRE PROOFBROOKLYN FIRE PROOF 2018 2018 9:30PM 9:30PM 10:10PM 10:10PM 10:00PM 10:00PM SHORTS: FILMSSHORTS: SHOT FILMSWEB SHOT SERIES/NEW WEB MEDIA SERIES/NEW MEDIA JOIN US ATJOIN HOT US AT HOTON FILM ON FILM RT: 1 hr, 10 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 10 min Q&A THANK YOU THANKFOR ATTENDING! YOU FOR ATTENDING! RABBIT! A MONTHLYRABBIT! A MONTHLYRT: 1 hr, 10 minRT: Q&A 1 hr, 10 min Q&A LGBTQ+ DANCELGBTQ+ DANCE PARTY @ LOT45!PARTY @ LOT45!
CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRYCREATIVE - 305CREATIVE Ten Eyck - 305 St, Brooklyn,Ten Eyck NYSt, 11206Brooklyn, NY 11206 HOUSE HOUSEOF YES -OF 2 YESWyckoff - 2 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 THE ROOKERYTHE - ROOKERY425 Troutman - 425 St, TroutmanBrooklyn, NYSt, Brooklyn,11237 NY 11237 LOT 45 LOT- 411 45Troutman - 411 Troutman St, Brooklyn, St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 NY 11237 UPNORTH - 17UPNORTH Wyckoff - Ave,17 Wyckoff Brooklyn, Ave, NY Brooklyn,11237 NY 11237 SYNDICATEDSYNDICATED - 40 Bogart - 40 St, Bogart Brooklyn St, Brooklyn NY 11206 NY 11206 BRAVEN - 52BRAVEN Harrison - 52Pl, Brooklyn,Harrison Pl,NY Brooklyn, 11237 NY 11237 LIGHTSPACELIGHTSPACE STUDIOS STUDIOS - 130 Thames - 130 Street,Thames Brooklyn, Street, Brooklyn,NY FINE NY AND RAWFINE CHOCOLATE AND RAW CHOCOLATE - 288 Seigel Street,- 288 Seigel BK, 11206 Street, BK, 11206 MEET OUR JURY
JURY: NARRATIVE FEATURES
DANA GILLS ROTIMI PAUL Lionsgate Actor
BILGE EBIRI GRAHAM FINE Film Critic Film Sales Company
CATHERINE CURTIN Actress
JURY: DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
KRISTEN FITZPATRICK MAT LEVY Women Make Movies Passion River
SOLA FASEHUN DANIEL CANTAGALLO United Talent Agency Cargo Film & Releasing
JURY: SHORT FILMS & WEB SERIES/NEW MEDIA
AIJAH KEITH JEFF SEELBACH Acquisitions Manager, Director, Non-Fiction IFC Films Programming, Topic Studios
GABRIELLE NADIG ELAINE DEL VALLE Beachside Producer, Writer, Actress SPECIAL EVENTS PANELS BLOCKCHAIN AND THE FUTURE OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OPENING NIGHT PARTY @ LOT 45 SCREENPLAY READING Saturday, October 13, 12:00 PM Chemistry Creative, 305 Ten Eyck St, Wednesday, October 10, 10:00 PM @ FINE & RAW CHOCOLATE Brooklyn, NY 11206 Lot 45, 411 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 Sunday, October 14, 12:00 PM FINE & RAW Chocolate, 288 Seigel St, *Panel will feature a screening of the short film, NEO NOW: A New Art Period, directed by Cheers to 11 Years of the Bushwick Film Festi- Brooklyn, NY 11206 Jordan Hollender and Jason Tanaka Blaney. Blockchain is a tech buzzword that is popping val! Come celebrate with us and Brugal 1888 up everywhere. The blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize every industry - at Bushwick’s hottest venue, Lot 45! Live DJ Come join us at FINE & RAW for a screenplay including film, arts & entertainment. Hear from blockchain specialists and artists who are using sets by MixMag All-Stars with DJ Day-Cart and reading of two upcoming works: Mtume blockchain technology for their art and are paving the way for future artists. David Marston. Gant’s, I Don’t Live Today, an expressionistic Panelists: drama about a disillusioned black visual artist, Rah Crawford, Visual Artist + Creative Pioneer INDUSTRY MIXER @ UPNORTH and Wild Cry Ha, a vigilante thriller from Cath- Manuela Seve, CEO & Co-Founder, Alpha’a inc Thursday, October 11, 6:30 PM erine Fordham. Enjoy delicious chocolate, Kana Hatakeyama, Japan Content Manager, SingularDTV UpNorth, 17 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 coffee specials, and stay for questions with G. Thomas Esmay, Director of Business Development, SingularDTV the filmmakers after the reading. Moderator: Matthew Nacier, Portfolio Director, Iconiq Lab Don’t miss this special opportunity to network with top NYC industry professionals and BFF BUSHWICK STORIES - WOMEN IN FILM & TV filmmakers! PRESENTED BY B&H PHOTO Saturday, October 13, 1:30 PM Chemistry Creative, 305 Ten Eyck St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 Sunday, October 14, 5:45 PM FILMMAKER KARAOKE @ UPNORTH LightSpace Studios New York, 2018 has been a landmark year for bringing the male toxicity of the film & TV industry to light, Thursday, October 11, 10:00 PM 130 Thames St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 turning it into an issue that was impossible for anyone to ignore. Moving forward, we need to UpNorth, 17 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237 celebrate and empower women on screen and behind the camera and equip ourselves with With the support of B&H Photo - the official the tools to progress and harvest safe spaces for creating. Join us for a powerful conversation Join us for a night of singing and screlting Community Sponsor of The Bushwick Film with 4 leading women in Film & TV. at UpNorth. Don’t be shy, you can ask your Festival, and Canon, Bushwick Film Festival favorite director to do a duet. supplied professional resources to 15 young Panelists: Catherine Curtin, Actress, Orange is the New Black, Insecure, Homeland local storytellers and aided them in filming Sola Fasehun, United Talent Agency their own unique take on the neighborhood. Quinn Shephard, Director, Blame FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR They created five amazing short documenta- Dena Tyler, Actress, The Path @ THE ROOKERY ries reflecting their perspective and what mat- Moderator: Kweighbaye Kotee, Founder & CEO, Bushwick Film Festival Friday, October 12, 8:00 PM ters to them. Take a glimpse at some exciting The Rookery, 425 Troutman St, new talent and celebrate Bushwick by joining Brooklyn, NY 11237 us for the world premiere of Bushwick Stories, 3 ARTS ENTERTAINMENT PANEL followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Saturday, October 13, 3:10 PM Chemistry Creative, 305 Ten Eyck St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 Come stretch your legs at The Rookery and enjoy happy hour, appetizers, and Partida AWARDS CEREMONY It is almost impossible to understand how exactly 3 Arts Entertainment has been responsible Tequila cocktails. & CLOSING RECEPTION for so many hits: It’s Always Sunny, The Mindy Project, Parks and Rec-- so many critical darlings: Sunday, October 14, 7:30 PM A Scanner Darkly, Girl Interrupted, and so many top notch clients: too many to mention. FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR LightSpace Studios New York, Come listen to Will Rowbotham, Richard Abate, and Cara Masline talk about what they look @ BRAVEN BREWING COMPANY 130 Thames St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 for in a project-- and maybe even share a secret or two. Saturday, October 13, 4:00 PM Another year of BFF comes to a close, and Panelists: Braven Brewing Company, Will Rowbotham, Manager & Producer, 3 Arts Entertainment 52 Harrison Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11237 the filmmakers and creators behind the work Richard Abate, Literary Agent, 3 Arts Entertainment you have seen this week deserve a standing Cara Masline, Comedy Manager, 3 Arts Entertainment Let’s celebrate how amazing it is to be a film- ovation. Join us for a lovely send off with the Moderator: Aaron Watkins maker! Enjoy a few Braven’s and 1888 Brugal announcements of award winners and a cocktails as well as appetizers. small reception. PERSPECTIVA LATINA PANEL & RECEPTION - PRESENTED BY PARTIDA TEQUILA HOT RABBIT LGBTQ + DANCE PARTY Saturday, October 13, 5:00 PM @ LOT 45 Chemistry Creative, 305 Ten Eyck St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 Saturday, October 13, 10:00 PM Join us for a conversation with leading Latino voices in Film, TV, and Entertainment: Doris Casap, Lot 45, 411 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237 Elaine Del Valle, Hilary Bettis, Karina Ortiz, and Manuel Betancourt. Reception to follow courtesy of Partida Tequila. It’s Saturday night in Bushwick and the 11th Annual BFF ain’t over yet. Join us at Hot Rab- Panelists: bit, a monthly LGBTQ + Dance party! Doris Casap, Sr. Vice President, Film Programming, HBO Elaine Del Valle, Producer, Writer, Actress Hilary Bettis, Writer, The Americans Karina Ortiz, Actress, Orange is the New Black Moderator: Manuel Betancourt, VICE NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS
BUSHWICK BEATS ONE BEDROOM SEAMAN AND 207 VICTORIOUS *East Coast Premiere Darien Sills-Evans *Brooklyn Premiere *World Premiere A. Sayeeda Moreno, USA, 83 min, Comedy, Sophia Tewa Robert Mac James Pink, Chloe Sarbib, Romance, USA, 78 min, Documentary USA, 103 min, Documentary, Brian Shoaf, Sonejuhi Sinha, African-American Thursday, 10/11 Sports Anu Valia Saturday, 10/13 5:30 PM at Syndicated Bar Saturday, 10/13 USA, 84 min, 3:30 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen 5:45 PM at Syndicated Bar Romance, Drama Theater Kitchen Theater Kitchen Wednesday, 10/10 7:30 PM at House of Yes ------Additional Screening: Sunday, 10/14 8:00 PM at Syndicated {DOUBLE BILL} Bar Theater Kitchen *Wiki + A Day With Martha will screen together
DIE BESTE ALLER WELTEN SANGE I SOLEN WIKI - *New York Premiere DON’T BE NICE (THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS) (SONGS IN THE SUN) Veronica Andersson *Brooklyn Premiere Adrian Goiginger *East Coast Premiere Poland, 30 min, Narrative, Max Powers Austria, 103 min, Kristian Sejrbo Lidegaard Coming of Age, Drama USA, 96 min, Documentary, Coming of Age, Drama Denmark, 70 min, Thriller, Friday, 10/12 Slam Poetry Thursday, 10/11 Arthouse, 5:30 PM at Syndicated Bar Saturday, 10/13 7:40 PM at Syndicated Bar Dark Comedy Theater Kitchen 7:40 PM at Chemistry Creative Theater Kitchen Saturday, 10/13 10:35 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen
SAVAGE YOUTH MY NAME IS MYEISHA A DAY WITH MARTHA THE ORGANIZER *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere Michael Curtis Johnson Gus Krieger Josh Ethan Johnson Nick Taylor USA, 98 min, Drama USA, 82 min, Drama, USA, 40 min, Documentary USA, 105 min, Thursday, 10/11 Coming of Age Friday, 10/12 Documentary, Political 10:05 PM at Syndicated Bar Sunday, 10/14 5:30 PM at Syndicated Bar Sunday, 10/14 Theater Kitchen 2:45 PM at Chemistry Creative Theater Kitchen 12:00 PM at Chemistry Creative
ARE YOU GLAD I’M HERE ANISSA 2002 BUSHWICK Noor Gharzeddine *Brooklyn Premiere HOMECOMINGS Lebanon, 85 min, Fabienne Facco - THE RECORD Drama, Crime France, 48 min, Coming of Age *World Premiere Friday, 10/12 Sunday, 10/14 Stefanie Joshua 7:30 PM at Syndicated Bar 2:00 PM at Syndicated Bar USA, 96 min, Documentary Theater Kitchen Theater Kitchen Sunday, 10/14 3:30 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen
LOST IN APOCALYPSE *New York Premiere Sky Wang China, 89 min, Horror, Action, Thriller Friday, 10/12 9:45 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: MIDNIGHT PEEP SHOW SHORT FILMS: SEA CHANGE Saturday, 10/13 *Midnight Screening Saturday, 10/13 12:00 AM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen, 75 min 12:00 PM at LightSpace Studios (130 Thames St), 75 min
There is something that seems permanent about the way we Other-ize films that are No one really grows up when they are a kid, there is no magic moment where scary, uncomfortable, and violent. If something is twisted, it is automatically dis- you suddenly wake up and you are new. Instead, growing up is an infinite series of tanced and deemed as a lesser, grosser piece of art. The films here are examples almost-invisible moments of minute change. Here we learn with elderly men, a pair of warped perspectives, but they are nonetheless challenging and rewarding works of siblings who have recently been minted adults, and young cats who can’t meow. of art. Since Curtis Harrington, Ed Wood, and others of their ilk were pushed to the Coming out of these films won’t make you fresh or new, but they might give you the fringes in the adolescence of talky cinema, the weird has been a necessary outlet opportunity to think about the little changes you might have missed. for exploring the issues the mainstream distances itself from everyday: sexual identity, workplace harassment, assault, incest. Tonight’s films carry on in that most noble frowned-upon tradition.
BLACK DOG MOTHER FUCKER RED FLOWER KIKO *Brooklyn Premiere Nicholas Payne Santos Stella Rosen *World Premiere Joshua Tuthill USA, Dark Comedy USA, Animation Jamil Munoz USA, Animation USA, Sci-Fi
QUEEN KONG BENNIFER TAKE ME OUT HOW I GOT TO Monica Stambrini Ryan McGlade Italy, Arthouse USA, Mystery WITH THE STARS THE MOON BY *Brooklyn Premiere SUBWAY Tess Elliot *North American Premiere USA, Drama Tyler Rabinowitz USA, LGBTQ
THE SHIT! (An Opera) SWEETIE IRON HANDS ねこ の ひ (CAT DAYS) *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere Johnson Cheng *Brooklyn Premiere Kevin Rios Miaosi Li China, Sports Jon Frickey USA, Sex-Comedy, LGBTQ USA, Experimental Japan, Animation
BROKEN BUNNY *New York Premiere Meredith Hama-Brown Canada, Coming of Age SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: FEMALE CINEMATOGRAPHER SHORT FILMS: PA’LANTE (ONWARDS, FORWARDS) Saturday, 10/13 Saturday, 10/13 2:35 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 75 min 4:55 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 85 min
This year saw filmmakers and film lovers throwing a welcome stone through the glass So many filmmakers today distance themselves from from questions of politic; be- ceiling of the Hollywood boys club. Rachel Morrison made history as the first wom- cause of necessity, or privilege, or fear. Others imbue every story they have with the an to be recognized and nominated for an Academy Award for cinematography urgency and verité of a political forum. Many of the films here follow people looking (continuing on to capture Wakanda in all its glory for Black Panther), Uma Thurman for dreams: refugees, abandoned children; all of these films courageously refuse opened up about the abuse she faced on and off the set of Kill Bill, and millions to show us the actual dreams, giving us only faces of infant-like discombobulated of (men’s) eyes finally opened up. Here, we follow in Rachel Morrison and the Film hope, waiting. Society at Lincoln Center’s footsteps and showcase the work of female cinematog- raphers. The range here: from the dream-like held shots of birds on the Caroni River (Caroni) to the voyeuristic aspect ratio peeping on workplace gender dynamics in Sweetie, shows no limits— just disruptions and possibilities.
SWEETIE CHANDLER ABU ADNAN FOR A BETTER LIFE Miaosi Li Brooklyn Premiere *New York Premiere USA, Experimental Julia Kennelly (ADNAN’S FATHER) Yasmin Mistry Sylvia Le Fanu USA, Coming of Age USA, Animation Denmark, Drama, Coming of Age
OCTOBER CROSS MY HEART PA’LANTE SECOND ASSAULT New York Premiere Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere Maegan Mann Sontenish Myers Kristian Mercado Figueroa Jillian Corsie & Amy Rosner USA, LGBTQ Jamaica, Drama Puerto Rico, USA, Music Video USA, Documentary
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT CINEMATOGRAPHER GENTRIFICATION BREATHE New York Premiere World Premiere *New York Premiere Courtney Powell Demi Waldron EXPRESS: BREAKING Aisha Ford USA, Drama, Political USA, Documentary DOWN THE BQX USA, Drama, 16mm Samantha Farinella & Amanda Katz USA, Documentary
CARONI New York Premiere Ian Harnarine Trinidad & USA, Magical Realism SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET SHORT FILMS: THE GANG’S HERE Saturday, 10/13 Saturday, 10/13 7:25 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 75 min 8:20 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen, 90 min
*This block is curated by award winning filmmaker, Donaldo Prescod, who will also Everyone survives with the help of the little rituals they put together to keep some- moderate the Q&A. thing the same, day after day. Growing as a person has a lot to do with realizing when a ritual goes rotten. Here, a man gets drunk and picks a bitter vicious one-sid- There is rich territory beyond the rinse and repeat landscape of the Hollywood we ed fight with an innocent bar-goer every weekend (What’s Your Number). As explo- have endured for more than a century. A Black Planet is on the rise and it captures sive as it is ingrained in his personhood, he shows no signs of stopping. On the other a world in which artists of color have individual artistic dreams they want to achieve, side of the coin, a group of elderly practicing Jews gather every week for Shabbat roles they want to play, while fulfilling the social responsibility that plague their dias- at a local Wendy’s. They too, have no intention of giving it up, and it is a vital nugget pora. These are stories of gentrification and displacement, growing up, discovering of adventure that society tries so hard to rob from people their age. Celebration and yourself on vacation, and love, LOVE, LOVE. There are also white zombies, swarming destruction have a complicated relationship, and the films here keep this tension in pigeons, and a man swimming through the air to Marvin Gaye’s trans-historic groove. their crosshairs. The possibilities are endless, freeing, infinite.
DESERT STORM JITTERS STRANGERS AT NIGHT WENDY’S SHABBAT *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere Joshua Raymond Lee Otoja Abit Ian M. Adelson Rachel Myers USA, Coming of Age USA, Romance, LGBTQ USA, New York Story USA, Documentary
NIGHT CALL ROOFTOP REFUGE CORONADOS ALPHA SQUADRON Amanda Renee Knox *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere USA, Crime Andrew Leibman (CROWNED) Michael Litwak *North American Premiere USA, Sci-Fi USA, Documentary Josefina Alen & Abril Lucini Argentina, Documentary, Sports
OTHER MAKE ME GREAT LIGHT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH *New York Premiere *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere Xavier Burgin WANNA HOLLER Tony Oswald Brendan Gilliam *World Premiere USA, Drama, Comedy USA, Family Drama USA, Documentary Erica Eng USA, Dance, Music Video
HAIR WOLF WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER Mariama Diallo *NY Premiere USA, Horror, Comedy David Duque-Estrada & James Tison USA, Comedy SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: FILMS SHOT ON FILM WEB SERIES/NEW MEDIA Saturday, 10/13 Saturday, 10/13 9:30 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 70 min 10:10 PM at Chemistry Creative, 75 min
We love Tangerine as much as the next fest, but there is still something magical The home movie has come a long way since portable video cameras became about films shot on film. The patience and knowledge-set that the process requires commonplace in the 80s and 90s. Today, artists are getting together with their friends is almost counter-intuitive to the quick-twitch insta-lives we all live today. 16mm or and creating diverse multi-layered work. In this series we spotlight profiles of artists 35mm, any kind, gives a film the wear of a movie that has already been lived in, an who otherwise may not have gotten one, gentrification comedies, and brassy tone older wiser expression. Here, there are stories with an obviously classic narrative feel, poems that defy almost all description. Though disguised as a new medium, the like Breathe, as well as stories unlike much of what has been explored on film-stock, web series has its roots in the Super 8 feeling, and sits here as an intersection be- frantic multi-headed beasts, such as Little Bill’s Peep Show. tween the ancient, the old, and the new.
DO MORE OF WHAT THE SHUTTLE UNDONE BROOKLYNIFICATION *New York Premiere *New York Premiere Keith Miller MAKES YOU HAPPY Lu Han Lili Lopez USA, Comedy *New York Premiere USA, Super 16mm USA, Docu-series Dakota Pailes-Friedman, Dylan Pailes-Friedman USA, Super 16mm
LIRA’S FOREST TO BE FREE WEATHERING KYNNSTLAH *New York Premiere Adepero Oduye *Brooklyn Premiere Connor Jessup USA, 35mm THE STORM Sandra Bertalanffy *New York Premiere Canada, 35mm & Joel Fendelman Clara Ritger USA, Docu-series USA, Op-Doc
LITTLE BILL’S PEEP SHOW BREATHE BARELY ADULTS WEAR I’M FROM *Brooklyn Premiere *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *World Premiere Kevin Rios Aisha Ford Christine Sanders Erica Eng USA, Super 16mm USA, 16mm USA, Drama, Comedy USA, Docu-series
MAMA, MAMA BEAM ME UP *World Premiere *World Premiere Jose Fernando Rodriguez Matthew Charof Puerto Rico, 16mm USA, Comedy SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: AFTER MIDNIGHT SHORT FILMS: ALLIES: WORLD CINEMA Sunday, 10/14 Sunday, 10/14 12:15 AM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen, 70 min 12:00 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 95 min
There is something that seems permanent about the way we Other-ize films that Even in this climate, cinema knows no boundaries, leaping over every physical are scary, uncomfortable, and violent. If something is twisted, it is automatically barrier that is devised to separate people and perspectives from each other. The distanced and deemed as a lesser, grosser piece of art. The films here are exam- directors featured in this block hail from three continents, six countries, and are just a ples of warped perspectives, but they are nonetheless challenging and rewarding brief survey of international cinema today. Their films tackle a range of universal sub- works of Art. Since Curtis Harrington, Ed Wood, and others of their ilk were pushed to jects: grief, fatherhood, elevator rendezvous, and sex dolls; all of them contribute to the fringes in the adolescence of talky cinema, the weird has been a necessary cinema’s greatest gift: like magic, both sharpening and expanding our perspective. outlet for exploring the issues the mainstream distances itself from everyday: sexual identity, race, assault, incest. Tonight’s films carry on in that most noble frowned-upon tradition.
WELCOME TO THE SHIT! (AN OPERA) BABS STILL WATER *New York Premiere Celine Held BUSHWICK Kevin Rios & Logan George RUNS DEEP Henry Jinings *Brooklyn Premiere USA, Sex-Comedy, LGBTQ United Kingdom, USA, Romance Abbesi Akhamie Drama Nigeria, Drama
HAIR WOLF MOTHER FUCKER CÁLLATE NIÑA Mariama Diallo Nicholas Santos USA, Horror, Comedy USA, Dark Comedy, Family (WEEKEND) (STAY QUIET) Vahid Bemani *North American Premiere Iran, Arthouse Victoria Linares Villegas Dominican Republic, Romance, LGBTQ
QUEEN KONG BENNIFER OKAASAN (MOM) VALET NOIR Monica Stambrini Ryan McGlade Kana Hatakeyama Italy, Arthouse USA, Mystery, Family Japan, Drama (BLACKJACK) *New York Premiere Lora Mure-Ravaud Switzerland, Romance SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: YOU, THE STRANGER SHORT FILMS: OH ME OH MY Sunday, 10/14 Sunday, 10/14 2:40 PM at LightSpace Studios New York (130 Thames St), 85 min 5:10 PM at Chemistry Creative, 90min
Do you feel alone? Never? Well, then you should probably go lie somewhere else. Falling in love is the easiest way to make yourself look like an idiot. Whether platonic, The films in this block deal with some of the scariest human phenomenon imag- maternal, or romantic, eternal or ticking like a time bomb, love blooms with fresh inable: strutting across the stage delivering your darkness while everyone laughs; challenges every day. In part, these films disrupt the way we generally see love in sitting alone in the house, dreaming about feeling like an invader; surpassing the film: young, cis-gendered, and white. Here we meet ancient artists for whom verbal responsibility you have for losing your closest friend… There are tears to be had here, communication is already a ghost, a trans woman who is anxious that her cis partner to be sure, but there are also moments of true joy and empathy that only the most is nostalgic for their heteronormative presenting past, and an exciting new project intimate narrative investigations can bring to the surface. penned by Alexander Dinelaris Jr. that has the same kind of tactful but wacky ap- proach to love as a little known project that he co-wrote: Birdman or (The Unexpect- ed Virtue of Ignorance). Oh me, oh my, you know that I’m crazy baby.
CONTROL KUDZU THE DRESS YOU FUCK’D LIKE A STAR *Brooklyn Premiere *New York Premiere Stefani Saintonge Kimmy Gatewood Connor Simpson HAVE ON Haiti & USA, Experimental *New York Premiere USA, Dark Comedy USA, Drama Courtney Hope Therond USA, Drama
ALLEN ANDERS - WILLOW CREEK FUNERAL LAD *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere LIVE AT THE COMEDY ROAD Leah Shore Sasawat Loesrit *Brooklyn Premiere USA, Animation USA, Fantasy CASTLE (CIRCA 1987) Francesca Mirabella Laura Moss USA, Arthouse USA, Comedy, Experimental
COLE JESSICA PROXY MY SUN. MY MOON *New York Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *Brooklyn Premiere *New York Premiere David Call Jessica Kingdon Eric Schuman Shaya Mulcahy USA, Drama USA, Drama USA, Coming of Age USA, Drama
YOUR RESOURCES OLEG *World Premiere *North American Premiere Will Arbery Boris Krichevsky USA, Sci-Fi & Alexander A. Brodsky Russia, Documentary SHORT FILMS
SHORT FILMS: MY PAINTBRUSH BITES: SHORT FILMS: AWARD WINNING SHORTS FILMS ABOUT ARTISTS Sunday, 10/14 Sunday, 10/14 7:40 PM at Chemistry Creative, 75 min 5:55 PM at Syndicated Bar Theater Kitchen, 75 min We save the best for last! Watch the best BFF short films all in one award-winning Loving art is hard, but making a living on loving it is harder. These six films, from Oscar block. Be guaranteed that these films will be challenging and worthy of your nominees, Tisch faculty members, trailblazers, and independents have one thing in attention and praise. Come be surprised and celebrate the end of another common: an intangible fascination with how great art is made. In 2018, the way we great festival with the films our jury deemed their favorite. obsess over artists is (finally) changing. Nina Simone, Lou Reed, Jack Whitten, T. Berry and Metro the Horse present a variety of foundations on which Boy Genius mounts its critique of auteur-ship and isolated creation. Here, a conversation begins when the credits roll.
TO BE FREE THE WORLD’S GREATEST Adepero Oduye USA, Music STORYTELLER *Brooklyn Premiere Horatio Baltz USA, Documentary
BOY GENIUS THE VELVET *New York Premiere Becca Roth UNDERGROUND USA, Comedy PLAYED MY HIGH SCHOOL Tony C. Jannelli & Robert Pietri USA, Animation
MY PAINTBRUSH BITES JACK WHITTEN: *New York Premiere AN ARTIST’S LIFE Joel Pincosy & Joe Egender *Brooklyn Premiere USA, Documentary Ian Forster USA, Documentary nu hotel
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This summer, Bushwick Film Festival’s community partner B&H Photo with Canon, collaborated with BFF to develop a 5-day workshop for 15 young local storytellers. With the support of professional producers, students were given the tools to develop their stories into a short documentary. We are proud to present the premier of their films at a community screening followed by a Q&A on Sunday, October 14th, 5:45pm at LightSpace Studios. The screening is free for all attendees. Please RSVP at the link below.
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