Happy 2024: Join BFF's Mission for New Film and Media Center!

Dear BFF Community

As we come to the end of an eventful 2023, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and excitement. Your support has been the driving force behind our progress, and I'm eager to lead the BFF into an even more dynamic 2024. Looking ahead, I'm most excited about our big mission to build a Film and Media Center in Bushwick as a permanent foundation for our festival. This new facility will not only house our offices but also include a screening room, a dedicated media center for classes, and production facilities for films, TV shows, and podcasts. Our goal is to create an inclusive environment that empowers emerging storytellers with the necessary resources to thrive in the film and media industry, while also enriching our community and expanding our reach. 

We're currently fundraising and collaborating with architects and theater planners to make this vision a reality. However, I know the only way this project can be realized is through a community effort, so I ask for your support and participation. We’ve created a support page where you can donate, join our planning and action committee, or just stay up to date with the progress. At any point throughout this process, you are welcome to join the mission!  

In addition to this big mission, below I’ve included some exciting updates and milestones. Thanks to your support, we've welcomed our 1,000th filmmaker this year, we're hiring a part-time sales and marketing manager to advance our vision, we've launched a Film Festival Strategy Class on Teachable and the BFF Podcast, and the 17th Annual Bushwick Film Festival will be accepting submissions in January.

As we step into 2024, I am grateful for your continued support and am excited to see what we can accomplish together. I hope this year has brought you transformative lessons and memorable experiences that will propel you into a prosperous and fulfilling new year! Thank you again for being a part of our story! 

With love and gratitude, 

Kweighbaye 

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Huge Milestone: 1000 Filmmakers!

This year, we reached a significant milestone by welcoming our 1,000th filmmaker. This achievement reflects not only our growth but also the diversity of stories we've brought to our audiences. To celebrate the creativity and spirit of our festival community, we're introducing a new tradition - the BFF Yearbook. Check out our first edition to connect with these talented filmmakers. We're also finalizing our film festival database, which will include all 1,068 filmmakers dating back to 2007. Stay tuned for more updates!

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We're Growing: Now Hiring!

We're excited to announce that we're hiring a Part-Time Sales and Marketing Manager to help us drive our mission forward. If you're passionate about film, marketing, and sales, we'd love to have you join our team. Email info@bushwickfilmfestival.com for more information!

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New Launch: Film Festival Strategy Class on Teachable

We're thrilled to unveil our new Film Festival Strategy Masterclass, now available on Teachable. This course, based on a successful masterclass taught in South America with Bolivia Lab, offers a step-by-step strategy to help filmmakers enhance their chances of success at film festivals. Whether you're a starting or an experienced filmmaker, this course is an essential asset for anyone who wants to have a successful festival run and advance in the industry. Check out our class on Teachable today!

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New Launch: BFF Podcast!

We're also excited to launch the Bushwick Film Festival Podcast, a platform for in-depth discussions on film and TV's most pressing topics. Tune in to our first episode, where industry leaders explore the evolving role of AI in filmmaking. Our second episode delves into the economic impacts of recent strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild–AFTRA. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes!

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17th Annual Bushwick Film Festival: Submissions Open January!

Mark your calendars: the 17th Annual Bushwick Film Festival will begin accepting submissions on January 15! We'll feature around 100 films, over 30 screenings, and special events including the opening night pink carpet, movie conferences, awards ceremony, and the return of our popular filmmaker happy hour. Stay tuned for the announcement of our 2024 theme and help us spread the word - the submission window opens soon!