The Bushwick Film Festival announced an expanded call for entries for its 19th annual event, set to take place in October in Brooklyn. The upcoming edition introduces animation and podcasting as new competitive categories, marking a significant step in the festival’s ongoing effort to support storytelling across a broader range of formats.
Dedicated juries will be assembled to evaluate these new categories, placing emerging animators and audio creators alongside filmmakers working in documentary, narrative and episodic forms.
Following the March 31 regular deadline, filmmakers will have until May 31 for the extended deadline and June 30 for final submissions. A limited number of discount codes are available for alumni, local filmmakers, former volunteers and students, along with fee waivers for applicants in countries facing payment restrictions due to political or economic sanctions.
Known for spotlighting bold, original voices, the festival continues to position itself as a platform for rising talent while strengthening connections between creators, audiences and industry professionals.
“Great stories come from everywhere and every filmmaker who walks through our doors reminds me why we started the festival,” said Kweighbaye Kotee, founder and director of the Bushwick Film Festival.
Each year, the event draws more than 5,000 attendees and features close to 100 films from New York City and around the world. Beyond screenings, the festival offers a slate of master classes, networking opportunities, artist showcases and community-centered programming that reflects the creative energy of Brooklyn.
Over the years, the festival has served as an early stage for a wide range of acclaimed filmmakers and storytellers. Its alumni include Academy Award winners and nominees, Emmy recipients and Sundance honorees such as Kahlil Joseph, Kit Zauhar, Shaka King, Karishma Dube, Issa Rae, Jessica Kingdon, Nikyatu Jusu, Kitty Green, A.V. Rockwell, Sami Khan, Katori Hall, Raven Jackson and Diarra Kilpatrick.
Their work spans film, television and multimedia storytelling, underscoring the festival’s reputation as a launchpad for emerging and established voices alike.
Kotee emphasized the festival’s mission to create access and opportunity for filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. The expansion into animation and podcasts reflects a recognition of the evolving media landscape, where storytelling increasingly extends beyond traditional film formats. By widening its scope, the festival aims to meet creators where they are while offering audiences new ways to engage with compelling narratives.
Participants benefit from the opportunity to premiere their work before engaged audiences, press, and industry insiders, while also joining a global creative network rooted in Brooklyn. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of jurors drawn from leading media organizations and the broader entertainment industry, with awards presented across multiple categories, including film, episodic content, short screenplays and the newly added animation and podcast divisions.
Past jurors have included representatives from major outlets and studios such as Variety, The New York Times, HBO, YouTube, Lionsgate, Condé Nast Entertainment, Nickelodeon, VICE, POV on PBS, Vimeo, ESPN and IFC Films.
Click here for more information on how to submit your film.
