Bushwick Film Festival Expands 2026 Call for Entries with New Competitive Animation and Podcast Categories
Submissions are now open, with a regular deadline of March 31
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (March 18, 2026) – The Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) today announced an expanded call for entries for its 19th annual festival, taking place Oct. 7–12, 2026, in Brooklyn, New York. This year’s edition introduces animation and podcasts as competitive categories, furthering the festival’s commitment to supporting innovative storytelling across multiple formats. To anchor these new additions, BFF will assemble dedicated juries to spotlight pioneering animators and audio storytellers alongside its established program of documentary, narrative, and episodic content. Filmmakers can submit their projects by March 31 for the regular deadline.
Recognized for championing bold storytelling, the festival continues its mission to elevate rising talent and connect filmmakers with audiences, industry leaders, and creative communities in one of New York City’s most influential cultural neighborhoods. Each year, BFF welcomes more than 5,000 attendees to experience nearly 100 films from New York City and around the world, alongside master classes, networking events, artist showcases, and community programming.
The festival has been a home to some of the most exciting voices in independent film, including Academy Award winners and nominees, Emmy winners, and Sundance honorees—among them Kahlil Joseph (Lemonade by Beyoncé), Kit Zauhar (Actual People), Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah), Karishma Dube (Devi), Issa Rae (Insecure), Jessica Kingdon (Ascension), Nikyatu Jusu (Nanny), Kitty Green (The Assistant), A.V. Rockwell (A Thousand and One), Sami Khan (The Last Out), Katori Hall (P-Valley), Raven Jackson (All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt), and Diarra Kilpatrick (Diarra from Detroit).
“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. “Our job is to give filmmakers a platform and audiences the opportunity to experience those stories, and we’re excited to keep expanding how we do that.”
BFF offers independent filmmakers the opportunity to premiere their work to engaged audiences, industry guests, and press, while becoming part of a global creative community rooted in Brooklyn. Films and projects are reviewed by a distinguished panel of jurors, with awards presented across film, episodic, short screenplay, and now animation and podcast categories.
Past BFF jurors have included representatives from leading organizations such as Variety, The New York Times, HBO, YouTube, Lionsgate, Condé Nast Entertainment, Nickelodeon, VICE, POV (PBS), Vimeo, ESPN, and IFC Films, as well as acclaimed artists and industry professionals including Malcolm Barrett (Average Joe, Timeless), Kaliswa Brewster (Billions, Duke & Roya), Crosby Fitzgerald (Palm Royale, Abbott Elementary), Catherine Curtin (Orange Is the New Black, Stranger Things), Shakira Barrera (GLOW, Ironheart), Clare O’Kane (Saturday Night Live), Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, When the Levees Broke), A.V. Rockwell (A Thousand and One), Shawn Christensen (Curfew), and Arturo Castro (Broad City, Narcos). Additional programming and jury announcements will be made in the coming months.
Submission Deadlines:
March 31, 2026 — Regular deadline
May 31, 2026 — Extended deadline
June 30, 2026 — Final deadline
BFF offers a limited number of discount codes for its alumni filmmakers, local filmmakers, former volunteers, and students, as well as waivers for filmmakers in countries subject to political or economic sanctions that prevent online payment.
For submission guidelines, fees, waiver eligibility, and additional FAQs, visit www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/submit
About the Bushwick Film Festival:
The Bushwick Film Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to discover emerging voices, share great stories, and build community through the power of film. As an MWBE organization, we are proud to be one of the few U.S. film festivals owned by women of color. With more than 1,000 annual submissions from over 60 countries, the festival draws 5,000 attendees and showcases nearly 100 independent films from New York City and around the world. BFF has been recognized by city and state elected officials for its contribution to Brooklyn’s cultural, artistic, and economic growth. With the support of its partners and sponsors, the festival continues to expand its free public programming and develop filmmaking initiatives designed to empower underrepresented storytellers in the Brooklyn community.
Press Contact:
Ronny Henry
press@bushwickfilmfestival.com