19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival Announces 2026 Theme: “Make Time for Your Dreams”

Returning October 7–11, 2026, the festival celebrates the time, courage, and commitment it takes to turn an idea into something real.

BROOKLYN, NY — July 7, 2026 — The Bushwick Film Festival has announced the official theme for its 19th annual edition: Make Time for Your Dreams. Taking place October 7–11, 2026, the festival will bring together filmmakers, artists, industry professionals, and audiences for five days of independent film, conversations, special events, and community programming.

This year’s theme is a reminder that creative work requires intention, patience, and care. Dreams often grow after work, late at night, or between everyday responsibilities. Make Time for Your Dreams celebrates the courage to protect those moments and turn ideas into something real.

The theme also speaks to anyone carrying a dream. Whether starting a creative project, building a business, learning a new skill, or returning to an idea once set aside, even small amounts of consistent time can lead to meaningful progress.

For filmmakers, that commitment may mean writing a few pages after a long day, editing late at night, gathering a small team, submitting a first film, or continuing to believe in a story when the path forward is uncertain.

“Creative dreams rarely happen all at once,” said Kweighbaye Kotee, Founder and Director of the Bushwick Film Festival. “They grow when we make space for them and keep showing up. With this year’s theme, we want to celebrate the filmmakers and artists who stay committed to their ideas while encouraging others to make room for the dreams that matter to them.”

The 2026 festival artwork, designed by BFF alumnus and animator Peter Ahern, reflects the spirit of the theme. Set in Bushwick at night, it features a cat playing with a strand of yarn shaped like a film strip, evoking the quiet, playful beginnings of a creative idea.

Founded in 2007, the Bushwick Film Festival has spent nearly two decades supporting emerging and underrepresented filmmakers from Brooklyn and around the world. Each year, the festival showcases independent films while creating opportunities for meaningful conversation, industry connection, and community engagement.

The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival will feature screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panels, networking events, and special activations throughout Bushwick and Brooklyn. Official selections, programming announcements, special events, and ticket information will be released in the coming months.