Our Mission
The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival is the flagship indie film event of Brooklyn.
Founded in 2011, AoBFF is the ONLY international, independent festival in the world exclusively devoted to Brooklyn’s vibrant film and media scene. We accept work from all over the world, as long as it's connected to the borough in some way (e.g. cast/crew, production, content, theme, setting, etc.)
We are also the only indie film festival to build and program our own video-on-demand streaming platform: Brooklyn On Demand, where we broadcast festival favorites, original series and more, online and on a Roku channel with over 17,000 subscribers, alongside Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.
AoBFF is a creative hub, platform and showcase for independent film and media makers in Brooklyn and around the world. We partner with film distributors and media organizations, host world-class talkbacks, and create innovative programming for networking and skill building. And we screen in state-of-the-art theaters for enthusiastic audiences across Brooklyn.
We believe that film festivals exist for filmmakers, not the other way around.
About the festival
“The press coverage and accolades [AoBFF] granted us made [American Bomber] a ‘must see’ film that led to… a distribution deal with IndiePix Films. I could not have asked for a better World Premiere than Art of Brooklyn.” — Eric Trenkamp (Winner: Best Director 2013)
“AoBFF was truly one of the best film festivals I’ve ever attended. It was an honor to be part of such a fantastic festival that fostered a sense of community for its filmmakers. The curation was an immense cut above the rest.”
—Lexie Kanahovitz (Winner, Vanguard Award 2016 for Super Fun Show! With Learning)
“A great experience. The festival was well run by awesome people who clearly care about film and the people who make it. They curate a fantastic selection of films every year!
— Kat Vecchio (Director, ‘This Is How I Roll’ 2013 Official Selection)
‘I had a great time at AoBFF. As a filmmaker, I felt very supported by the festival. They were really organized and on top of everything from screening times to e-vites to marketing. I enjoyed the other films in my block, and the venue was great.’
— Bat-Sheva Guez, (Winner, Best Director 2016 for Behind The Wall)
“The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival rocks!! The directors, programmers, and the entire staff are true professionals! Submit to this fest.”
— Dave Chan (Producer, ‘What’s Eating Dad?’ 2015 Official Selection)
OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS:
We have enjoyed strategic partnerships with IFP, New York Women in Film and Television, The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, Prime Latino Media, film distributors BOND/360 and IndiePix films, Pratt Institute, ESPN Films, NBC Universal and LiveStream, among others.
OUR SPONSORS:
Our past and current sponsors include: Investors Bank, St. Francis College, Zype, Focus Camera, HBO and more.
OUR PRESS:
OUR ETHICAL SUBMISSION POLICY:
HOW WE SCREEN:
OUR PREMIERES:
We prefer to screen premieres, especially for features. It can be hard to decide where to premiere your film and we want to make a strong case for doing it with us. We have a great track record of opening films, garnering them press and industry attention with successful screenings... If ESPN Films trusted us to premiere the theatrical cut of Spike Lee’s 2 Fists Up, maybe you can too? We’re just saying.
THE AoBFF EXPERIENCE:
"It was great to premiere my film ‘Casual Encounters’ at AoBFF. We had a sold-out theater on Opening Night and wonderful experience overall. Our film went on to win the Best Feature award, gained momentum and is now playing several festivals."
– Will McCord (Director, ‘Casual Encounters,’ Winner: Best Feature 2013)
“The festival is run by filmmakers and people who love filmmakers. They understand the challenges of filmmaking and work hard to celebrate the finished product.”
— Jordan Thomas (Director, ‘Fort Greene,’ 2013 Official Selection)
“I love the AoBFF, it’s an amazing festival and its organizers are fiercely loyal to the integrity of their mission and the films they present. They're full-on rooting for the gutsy filmmaker.”
— Lisa Dowda (Producer, ‘How To Make Movies At Home,’ World Premiere 2013)
Founded in 2011, AoBFF is the ONLY international, independent festival in the world exclusively devoted to Brooklyn’s vibrant film and media scene. We accept work from all over the world, as long as it's connected to the borough in some way (e.g. cast/crew, production, content, theme, setting, etc.)
We are also the only indie film festival to build and program our own video-on-demand streaming platform: Brooklyn On Demand, where we broadcast festival favorites, original series and more, online and on a Roku channel with over 17,000 subscribers, alongside Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.
AoBFF is a creative hub, platform and showcase for independent film and media makers in Brooklyn and around the world. We partner with film distributors and media organizations, host world-class talkbacks, and create innovative programming for networking and skill building. And we screen in state-of-the-art theaters for enthusiastic audiences across Brooklyn.
We believe that film festivals exist for filmmakers, not the other way around.
About the festival
- In 2017 we opened with Kelly Reichhardt's 'Certain Women' and welcomed special guest Neil deGrasse Tyson.
- In 2016, we screened the premiere of the theatrical cut of Spike Lee’s new documentary ‘2 Fists Up’ through a partnership with ESPN Films.
- Our Official Selections Hunter&Game (2015) Lake Nowhere (2015), Lemon (2014), American Bomber (2013), Casual Encounters (2013) and You Bury Your Own (2012) all went on to get distribution.
- Our 2014 Best Animation winner ‘How You Doin’ Boy? Voicemails From Gran’pa’ was sold as a series to HBO Latino.
- We won a Brooklyn Innovation Award for Creative Group of the Year in 2015 for our leading-edge use of technology.
- We welcomed 2,000 guests to the 2016 AoBFF
“The press coverage and accolades [AoBFF] granted us made [American Bomber] a ‘must see’ film that led to… a distribution deal with IndiePix Films. I could not have asked for a better World Premiere than Art of Brooklyn.” — Eric Trenkamp (Winner: Best Director 2013)
“AoBFF was truly one of the best film festivals I’ve ever attended. It was an honor to be part of such a fantastic festival that fostered a sense of community for its filmmakers. The curation was an immense cut above the rest.”
—Lexie Kanahovitz (Winner, Vanguard Award 2016 for Super Fun Show! With Learning)
“A great experience. The festival was well run by awesome people who clearly care about film and the people who make it. They curate a fantastic selection of films every year!
— Kat Vecchio (Director, ‘This Is How I Roll’ 2013 Official Selection)
‘I had a great time at AoBFF. As a filmmaker, I felt very supported by the festival. They were really organized and on top of everything from screening times to e-vites to marketing. I enjoyed the other films in my block, and the venue was great.’
— Bat-Sheva Guez, (Winner, Best Director 2016 for Behind The Wall)
“The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival rocks!! The directors, programmers, and the entire staff are true professionals! Submit to this fest.”
— Dave Chan (Producer, ‘What’s Eating Dad?’ 2015 Official Selection)
OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS:
We have enjoyed strategic partnerships with IFP, New York Women in Film and Television, The NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, Prime Latino Media, film distributors BOND/360 and IndiePix films, Pratt Institute, ESPN Films, NBC Universal and LiveStream, among others.
OUR SPONSORS:
Our past and current sponsors include: Investors Bank, St. Francis College, Zype, Focus Camera, HBO and more.
OUR PRESS:
- ‘Pumping out groundbreaking content… AoBFF sets itself apart from the traditional Brooklyn film scene in so many ways.’ – Holly Thicknes, GIRLS ON FILM (London)
- ‘An indie gem that showcases the best of the borough…the festival has become a hub for the area’s indie film scene.' – INDUSTRY Magazine
- ‘For Brooklyn, by Brooklyn and about Brooklyn’ – The L Magazine
- We have been featured in Time Out NY, the New York Times, Filmmaker Magazine, and more. (see http://www.theartofbrooklyn.org/press.html for links)
OUR ETHICAL SUBMISSION POLICY:
- We watch every film submitted to us, right up until midnight of our extended deadline. And yes, we have programmed films we received on the last day of submissions!
- Our Film Selection Panel is a diverse group of industry professionals, and we choose a new Guest Festival Director each season, so that the AoBFF doesn’t reflect a single, static point of view.
- Only films that we receive through our submissions process are eligible for festival awards.
HOW WE SCREEN:
- Our main screening space is a 300-seat theater in Downtown Brooklyn. We also screen at a 280-seat auditorium in Bay Ridge, and a state-of-the-art 4K cinema in Clinton Hill, among others.
- Our Technical Director pre-screens every selection in advance, to ensure the best-quality version of your film screens for our audience.
- We only screen from digital files to ensure a high quality screening without the technical pitfalls that can accompany DVDs or Blu-Rays.
- Our projectionists always remain in the theater for every screening.
OUR PREMIERES:
We prefer to screen premieres, especially for features. It can be hard to decide where to premiere your film and we want to make a strong case for doing it with us. We have a great track record of opening films, garnering them press and industry attention with successful screenings... If ESPN Films trusted us to premiere the theatrical cut of Spike Lee’s 2 Fists Up, maybe you can too? We’re just saying.
THE AoBFF EXPERIENCE:
- We create opportunities to connect with your peers and industry at our world-class audience talkbacks, panels for networking and skill building, and our amazing Opening Night Party.
- We are aggressive about promoting our screenings to press and audience: We have over 4,000 Facebook fans and our promoted posts get over 10,000 views each.
- Your film’s festival run is an important part of its long-term marketing plan. We will partner with you to make the most of your AoBFF screening; before, during and after the festival. Premiering with us pays off!
- Our communication skills are legendary; you’ll always be in the loop.
- We produce broadcast quality interviews with AoBFF filmmakers that appear on our streaming platform Brooklyn On Demand (brooklynondemand.com), online and on Roku even after the festival ends.
- Our filmmakers love screening with us! See industry testimonials here: theartofbrooklyn.org/testimonials
"It was great to premiere my film ‘Casual Encounters’ at AoBFF. We had a sold-out theater on Opening Night and wonderful experience overall. Our film went on to win the Best Feature award, gained momentum and is now playing several festivals."
– Will McCord (Director, ‘Casual Encounters,’ Winner: Best Feature 2013)
“The festival is run by filmmakers and people who love filmmakers. They understand the challenges of filmmaking and work hard to celebrate the finished product.”
— Jordan Thomas (Director, ‘Fort Greene,’ 2013 Official Selection)
“I love the AoBFF, it’s an amazing festival and its organizers are fiercely loyal to the integrity of their mission and the films they present. They're full-on rooting for the gutsy filmmaker.”
— Lisa Dowda (Producer, ‘How To Make Movies At Home,’ World Premiere 2013)
The AoBFF team
CO-FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: JOSEPH SHAHADI
Joseph Shahadi has had a long nonprofit career, notably at the W.T. Grant Foundation, The Green Circle Program and the World Game Institute. Most recently he was Festival Coordinator for the DUMBO Dance Festival, where he curated and produced its first ever site-specific works, staged along the Brooklyn waterfront. Joseph also served on the DUMBO Dance Festival Board of Directors. He earned a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University where he was awarded the Corrigan Doctoral Fellowship and the Performance Studies Award. He contributed a chapter to the book Doomed By Hope: Essays on the Theatre and his scholarship appears in TDR (The Drama Review), the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism—in a special section he also co-edited—and the Journal of the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. Joseph is also a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist, director and dramaturg. He makes live art, photographs, video, installations and works on paper. His work appears in several private collections and has been exhibited in New York, regionally in the United States and internationally in Europe.
Joseph Shahadi has had a long nonprofit career, notably at the W.T. Grant Foundation, The Green Circle Program and the World Game Institute. Most recently he was Festival Coordinator for the DUMBO Dance Festival, where he curated and produced its first ever site-specific works, staged along the Brooklyn waterfront. Joseph also served on the DUMBO Dance Festival Board of Directors. He earned a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from New York University where he was awarded the Corrigan Doctoral Fellowship and the Performance Studies Award. He contributed a chapter to the book Doomed By Hope: Essays on the Theatre and his scholarship appears in TDR (The Drama Review), the Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism—in a special section he also co-edited—and the Journal of the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. Joseph is also a Brooklyn-based interdisciplinary artist, director and dramaturg. He makes live art, photographs, video, installations and works on paper. His work appears in several private collections and has been exhibited in New York, regionally in the United States and internationally in Europe.
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR (2018): VICTORIA NEGRI
Victoria Negri is an award-winning writer/director/producer/actress. Her feature directorial debut, Gold Star, which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, features Oscar nominated actor Robert Vaughn in his last on-screen performance. The film has gone on to win five awards on the festival circuit, including two Audience Awards, Best Feature Film Award, the Lisa Blount Memorial Award for Acting at the Oxford Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Curtin at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival. Gold Star was selected by incubator Big Vision Empty Wallet as an Inaugural Kickstart Diversity Film. Additionally, Victoria has directed and produced numerous short films, music videos and webseries featured at the Lower East Side Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival, Cucalorus, Nitehawk Shorts Festival and more. She’s acted in award-winning features, shorts and webseries featured at: Cinequest Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, Tribeca and more. Always a cinephile, Victoria is serving as Guest Director of the 2018 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and a programmer on the 2019 Oxford Film Festival. Additionally, Victoria has written pieces on filmmaking for NoFilmSchool, BtchFlicks, Women and Hollywood, and The Talkhouse. She is a proud member of The Film Fatales, NYWIFT and The FilmShop.
Victoria Negri is an award-winning writer/director/producer/actress. Her feature directorial debut, Gold Star, which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in, features Oscar nominated actor Robert Vaughn in his last on-screen performance. The film has gone on to win five awards on the festival circuit, including two Audience Awards, Best Feature Film Award, the Lisa Blount Memorial Award for Acting at the Oxford Film Festival, and Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Curtin at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival. Gold Star was selected by incubator Big Vision Empty Wallet as an Inaugural Kickstart Diversity Film. Additionally, Victoria has directed and produced numerous short films, music videos and webseries featured at the Lower East Side Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival, Cucalorus, Nitehawk Shorts Festival and more. She’s acted in award-winning features, shorts and webseries featured at: Cinequest Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand, Tribeca and more. Always a cinephile, Victoria is serving as Guest Director of the 2018 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and a programmer on the 2019 Oxford Film Festival. Additionally, Victoria has written pieces on filmmaking for NoFilmSchool, BtchFlicks, Women and Hollywood, and The Talkhouse. She is a proud member of The Film Fatales, NYWIFT and The FilmShop.
CO-FOUNDER/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: ANTHONY DeVITO
Anthony DeVito has over 20 years experience in the world of advertising and marketing as an art director, copywriter and creative director, working at some of NYC's top ad agencies on campaigns for television, print, interactive and social media.
Anthony creates and evolves all Branding efforts for AoBFF. He created He is also a SAG-AFTRA actor, comedian, and a native Brooklynite. Acting credits include 2017 Slamdance Audience Favorite Future '38, House of Cards, NBC's The Mysteries of Laura and Blindspot, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Rescue Me with Denis Leary on F/X, NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins, independent films and national commercials.
Anthony DeVito has over 20 years experience in the world of advertising and marketing as an art director, copywriter and creative director, working at some of NYC's top ad agencies on campaigns for television, print, interactive and social media.
Anthony creates and evolves all Branding efforts for AoBFF. He created He is also a SAG-AFTRA actor, comedian, and a native Brooklynite. Acting credits include 2017 Slamdance Audience Favorite Future '38, House of Cards, NBC's The Mysteries of Laura and Blindspot, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Rescue Me with Denis Leary on F/X, NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Best Week Ever with Paul F. Tompkins, independent films and national commercials.
The AoBFF Board
DUSTIN WILLAMS
Dustin Williams is a Brooklyn-based independent film producer. After graduating from The New York Film Academy in 2007, he created his production company 2x4 Productions, LLC, with the goal of becoming a recognized force in the industry. The company began by making short films and music videos before producing their first feature film “Second Chance” in 2014. The film made its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival and went on to win multiple awards in the festival circuit from Boston, Massachusetts to to Nice, France and was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Today, the company has multiple films in development including “Last Day” which is slated to begin shooting later this year in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dustin Williams is a Brooklyn-based independent film producer. After graduating from The New York Film Academy in 2007, he created his production company 2x4 Productions, LLC, with the goal of becoming a recognized force in the industry. The company began by making short films and music videos before producing their first feature film “Second Chance” in 2014. The film made its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival and went on to win multiple awards in the festival circuit from Boston, Massachusetts to to Nice, France and was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Today, the company has multiple films in development including “Last Day” which is slated to begin shooting later this year in Atlanta, Georgia.
ROSALIND MURPHY
Rosalind Murphy is a Producer and Media Consultant for film, television, theater and art organizations. She specializes in Audience Development, Branded Entertainment and Partnership Development. Rosalind is on the board of New York Women in Film and TV and Vice President of Programming Committee. Rosalind co-produced SimonSays Entertainment Theater Workshop “Good Bread Alley’, film feature “Dope Fiend”, short fIlm “In Black and White" and marketing consultant on TV Pilot “Black Rose”. Rosalind received the Microsoft Diversity Inclusion Award for developing the innovative “Women Executive Passion Forum" for Fortune 500 Executives. Rosalind is a graduate of Old Dominion University with B.S. in Financial Management and Rutgers University with MBA in International Business and Consultancy Management.
Rosalind Murphy is a Producer and Media Consultant for film, television, theater and art organizations. She specializes in Audience Development, Branded Entertainment and Partnership Development. Rosalind is on the board of New York Women in Film and TV and Vice President of Programming Committee. Rosalind co-produced SimonSays Entertainment Theater Workshop “Good Bread Alley’, film feature “Dope Fiend”, short fIlm “In Black and White" and marketing consultant on TV Pilot “Black Rose”. Rosalind received the Microsoft Diversity Inclusion Award for developing the innovative “Women Executive Passion Forum" for Fortune 500 Executives. Rosalind is a graduate of Old Dominion University with B.S. in Financial Management and Rutgers University with MBA in International Business and Consultancy Management.
KEVIN CHRISTOFFERSEN
Kevin Christoffersen has been producing content internationally for two decades across four continents while living in five countries. Many of his social impact driven multi-media projects have aired on T.V. stations throughout the world featuring political leaders, famous athletes and many different public figures. While based in Geneva, Switzerland for 7 years as Executive Producer of World Television, Kevin managed large scale live event productions for Fortune 500 companies, United Nations agencies and NGO's. He headed up the Producers team at the World Economic Forum Davos conference where 70 live webcasts and broadcast tv news packages were produced over 5 days. Coinciding with his Producing, he ran the World Television studio continually developing new clients while managing an annual one-million dollar turnover. Currently Kevin is co-producing feature films from development into distribution through Legacy Pictures (LA / NYC). This involves structuring the financing deals, formulating legal agreements, arranging pre-sales commitments from distributors and bank loans. At the same time, he has been instrumental in hiring of all production personnel in addition to negotiating with A List talent agencies including UTA and CAA. Kevin’s continued focus includes establishing co-production agreements with Canada, European and Asian countries as Legacy’s slate of films expands globally. Attending the Berlin, Cannes, Tribeca and AFM film festivals has expanded his international network far and wide.
Kevin Christoffersen has been producing content internationally for two decades across four continents while living in five countries. Many of his social impact driven multi-media projects have aired on T.V. stations throughout the world featuring political leaders, famous athletes and many different public figures. While based in Geneva, Switzerland for 7 years as Executive Producer of World Television, Kevin managed large scale live event productions for Fortune 500 companies, United Nations agencies and NGO's. He headed up the Producers team at the World Economic Forum Davos conference where 70 live webcasts and broadcast tv news packages were produced over 5 days. Coinciding with his Producing, he ran the World Television studio continually developing new clients while managing an annual one-million dollar turnover. Currently Kevin is co-producing feature films from development into distribution through Legacy Pictures (LA / NYC). This involves structuring the financing deals, formulating legal agreements, arranging pre-sales commitments from distributors and bank loans. At the same time, he has been instrumental in hiring of all production personnel in addition to negotiating with A List talent agencies including UTA and CAA. Kevin’s continued focus includes establishing co-production agreements with Canada, European and Asian countries as Legacy’s slate of films expands globally. Attending the Berlin, Cannes, Tribeca and AFM film festivals has expanded his international network far and wide.
About The Art of Brooklyn
Founded in 2011, The Art of Brooklyn is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that curates a conversation between the new, Brooklyn-based art community, immigrants, transplants and those born and raised in the borough. We produce the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival and Brooklyn On Demand.
