The Bushwick Film Festival crew has big plans for 2016

As the staff of the Bushwick Film Festival (BFF) reflect on the success of a tremendous 2015, they are excited for the prospect of an even bigger year this year.

The BFF experienced tremendous growth and achievement in 2015, highlighted by its first year-round programming. Last January and February, the BFF, with support from their partners, were able to bring affordable filmmaking workshops into Bushwick.

In October, the festival presented the eighth-annual Bushwick Film Festival at 10 different venues throughout Bushwick, Williamsburg, DUMBO and the Lower East Side. The four-day event opened at LightSpace Studios with a sold out, red-carpet screening of Wallabout and a performance by NBC’s The Sing-Off Traces.

The festival went on to offer a record number of 40 events, including screenings, industry mixers, a new media interactive day, parties, panels and workshops.

In early 2016, the BFF will be committed to working on two projects.

First, they have developed a new arts and culture fund called SPACE, in partnership with their sponsor Slate Property Group.

“This fund provides up to $10,000 in funding for art and cultural projects in North Brooklyn and is now accepting applications until January 24, 2016,” said Kweighbaye Kotee, BFF founder and director, in a statement.

Secondly, the BFF is moving into post-production for The Bushwick Diaries, a documentary about a colorful mix of residents in Bushwick who are in the midst of rapid change. The Bushwick Diaries was successfully funded on Kickstarter this past December.

The film festival will end the first quarter of 2016 by officially opening submissions to the 9th Annual Bushwick Film Festival on Mar. 1.

For more information on the SPACE fund, visit www.slateproperty.space.

To find out more about the Bushwick Diaries film and campaign visit www.thebushwickdiaries.com.