Yes, Thanksgiving was last week BUT it's never too late to be thankful for all the great things that happened this year in the wonderful world of The Bushwick Film Festival.
The number one thing we were thankful for this year was the exoneration of Bushwick native David McCallum on Wednesday, Oct. 15th. David was wrongly accused for the murder of Nathan Brenner and spent 29 years in prison. He was the subject of the Documentary David & Me which screened at the 2014 BFF. Through this documentary, filmmakers Ray Klonsky and Marc Lamy joined the mission, along with a long list of supporters, to help set David Free. Then it happened!
Have you read the The Status of Women in the U.S. Media in 2014 report created by the Women's Media Center? It's embarrassing. Out of the 250 top-grossing domestically made films of 2013, women accounted for a measly 16 percent of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors.
As a woman owned festival, each year we host a women in film & TV panel centered around successful and ambition women who have opened doors, inspired, and continue to be leaders.
This year we were so thankful for the four amazing women who sat on our panel. These women included:
Maya Jakubowicz - Finance & Administrative Director, Women Make Movies
Race relations in America right now are BONKERS. That's why we love and appreciate creators who don't tiptoe around the issue AND drag it out kicking and screaming. That said, we are thankful for Writer/Director Diarra Kilpatrick for creating the 2014 #Bushwickfilmfest web series selection American Koko.
Diarra is a true BFF. She served as a jury in 2013 and also sat on our Women In Film Panel that same year. This year she graced our screens with this bold new web series, American Koko, and is currently a writer on NBC's The Mysteries of Laura.
This year roughly 170 people contributed to the success of the 2014 Bushwick Film Festival. That number includes filmmakers, staff, volunteers, jury, web series directors, advisors, panelists, new media artist, speakers, teachers, venues, sponsors and partners, donors, artist and photographers.We are thankfulfor them all.
BUT, we have an extra special place in our hearts for our filmmakers and volunteers. Please take a moment to watch this compilation of festival films which is the brainchild of one of our superstar volunteer Zach Alexander!
Last but not least, we'd like to give thanks to Katarina Kocses, the founder of Bushwick's very own online magazine dedicated to reporting the neighborhood, Bushwick Daily. Bushwick Daily has been our local media sponsor for the past two years. It is Bushwick Built and run so all the more reason to donate to their fundraising campaign...AMIRITE. After all, if the local businesses don't thrive then we can just say good-bye to this charming little village we call home.
