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BROOKLYN FILM SOCIETY INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 271893622 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A40 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · brooklynfilmfestival.org
revenue
$278K
expenses
$298K
net assets
$75K
employees
2
program ratio
89%
mission · from form 990

THE PURPOSE OR PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION IS FORMED ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) TO ADVANCE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS; 2) TO HOLD AN ANNUAL COMPETITIVE FILM FESTIVAL IN BROOKLYN, AND OTHER PERIODIC FILM SHOWCASES; 3) TO DRAW WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO BROOKLYN AS A CENTER FOR THE ARTS; 4) TO PROVIDE FILMMAKERS WITH A FORUM TO EXPOSE THEIR WORK TO PUBLIC; 5) TO ORGANIZE, SPONSOR AND PRESENT FORUMS, LECTURES, AND DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THE CREATION OF INDEPENDENT FILMS IN ORDER TO FOSTER A GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FILM ARTS BY THE PUBLIC; 6) TO CONDUCT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FILMMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF NEW EXISTING WORKS; 7) TO EXPAND THE RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE AND WILL BECOME THE HERITAGE OF BROOKLYNCITIZENS, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE RIGHTS OF ALL BROOKLYN RESIDENTS TO ACCESS AND EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING; 8) TO CELEBRATE BROOKLYN'S RICH RANGE OF ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL

profile · synthesized from sources

Brooklyn-based nonprofit that organizes an annual competitive film festival and periodic film showcases to promote independent filmmaking. The organization provides filmmakers with a public forum for their work, hosts lectures and discussions on film arts, and runs workshops for emerging filmmakers. It aims to increase public appreciation of film and highlight Brooklyn as a cultural hub.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Animation Program
Dedicated screening and competition program highlighting animated short films from emerging and established animators
Brooklyn Film Festival
Annual competitive film festival featuring independent films, including world premieres, with categories for narrative, documentary, and animated features and shorts
Forums and Discussions
Public lectures, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and industry professionals on topics related to independent filmmaking
Kids Film Fest
Youth-focused film program held in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, showcasing films made by and for children as part of the larger festival programming
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 3 activities
    • Facilitates public forums and discussions on independent film
      Organizes lectures, panel discussions, and public forums to promote public appreciation of independent film creation, including events integrated into the annual festival and BFF Exchange programming.
    • Hosts pitch competitions and professional development events for filmmakers
      Organizes the BFF Exchange and related pitch events, including semi-final and final pitch sessions, where emerging and student filmmakers present projects to industry professionals and judges. Includes networking receptions, panel discussions on fundraising, screenwriting, casting, and legal consultations, and has awarded guaranteed screening slots to winners such as Neha Aziz for _Wagah_.
    • Organizes and hosts an annual competitive film festival in Brooklyn
      Produces a 10-day hybrid film festival each June featuring approximately 140–155 films, including narrative features, documentaries, animated shorts, and world premieres, screened at venues such as BRIC Studios, 100 Sutton Studios, and Wythe Hotel, with online access available. The festival includes audience voting and awards approximately $50,000 in prizes through sponsor resources.
  • Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Awards prizes to film competition winners
      Distributes approximately $50,000 annually in cash, products, and film services to winners across multiple competition categories, including Audience Awards, Best in Category, and Grand Chameleon Award, with specific cash prizes such as $200 or $250 per category and post-production services valued at $8,000 awarded through sponsor resources.
  • Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
    • Conducts workshops and educational programs for filmmakers
      Offers classes, panel discussions, and professional development sessions on topics including screenwriting, crowdfunding, SAG contracts, and legal issues for independent filmmakers, including the “Lunching with Lawyers” program and Kickstarter strategy panels.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$278K
Contributions & grants$8K3%
Program service revenue$270K97%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$298K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$108K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$94K
Cash$75K
Investments$0
Liabilities$20K
Net assets$75K
Liquid reserves3.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -1.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • BENNET WILSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARCO URSINO — PRESIDENT
  • MARIO PEGORARO — VICE-PRESIDE
  • MATTHEW ROGERS — SECRETARY
  • SUSAN MACKELL — TREASURER
relationships · 52

Who they work with

  • 100 Sutton Studios Partner — Physical screening venue for the Brooklyn Film Festival in Greenpoint
  • AbelCine Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • BE ELECTRIC STUDIOS Partner — Provided a $10,000 rental credit prize for the Best Feature Narrative winner.
  • BLACKMAGIC DESIGN Partner — Partnered to provide URSA Cine camera rental prizes for Best Brooklyn Project and BFF Exchange winners.
  • BRIC Partner — Physical screening venue for the Brooklyn Film Festival in Fort Greene
  • BRIC Studios Partner — Venue partner hosting Brooklyn Film Festival programs in Fort Greene.
  • Bar Blondeau Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Be Electric Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Blue Table Post Partner — Collaborated with Blue Table Post to provide post-production services as part of the BFF Exchange Pitch Award.
  • Blue Table Post Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Bric Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Brooklyn Film Festival Network — Organizational entity presenting annual film festival and maintaining a film library.
  • CUNY TV Partner — Partnered to present coverage and programming related to the Brooklyn Film Festival.
  • Center for Fiction Partner — Partnered with the Center for Fiction to host the 2023 BFF Exchange event at their downtown Brooklyn facility.
  • Cinecall Soundtracks Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Cinelease Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Cinema Tropical Partner — Collaborated to highlight Latin American and Latinx stories during the festival.
  • Cinema Tropical Partner — Featured representative Carlos Gutierrez from Cinema Tropical on a panel discussing film financing models in the US and Mexico.
  • FACCIA BRUTTO Partner — Provided gifts to winners in the Best Short Documentary, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Feature Narrative categories.
  • Faccia Brutto Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema Partner — Hosted BFF Exchange events at its facility and provided venue support for programming.
  • Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema Partner — Hosts the BFF Exchange networking event
  • FilmFreeway Partner — Uses FilmFreeway as the exclusive online platform for film submissions and entry management.
  • FilmFreeway.com Partner — Platform used for paperless film submissions to the festival
  • Final Draft Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • G-Star Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Jack Studios Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
  • Kickstarter Partner — Collaborated with Kickstarter to host BFF Exchange events from 2017 to 2019 at their headquarters, including panels on crowdfunding and film financing.
  • Kino Lorber Partner — Involved Rodrigo Brandao from Kino Lorber as a panelist discussing independent film in the Americas during the 2017 BFF Exchange.
  • Lentini Communications Partner — Industry sponsor providing prizes for festival winners
+ 22 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Emerging Filmmaker Support Through Education and Competition
    methodology: filmmaker-support-through-competition-and-education
    By combining competitive opportunities, expert-led education, and mentorship, we increase the capacity and visibility of emerging filmmakers, because structured support at critical development stages enables sustainable creative careers.
  • Equity and Inclusion as Creative Infrastructure
    methodology: gender-equity-in-film
    By promoting gender equity and inclusive hiring practices in filmmaking, we improve representation both on and off screen, because systemic inclusion strengthens narrative diversity and expands opportunities within the independent film sector.
  • Public Forum for Independent Cinema
    methodology: public-forum-for-independent-cinema
    By creating a curated public forum for independent film, we increase public engagement with artistic excellence and creative freedom, because open access to diverse cinematic voices strengthens Brooklyn’s cultural ecosystem and global artistic reputation.
  • Thematic and Immersive Curation to Deepen Engagement
    methodology: thematic_curation
    By using thematic frameworks and immersive exhibition formats, we enhance audience connection to film, because curated, experiential storytelling transforms passive viewing into active cultural participation.