Gazer, written by Ariella Mastroianni (pictured) & Ryan J. Sloan
“Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at?” The celebrated Brooklyn Horror Film Festival has wrapped up, announcing its award winners yesterday. Standout features covered by HMU, including Gazer, Rita, The Dead Thing, and Bone Lake, took home honors. BHFF’s range of categories highlights the festival’s diversity, making sure there’s recognition for everyone. Check out the full list of winners from this year’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival below.
The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) has announced the jury awards and audience awards for its 2024 incarnation. The festival concluded on October 24, with The Rule of Jenny Pen as its closing night film.
DARK MATTER JURY AWARDS
Best Film - Dead Talents Society
Best Director - Sasha Rainbow, Grafted
Best Performance - Blu Hunt, The Dead Thing
Best Ensemble - Dead Talents Society
Best Screenplay - Jayro Bustamante, Rita
"Thank you to the jury members for the awards, especially the Best Ensemble award. That means so much to me and everyone in the cast. Thank you to Brooklyn Horror for your continued support since DETENTION." - John Hsu, dir. Dead Talents Society
HEAD TRIP JURY AWARDS
Dead Mail dir. Joe DeBoer, Kyle McConaghy
Best Film - Dead Mail
Best Director - Emma Benestan, Animale
Best Screenplay - Ariella Mastroianni and Ryan J. Sloan, Gazer
Best Actor - Zachary Ray Sherman, Who's Watching
Best Actress - Oulaya Amamra, Animale
Best Ensemble - Dead Mail
“The Brooklyn Horror Fest was one of our favorite experiences in the short life of this film. With great fans and an amazing programming team led by Joseph Hernandez — all in the heart of Brooklyn — it was truly a blast on all levels.
Our cast and crew are the heart of the film and endured a lot of subpar crafty, so we’re so grateful their amazing work is getting recognized by these awards.” - Kyle McConaghy and Joe DeBoer, dir. Dead Mail
SHORTS COMPETITION JURY AWARDS
Best Film - Femme
Best Director - Émile Lavoie, Mean Ends
Best Performances - Sophie Neff and Woody Coyote, Make Me a Pizza
Best Special FX/Makeup - Irene Uncal, Apotemnofilia
Best Screenplay - Grace Rex, The Shadow Wrangler
Best Production Design - Masha Lyass, Lady Parts
Best Editing - Jordan M. Hahn, Beach Logs Kill
Home Invasion Award (sponsored by Cut and Measure, includes a $1,500+ credit for post-production services) - Hammer
'We are so excited and incredibly honored to receive this award for FEMME, which despite its fantastic spin, is about issues that are so real for almost every woman in the world. It is amazing that it has been given such a beautiful stage at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival! Big thanks to the jury!' - Nina Noël Raaijmakers, dir. Femme
Hammer co-director Alejandra Parody
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Gold - Dead Talents Society
Silver - Somnium
Bronze - Bone Lake
LEVIATHAN AWARD
Presented by Arrow Video
The Leviathan Award, Brooklyn Horror’s first and only tribute award, was created in 2023 to honor the luminaries of horror and acknowledge their monstrous contributions to the genre.
Leviathan Award Winner Larry Fessenden w/ director Jenn Wexler
2024 honors went to the irreplaceable Larry Fessenden whose inspired filmmaking, cherished turns in front of the camera and impactful producorial work as the founder of Glass Eye Pix has helped shepherd and sustain indie horror in New York for three decades and counting. Larry Fessenden is exactly the kind of trailblazing and enduring artist we want to celebrate, one whose distinct mark on the industry and on countless filmmakers is undeniable.
2024 Brooklyn Horror Jury
Features, Dark Matter
Edoardo Vitaletti (Filmmaker, THE LAST THING MARY SAW)
Justin DiPietro (MPI, Executive Vice President)
Toby Poser (Filmmaker, WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS)
Features, Head Trip
Jenika McCrayer (Horror Press, writer)
Jim Brunzell (Dark Star Pictures, Director of Festivals)
Jacqueline Castel (Filmmaker, MY ANIMAL)
Shorts
Avery Coffey (Unbound and Rewound Horror Podcast, Host & Producer)
Nathan Ginter (Filmmaker, THE THIRD EAR)
Sophie Carroll (Director of Creative, ALTER & DUST at Gunpowder & Sky)
BHFF would like to thank their 2024 Sponsors:
Premium Sponsors
Arrow Video
Dark Sky Films
Supporting Sponsors
Adobe Express
Cut + Measure
Den of Geek
Horror Press
IFC Films
KCBC
Teeth: The Musical
Yellow Veil Pictures
Use the map in run 3 to see where you are in the game and where your character is in the cosmos.