The ninth annual Bushwick Film Festival is set to take place September 29 – October 2nd. Founded in 2007 by Liberian born Kweighbaye Kotee, the festival has developed into a cultural leader for independent film, gaining the attention of major news outlets and industry executives alike. Additionally, the institution has since become a hub for aspiring young filmmakers via a host of workshops and classes that are held year long. These open community events are oftentimes held in conjunction with schools and other organizations including NYU, the Pratt Institute, Gotham Sound, and Filmmakers Without Borders.

Located in the heart of Brooklyn, the Bushwick Film Festival now boasts hundreds of thousands of online followers and thousands of attendees each year. Last year, the BFF doubled the amount of screenings it had in 2014 and introduced a number of new events like the “Women in Tech” panel. This year, the BFF will host 26 screenings: 10 documentaries, 10 narratives, 4 short film screenings, a web series screening, and an art house film selection. Among the films selected are I Am Gangster directed by Moritz Rechenberg, You Can’t Escape Lithuania directed by Romas Zabarauskas, and Diverge directed by James Morrison. Like years past, the event will again feature a number of panels and workshops hosted by industry leaders. Although submissions for the festival are closed, you can head over to www.bushwickfilmfestival.com to view this year’s film lineup and to purchase tickets. 

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Artists from around the globe have spent the last four weeks enjoying a cultural field day on the streets of Bushwick. Internationally acclaimed taggers like Kems, Dabs and Myla, Nycho, and Matt Dobbs gathered at the Bushwick Open Studies last month to cook up some celebratory murals for the studio’s six birthday. The festival included over 500 art shows, food, music, and loads of impromptu group art showings.

The annual Brooklyn studio’s community-wide event aims to bring raw talent to one of New York’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods. As a result of all the free fun and public paint, Bushwick Open Studios has succeeded in moving the attention for street artists from former hot spots in Manhattan to up-and-coming neighborhoods in Brooklyn. And Bushwick is now home to more than 20 new, original, intricately designed, and masterfully painted murals. Check them out next time you take the L.

Photos by Jaime Rojo.

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