The 2024 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) concluded on October 24, showcasing an array of captivating films and awarding outstanding talent in the genre. This year’s closing night film, The Rule of Jenny Pen, capped off a festival filled with chills and thrills.
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
Director John Hsu of Dead Talents Society expressed gratitude, stating, “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.”
HEAD TRIP JURY AWARDS
- 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
Directors Kyle McConaghy and Joe DeBoer of Dead Mail shared their excitement, saying, “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.”
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: Hammer (sponsored by Cut and Measure)
Nina Noël Raaijmakers, director of Femme, expressed her gratitude, stating, “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.”
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
- Gold: Dead Talents Society
- Silver: Somnium
- Bronze: Bone Lake
LEVIATHAN AWARD
Presented by Arrow Video, the 2024 Leviathan Award was given to the illustrious Larry Fessenden. This award recognizes his enduring contributions to the indie horror genre as a filmmaker and producer through his company, Glass Eye Pix. Fessenden’s influence on horror cinema spans three decades, making him a deserving honoree.
Acknowledgments
The BHFF extends its gratitude to the 2024 jury members, sponsors, and all participants for making this year’s festival a memorable celebration of horror cinema.
2024 Brooklyn Horror Jury
- Features, Dark Matter: Edoardo Vitaletti, Justin DiPietro, Toby Poser
- Features, Head Trip: Jenika McCrayer, Jim Brunzell, Jacqueline Castel
- Shorts: Avery Coffey, Nathan Ginter, Sophie Carroll
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
