Ciela directed by Mauricio Sierra won the coveted Grand Chameleon and the Best Narrative Short awards at Brooklyn Film Festival’s 26th edition, “Human Times,” which wrapped on Sunday, June 11th. The film is described as an impressionistic fable, seen through the eyes of a young misfit named Ciela, who forms a secret friendship with an octopus. As her fantasy world collides with reality, Ciela sets off a chain of events that disrupt her sleepy fishing village.
Other top awards including Best Narrative Feature went to Coyote and Sweetheart Deal took home the award for Best Documentary Feature.
“The 26th edition of BFF was a wonderful journey, with a diverse and eccentric film program, curated by a group of programmers who made the 2023 fest, Human Times, a truly remarkable adventure. A quirky, but optimistic trajectory, in a world that struggles to find a balance,” said Marco Ursino, Brooklyn Film Festival Executive Director. “Thanks to the indie filmmakers for helping us reimagine a brand new world.”
Winners of 2023 Brooklyn Film Festival
Grand Chameleon Award
CIELA by MAURICIO SIERRA
Best Narrative Feature
COYOTE by KATHERINE JERKOVIC
Best Documentary
SWEETHEART DEAL by ELISA LEVINE and GABRIEL MILLER
Best Short Documentary
THE BLAKE by COURTNEY SPOSATO and MARK SPOSATO
Best Narrative Short
CIELA by MAURICIO SIERRA
Best Animation
TULPA by PARIS BAILLIE
Best Experimental
VISION OF PARADISE by LEONARDO PIRONDI
Best New Director
CHERUBS by ANNE-SOPHIE BINE
Best Brooklyn Project
A BODY APPEARED AT THE LAKE TODAY by BRIAN RATIGAN
Spirit Awards
Feature Narrative
PRATFALL by ALEX ANDRE
Feature Documentary
ISRAELISM by ERIC AXELMAN and SAM EILERTSEN
Short Documentary
NINA & IRENA by DANIEL LOMBROSO
Short Narrative
RABOBESTO- OR HOW I SAVED A MONSTER by MARI MANTELA
Experimental
ARCHIVIA by ROSS WILSON
Animation
ZEB’S SPIDER by ALICIA EISEN and SOPHIE JARVIS
Audience Awards
Feature Narrative
FORGIVE ME FATHER by JAMES BIBERI
Feature Documentary
COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT by DAVID SABSHON
Short Documentary
HOPE YOU FAIL by ALISON GRASSO
Short Narrative
SERIOUS PLAY by KATE MASON and LINDSEY PHILLIPS
Experimental
THE ABSURDITY OF THE BLACK FEMALE EXPERIENCE by VANESSA MAGIC
Animation
BUON FERRAGOSTO by CLAUDIA MIATELLO
KidsFilmFest
SPACEPUP by ABBIE BACILLA
Certificates of Outstanding Achievement
Producer
APOLLO BAKOPOULOS for ALIGNED
Screenplay
REEMA MAYA for NOCTURNAL BURGER
Cinematography
SHADY HANNA for JUNGLEFOWL
Editing
BRITTANY KAPLAN for SWEETHEART DEAL
Style
GERALD ALAN DECKER for CUL-DE-SAC
Original Score
KRISTOFFER LO for MOOSA LANE
Actor Female
BRENDA CULLERTON for ENDLESS SEA
Actor Male
JORGE MARTINEZ COLORADO for COYOTE