John Hsu’s Dead Talents Society dominated the 2024 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) winning Dark Matter Jury Awards for Best Film and Best Ensemble; along with the Audience Award.
“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
The Head Trip Jury awarded Dead Mail by Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy both Best Film and Best Ensemble.
“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
Winners of 2024 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
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
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
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
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.
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.