Mouse by Kenny Riches has won the top prize – the Grand Chameleon along with the Best Narrative Feature award at the Brooklyn Film Festival’s 28th edition, “Pause,” which wrapped up on Sunday, June 8th. In Mouse, a petty thief living with his mother, signs up for a penpal service in hopes of finding a friend, or maybe more. Unfortunately, his penpal has other plans.
Cycle by Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell took home the award for Best Documentary Feature. The film investigates the 2019 Juneteenth Day killing of Ty’rese West—a Black teenager killed by police in a small Wisconsin suburb.
Other top prize winners include Violent Butterflies by Adolfo Davila walked away with Spirit Award for best Feature Narrative and Tight Lines by Gagga Jonsdottir won for Feature Documentary.
Alice-Heart by Mike Macera won the Audience Award for Feature Narrative, and Tight Lines by Gagga Jonsdottir won for Feature Documentary.
Marco Ursino, BFF Director, said this, “I believe the main reason filmmakers submit their most precious asset to our festival is because they know, or have heard, that BFF is fair. Fair through selections and judging. It is a competitive-international festival, where the smallest film can win the top award: The Grand Chameleon.”
A full list of award winners is below.
2025 Brooklyn Film Festival Winners
Grand Chameleon Award
Mouse by Kenny Riches
Best Narrative Feature
Mouse by Kenny Riches
Best Documentary
Cycle by Laura Dyan Kezman and William Howell
Best Short Documentary
Salt by Alice Ward
Best Narrative Short
Dandelion by Fiona Obertinca
Best Animation
Humantis by Paris Baillie
Best Experimental
A is for Ant by Jack Davison
Spirit Awards
Feature Narrative
Violent Butterflies by Adolfo Davila
Feature Documentary
Tight Lines by Gagga Jonsdottir
Short Documentary
Talking Drum by Alexandre Gougeon
Short Narrative
Pedigree by Kai Wen Hu
Experimental
High Street Repeat by Osbert Parker and Laurie Hill
Animation
The Death Of James by Sam Chou
Audience Awards
Feature Narrative
Alice-Heart by Mike Macera
Feature Documentary
Roads Of Fire by Nathaniel Lezra
Short Documentary
Even In Darkness by Kitalé Wilson
Short Narrative
Brunch! by Matthew Farrell
Experimental
Rocco by Summayya Wagenseil and Lucia Buricelli
Animation
The 12 Inch Pianist by Lucas Ansel
Certificates of Outstanding Achievement
Best New Director
Tight Lines by Gagga Jonsdottir
Best Brooklyn Project
Dead Serious by Lizi Latimer and Myriam Schroeter
Producer
Geneviève Gosselin-G. for Mercenaire
Screenplay
Marina Tempelsman & Niccolo Aeed for This Will Never Work
Cinematography
Federico Barbabosa for Violent Butterflies
Editing
Spencer Browne for Even In Darkness
Style
Alex Loucas for Grey Scale
Original Score
Harkness for Harkness
Actor Female
Zana Berisha for Era
Actor Male
Mallo Breysse for Chico