In a significant move to bolster the arts and cultural scene in Brooklyn, Spectrum announced that the Bushwick Film Festival has been awarded $10,000 through the 2023-2024 Stand For The Arts Awards. This initiative, a partnership with Ovation TV, aims to recognize and support local arts, cultural, and educational organizations and programs. Since its inception in 2017, the initiative has awarded 70 grants totaling $700,000 towards arts education.
The prestigious award was presented to the Bushwick Film Festival on October 25, during the festival’s opening night celebration at Brooklyn Borough Hall. The event saw the attendance of notable figures including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse, and representatives for New York City Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.
Camille Joseph-Goldman, Group Vice President, State Government Affairs for Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand, expressed admiration for the Bushwick Film Festival’s efforts. “We commend this year’s Stand For The Arts Award recipient Bushwick Film Festival for their support of local creatives and advocacy for accessibility to the arts,” she said. “Spectrum’s partnership with Ovation TV will help strengthen and uplift these vital arts and cultural organizations and continues our commitment to invest in and support the communities we serve.”
The Bushwick Film Festival plans to use the 2023-2024 Stand For The Arts funding to continue its support of the M/WBE certified independent film festival. Based in Brooklyn, the festival showcases emerging films from NYC and around the world, featuring conversations with leading voices in the film industry. The programming includes free public screenings, hands-on film production workshops, and career training for young adults.
With over 3,500 attendees and more than 1,500 film submissions from 60 countries, the festival significantly contributes to Brooklyn’s cultural and economic growth. Notably, it is among the minority of film festivals in the U.S. owned by women of color, making up only 12%. The festival also develops filmmaking programs for underrepresented storytellers in Brooklyn and West Africa.
Kweighbaye Kotee, Founder and CEO of Bushwick Film Festival, expressed gratitude for the award. “We are so grateful to receive the Stand For The Arts Award, a testament to our commitment to uplifting emerging filmmakers and fostering accessibility in the arts,” she said. “This generous grant propels us closer to our dream of opening a film and media center in Bushwick, ensuring a vibrant future for the Bushwick Film Festival and the rich tapestry of stories waiting to be shared with the world.”
Bushwick Film Festival is one of 10 organizations receiving support in Spectrum markets across the country. The $10,000 Stand For The Arts contributions are awarded based on criteria including support of creatives and artists through community-driven programming, advocacy for equity and access to the arts, and providing accessible spaces for creative expression.
Sol Doten, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications for Ovation TV, highlighted the ongoing commitment of the partnership. “Ovation TV and Spectrum continue to support and champion community-driven arts organizations across the country,” he said. “It remains the priority of our Stand For The Arts partnership – seven years strong – to honor these arts organizations as they encourage and uplift artists on a local level.”
For more information about Stand For The Arts and the Stand For The Arts Awards, visit: www.standforthearts.com.