Reel Works Film Festival Announces 2023 Lineup (Exclusive)

Abbey White
·8 min read

Reel Works has revealed the full lineup for its 2023 film festival, which celebrates the work of young, emerging filmmakers.

Taking place Nov. 18-19 at New York’s SVA Theater, this year’s festival will feature 42 narrative and doc projects, with over 85 percent of films presented from BIPOC and or LGBTQ+ filmmakers.

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The festival’s second annual iteration will once again consist of projects from filmmakers ages 14 to 24 in the Reel Works community. That includes original projects produced through the nonprofit’s Documentary and Narrative Lab programming, alongside the premiere of movies from the inaugural Supported Summer Lab, a workshop that supports neurodivergent teens in developing their own original films.

The event will also mark the first time the Reel Works Film Festival features the work of external creatives with screenings of selected titles.

The festival is part of Reel Works larger mission to inspire, mentor and train diverse generations of filmmakers through peerless arts education and workforce development, including free filmmaking programs, one-on-one mentoring, and annual job training for students.

“Reel Works is at the forefront of working to ensure that the film industry is represented by a myriad of diverse talent,” said Stephanie Walter, co-founder and chief program officer of Reel Works, the Brooklyn-based nonprofit focused on youth media and workforce development. “To be able to curate a film festival that amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities, is something we are especially passionate about. We are so thrilled to celebrate and share their work with new audiences.”

The 2023 jury includes Emmy and Peabody Award-winning film producer and Sandbox Films’ founding director Greg Boustead; Hollywood casting director and producer Patricia DiCerto; freelance film critic David Edelstein; Global Head of Connected TV & Streaming at YouTube at Google Matt McDonald; filmmaker, founder and Creative Director of Fair Oaks Entertainment Roger Mancusi; The Film Stage founder and editor-in-chief Jordan Raup; and GoldDerby’s Digital Director Christopher Rosen.

Read the full 2023 Reel Works Film Festival lineup below.

Documentary

540 – Dir. Haochen Huang
An experimental film that captures the stillness of everyday life, blending elements of nature, offices, and public space.

Across the Movie References – Dir. Phoenix Purnell
An aquatic exploration of key characters from acclaimed films, drawing similarities between returning characters and tropes from movies about the deep blue sea.

Animating Life: A Story of Stop-Motion – Dir. Calliope Daoundakis
An animated short that shows the value in stop-motion animation.

Broken Tech – Dir. Eva Tikhomirova
A documentary focusing on the mental health of students in a specialized school in Brooklyn.

Chomchom – Dir. Sanjona Arzan
A short documentary about a delicious dessert that originated in Tangail, a small town in Bangladesh.

Dopeamine – Dir. Michael Rezza-Castellanos
An original short film from Micheal Rezza-Castellanos’ which reflects on special memories from Reel Works’ 2023 Supported Summer Lab. The piece draws on a day at the aquarium and the friendships that emerged throughout the journey.

Economy Candy – Dir. Tasnuva Shehrin
Chronicles Tasnuva Sherhrin’s experience watching her neighborhood of LES evolve. This documentary short unpacks what it means to call a neighborhood home—highlighting familiarity’s importance in establishing community.

Environmental Change in the Bronx – Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School – Summer Youth Employment Program
In this short doc, students explore their home community of The Bronx and the environmental changes it is experiencing.

In Ewigkeit – Dir. Helsen Sanabia
A documentary about underground tattoo artists in New York.

Kirkpatrick and the Civil Rights Movement – Dir. Ella Caroleo
Explores organizations such as the Black Panthers and the Deacons for Defense and Justice. It also looks at protests against peaceful protesting and the violence that protesters endured.

Life in NYC – Dir. Abdul-Jabbar Adulai
An original short film that showcases the excitement of Reel Works’ 2023 Supported Summer Lab. This immersive film highlights the afternoon field trip to the Bronx Aquarium.

The Optimal Route for The Subway Bandit – Gotham Scholars
Examines the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority through this short documentary, shedding light on its history, safety, and future.

Saheed’s Film – Dir. Saheed Morrison
An interactive compilation of beautiful imagery, heralding New York City in all its glory.

Still I Rise – Brooklyn Collaborative Studies
A PSA for Black History Month produced by the students of Brooklyn Collaborative Studies.

The Stop-Motion Animation Project – Millennium High School
Students channel their creativity and storytelling to express themselves in this stop-motion animation film.

A Talk in the Park – Dir. Raven Santos
This doc shows Raven Santos’ efforts at trying to talk to people in Central Park.

Tfaddalu – Dir. Saara Al-Sawah
A documentary exploring the historical Middle Eastern community in Brooklyn.

The Veil – Dir. Ahamed Diallo
Follows an African-American male who has visions of masked people that force him to stand up for himself as he navigates a new job and the microaggressions he faces.

Unheard: The Missing Voices of Student Journalism – Dir. Stephen Czaja
Five student reporters investigate the lack of newspapers in NYC high schools and unpack the deep inequities existing at every level of the city’s school system.

¡VLMPR! – Dir. Leandra Ramos
This piece explores Puerto Rico’s culture, history, and fashion.

Youth Justice Network – Bronx International High School – Summer Youth Employment Program
A short film that captures the untold stories of the Summer Youth Employment Program and shares the unique history of Harlem’s Youth Justice Network and its impact.

Narrative

Adults are Talking – Dir. Eva Tikhomirova
A young boy named Charlie decides to grow up to finally impress his older brother.

Afflicted – Dir. Vinny Hunter
A pair of friends find themselves in a tense conversation after one of them commits a crime. 

Bigger – Dir. Melissa Morales
When the opportunity to share her writing passion opens, Elena struggles against the constraints of her traditionalist family and self-repressed thoughts of anxiety and depression in order to follow her dreams before hope falters.

Chronophobia – Dir. Benjamin Baker Singh
Sydney, a young adult, who spitefully moves out of his mom’s house, realizes that embracing adulthood is much harder than he anticipated.

Dinner with Demons – Dir. Liberty Joy
Follows the story of Elora, a young woman struggling with her own addiction and the guilt she feels about her father’s addiction and its impact on her family.

Fluorescence – Dir. Kya A. Nelson
Desdemona is a young teenage girl who lacks confidence due to her rocky relationship with her mother. It isn’t until Des meets a young photographer that she learns to stand up to her mother.

Glitter – Dir. Maya Velazquez
When a nerdy autistic teen throws a Halloween party in hopes of reconnecting with an old friend, they’re unpleasantly surprised by a series of microaggressions and nasty remarks and must make a difficult choice.

Going to Little Island – Dir. Ashley Conde-Lopez
An original short film asking ‘Where do New Yorkers go when it rains?’ The film grapples with the difficulties of navigating public spaces and making new plans.

Home – Dir. Elyjah Logan
A new discovery challenges a friendship at the crossroads of change.

How Will We Grow – Dir. Anise Atwell-Hudson
Alda and Inez strengthen their bond by facing the challenges of growing up and rediscovering the magic of sisterhood.

If It Doesn’t Make Dollars It Doesn’t Make Cents – Dir. Amya Williams
As Generation Z enters the workplace, they contemplate how their generation can revolutionize traditional labor expectations.

A Letter To The Mayor (给市长的一封信) – Dir. Zhihui Chen
A Chinese teenager faced with racism during the Covid-19 pandemic must decide whether to continue to suffer in silence or to speak out.

Leftovers – Dir. Pacqui Pascual
After the death of her struggling artist father, Jane is left only with his ashes. When his art gains popularity posthumously, she gets nothing, until a wealthy art collector offers to purchase his remains.

Many Worlds – Dir. Cameron Rodriguez
Charlotte, a Princeton professor, needs her new curriculum, Many Worlds, approved but struggles to convey her ideas to the college board.

Not Your Average High School Rom-Com – The Young Women’s Leadership School
This rom-com explores Sadie, a southern teenager, and her adventures as a new student attending a New York City High School.

Our Journey – Dir. Chelsea Marius
A Lucian teenager explores her identity and the misconceptions that come from living there.

Sherlock Holmes in the 21st Century – Dir. Isaiah Fraser
Follows the exciting journey of Holmes and Watson as they embark on a life-changing investigation. The film was made in part by Reel Works’ 2023 Supported Summer Lab.

The Shidduch Crisis – Dir. Chaya Gurkov
An orthodox Jewish girl has second thoughts about an early arranged marriage.

Snow Bunnies Never – Dir. Louis Straker
An emotionally charged drama that delves into the complexities of interracial relationships, Black excellence, and the pursuit of self-autonomy. The film follows Noah, a college student, as he introduces his White girlfriend, Brittany, to his Black family during a tense Thanksgiving dinner.

Somethin’ About That Yaari – Dir. Tori Evans
A quirky comedy short that reflects on students’ shared relationships and experiences as they unpack critical questions like handling NYC’s rat population while speculating on whether their teacher Yarri, is disappearing kids.

Tender – Dir. Wesley Chessa-Forman
A young man enters a butcher shop and finds that there is more there than he can stomach.

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