The 2025 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) has officially revealed this year’s jury award winners, recognizing standout achievements across its signature Dark Matter, Head Trip, and Shorts competition sections.

In the Dark Matter category, Don’t Leave the Kids Alone claimed Best Feature, while Best Director went to Paolo Strippoli for The Holy Boy. Olivia Taylor Dudley earned Best Performance for her role in Abigail Before Beatrice, and Aleksandar Radivojevic took home Best Screenplay for Karmadonna. Additional honors included Best Cinematography for Cristiano Di Nicola (The Holy Boy) and Best Practical FX for Mio Chiba and Tokihiko Endo (Incomplete Chairs). Director Emilio Portes expressed gratitude to the festival, emphasizing BHFF’s commitment to the theatrical experience and international horror cinema.

In the Head Trip section, Every Heavy Thing emerged as Best Feature, with director Mickey Reece praising the festival’s support of unconventional storytelling. Yûta Shimotsu received Best Director for New Group, Avalon Fast earned Best Screenplay for CAMP, and Tipper Newton was awarded Best Performance for Every Heavy Thing. Technical recognitions went to Simon Glassman for Best Editing (Buffet Infinity), Eily Sprungman for Best Cinematography (CAMP), and Johnny Blerot for Best Sound Design (Buffet Infinity).

The Shorts Competition celebrated a diverse slate of filmmakers, with Last Call by Winnie Cheung taking Best Short, accompanied by a prize package from Cut and Measure. Other winners included Kylie Aoibheann (Best Director, The Dysphoria), Nicole Elliot (Best Performance, Jeff), and Sharp FX (Best Special FX, The Dysphoria). The Gnawer of Rocks won Best Screenplay and Best Art Direction, while Daddy is a Hunter earned Best Editing. The Home Invasion Award, supported by Lightbulb Rentals, went to Rebrand, and Nathan Ginter received a Special Jury Mention for Filmmaker to Watch for Overgrown.

Additionally, BHFF presented the Leviathan Award—its annual tribute to genre luminaries—to Ernest Dickerson. Celebrated for his influential work in both cinematography and directing, Dickerson’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of horror creators, breaking cultural barriers within the genre.

The 2025 Brooklyn Horror Film Festival jury featured notable industry voices, including executives and critics from MPI Media, Fangoria, IndieWire, OCN Distribution, Vinegar Syndrome, and The Overlook Film Festival.

FULL LISTING OF WINNERS

DARK MATTER JURY AWARDS

Best Feature – Don’t Leave the Kids Alone

Best Director – Paolo Strippoli, The Holy Boy

Best Performance – Olivia Taylor Dudley, Abigail Before Beatrice

Best Screenplay – Aleksandar Radivojevic, Karmadonna

Best Cinematography -Cristiano Di Nicola, The Holy Boy

Best Practical FX – Mio Chiba and Tokihiko Endo, Incomplete Chairs

HEAD TRIP JURY AWARDS

Best Feature – Every Heavy Thing

Best Director – Yûta Shimotsu, New Group

Best Screenplay – Avalon Fast, CAMP

Best Performance – Tipper Newton, Every Heavy Thing

Best Editing – Simon Glassman, Buffet Infinity

Best Cinematography – Eily Sprungman, CAMP

Best Sound Design – Johnny Blerot, Buffet Infinity

SHORTS COMPETITION JURY AWARDS

Best Short – Last Call

Best Director – Kylie Aoibheann, The Dysphoria

Best Performance – Nicole Elliot, Jeff

Best Special FX – Sharp FX, The Dysphoria

Best Screenplay –

Louise Flaherty & Neil Christopher, The Gnawer of Rocks

Best Sound Design – Jack Goodman, Eonian

Best Art Direction –

Danny Christopher & Sarah Ball, The Gnawer of Rocks

Best Editing – Marcus Fahey, Daddy is a Hunter

Home Invasion Award – Rebrand

Special Jury Mention for Filmmaker to Watch –

Nathan Ginter, Overgrown

The Best Short Award comes with a prize package

from post-production house Cut and Measure.

The Home Invasion Award comes with a prize package

from Lightbulb Rentals.

2025 Brooklyn Horror Jury

Features, Dark Matter

Greg Newman (Executive Vice President, MPI Media)

Kimberly Leszak (Community and Content Manager, Fangoria)

Alison Foreman (Features Writer, IndieWire)

Features, Head Trip

James-Michael Fleites (Editor in Chief, Horror Press)

Justin LaLiberty (Director of Operations, OCN Distribution; Archivist, Vinegar Syndrome)

Gigi Murakami (Horror Mangaka Creator)

Shorts

Shannon Wiedemeyer (Programmer, Head of Social Channel Ops at Alter)

Katie Rife (Critic, Shorts Programmer for Overlook Film Festival)

Kailey Marsh (Literary Manager, Producer, Brillstein Entertainment Partners)