7 must-see films at the 16th annual Bushwick Film Festival

Indie film fans, rejoice.

The 16th annual Bushwick Film Festival is back, with screenings at the Williamsburg Cinemas off the Bedford Avenue L stop. This year’s lineup includes more than 100 independent feature films, documentaries, and shorts from creators from around the world.

The 2023 theme is “Sweet Sixteen,” and many films tell stories about coming of age.

“Every film has a character that’s going through a process, a growing stage, a transition, a heartbreak or a major moment,” said the festival’s founder Kweighbaye Kotee. “We are really interested in having audiences embrace those transformative moments of their lives and those moments that made them a different person.”

The festival starts on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. You can check out a full list of screenings here, but below are seven standout films you might want to add to your calendar.

“Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall”

In this 90-minute documentary “Bad Like Brooklyn Dancehall,” directors Ben DiGiacomo and Dutty Vannier explore how dancehall music and culture made its way from the Caribbean to New York City in the 1980s and ‘90s, helping Caribbean people retain their cultural identity and pride. The film highlights early underground pioneers, as well as mainstream legends like Shaggy and Sean Paul. It shows Friday, Oct. 27 at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are around $19.

“City of Dreamz”

In the block of films called “NY Coming of Age,” audiences will see six shorts set in New York City. One standout is “City of Dreamz,” directed by Imani Celeste Fuentes. The 11-minute short is about four Black students sharing a blunt while also sharing stories about community. “NY Coming of Age” films screen at noon on Saturday, Oct. 28.

“Don’t Worry About India”

In this documentary, Arjun Jr., an Indian filmmaker who has been living in Europe, returns to his homeland of India to document the 2019 election. The footage he collects reveals…