Awards: Youth Jury Prize, Aspen Shortsfest

Set against the backdrop of Independence Day in Brooklyn, July 4th East New York captures the rhythms, tensions, and moments of joy that define a neighborhood often overlooked by mainstream narratives. Through intimate storytelling and a grounded sense of place, the film highlights how community traditions, celebrations, conversations, and everyday interactions, become powerful expressions of identity and resilience. By centering the voices and lived experiences of its residents, the film reminds us that shared spaces and collective memory shape how communities understand themselves. In the spirit of the Bates Film Festival’s commitment to the arts and community connection, July 4th East New York invites audiences to reflect on how storytelling can bring people together across geography, culture, and lived experience. (Written by Maverick Selementi, ’26)