Butterfly, the powerful debut feature from NYC-based director Dante Hillmedo, has been awarded Best Feature Film at the 2025 Big Apple Film Festival, an impressive breakthrough for a first-time filmmaker delivering a deeply emotional and culturally resonant story.
Set against the backdrop of New York City, Butterfly follows Jericha, a teenage girl navigating poverty, school bullying, and fractured friendships while trying to keep her struggling family afloat under the roof of her single, immigrant mother working a minimum-wage job. Dance becomes her only outlet, a form of freedom in an increasingly confined world.
The film includes standout performances by Tahiry Jose (Love & Hip Hop: New York) as a stern school principal and Lea Robinson (First Family of Hip Hop), whose pivotal role brings intensity to the film’s emotional climax.
“This was my first film, my first festival, and now my first award,” Hillmedo shared. “To win Best Feature means everything. This story is personal. It reflects so many young voices living through struggle, with a spark of hope pushing them forward.”
Following the festival win, Butterfly will host a red-carpet screening on Saturday, September 6, 2025, in New York City, bringing together the cast, crew, and supporters to celebrate the film’s compelling message and growing momentum.