[2] Notable attendees have included Jeannot Szwarc, Isidore Mankovsky,[7] McG and Richard Sherman[8] In 2005, Will Ferrell was the honorary chair of a 'Youth Film Showcase.

[12] In 2021, the festival returned to a live format with a brunch for Variety's "10 Actors to Watch"[13] and other honorees including Thomasin McKenzie, Regina Hall, Simon Rex, Winston Duke, Rosanna Arquette and Harvey Keitel.

[14] In 2022, the festival officially changed its date to October, and honored actors including Jonathan Majors, Keke Palmer, Colson Baker, and Aubrey Plaza.

[15] In addition to juried awards, NBFF distributes honors to distinguished members of the film industry: Recipients include Robert Wise,[16] Eugene Levy,[17] Forest Whitaker[18] and Harvey Keitel.

Recipients include Colman Domingo, Topher Grace, Mary Elizabeth Winstead,[12] Gavin Hood,[19] Patton Oswalt, Aubrey Plaza, Jonathan Majors and Keke Palmer.