by Sharelle Burt
March 14, 2025
Ten brief movies, with a time of half-hour most, might be chosen, with every filmmaking workforce receiving $5,000.
In line with a press launch shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, public media partnership group HBCU Week NOW and media arts nonprofit Black Public Media (BPM) are teaming as much as launch the first-ever scholar movie competition.
The group, which creates movies highlighting the affect and contributions of traditionally Black schools and universities, introduced the open name for brief movie submissions from HBCU college students. The movies will premiere through the digital HBCU Week NOW Pupil Movie Competition, which is scheduled to happen throughout Black Historical past Month 2026.
Ten brief movies, with a time of half-hour most, might be chosen, and every filmmaking workforce will obtain $5,000 every. The competition is designed to have fun the creativity, innovation, and storytelling of the subsequent technology of Black movie creatives. Submissions of all genres might be accepted, however the group seeks a give attention to tales reflecting on Black experiences, tradition, and historical past.
BPM’s Director of Expertise Growth, Qiona Woffard, says the workforce is worked up about working with the business’s subsequent technology of filmmakers. “We welcome this chance to accomplice with HBCU Week NOW to determine and amplify younger expertise and their tales,” Woffard stated.
“We sit up for serving to push the brand new voices of the movie neighborhood to the forefront with this thrilling new competition.
The Harlem-based nationwide media arts nonprofit, which works to develop creatives and produces and distribute authentic content material, held an informational webinar on March 13 for these taken with taking part. In line with the Jacksonville Free Press, eligibility contains being enrolled at an HBCU or having graduated within the final three years. Individuals will not be required to be enrolled in a movie program.
Each HBCU Week NOW and BPM are encouraging HBCU school members and directors to current this new alternative as a solution to heighten their filmmaking and inventive abilities by offering assets reminiscent of workshops, tools, or mentorship to assist college students put together to submit their initiatives because the submission deadline is April 12, 2025.
For nearly 50 years, BPM has labored to deal with the ache factors of unserved and underserved audiences, together with the filmmaking business. Their packages resulted in profitable 5 Emmys®, and Anthem Awards, 10 Peabodys, 14 Emmy® nominations and an Oscar® nomination.
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