Black Public Media (BPM) announced Tuesday that its PitchBLACK Forum will award over $2 million in funding for film and immersive projects this year. The forum stands as the largest pitch competition in the United States for independent filmmakers and creative technologists focused on Black narratives. This milestone event will take place in Harlem on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with awards announced the following evening.
Since launching in 2015, BPM has provided more than $1.8 million to support 23 film and immersive projects through the competition. With an additional $225,000 in funding to be awarded this year, PitchBLACK will surpass the $2 million mark in total funding distributed since its inception.
Harlem Hosts Major Funding Event for Black Storytellers
“We are happy to host PitchBLACK in the creative and cultural mecca of Harlem this year,” said Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of BPM. “PitchBLACK always offers a wonderful array of projects presenting unique mixes of entertainment, ingenuity and craftsmanship. We look forward to what this year’s creatives have in store for audiences.”
This year’s forum marks a significant shift as it moves to The Apollo Stages at the Victoria in Harlem, the vibrant New York City neighborhood that serves as BPM’s home base. The change of venue reflects BPM’s deep connections to the historic cultural hub while providing a fitting backdrop for showcasing innovative Black media projects.
Industry Giants Back Black Media Innovation
Sponsored by Netflix and PBS, the PitchBLACK Forum gives talented creators a platform to pitch their projects to an impressive audience. Public media representatives, commercial television network executives, distributors, and funders from across the nation will gather to witness and potentially support these groundbreaking concepts.
Additional funding for PitchBLACK comes from several major institutions. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and Acton Family Giving provide essential support. New York-based funders include the New York Community Trust, New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Film and Tech Creators Compete for Career-Changing Funding
The forum will showcase two distinct categories of projects throughout the day. The film segment runs from 9 a.m. to noon, featuring documentary projects from promising teams. These include Sidney Fussell and Jennifer Holness, Karen Hayes, Arlieta Hall and Brittany Alsot, Chelsi Bullard and Jacqueline Olive, and Caron Creighton.
Following lunch, the immersive project competitors take the stage from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Creators Anatola Araba, Aya, Steven Christian, Jeremy Kamal, Joel Mack, and Rasheed Peters will present cutting-edge projects. These works incorporate technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, 3D animation, and interactive games.
Trailblazer Award Honors Legendary Film Editor
The PitchBLACK Awards ceremony on May 1 will present the prestigious BPM Trailblazer Award to Lillian E. Benson, ACE (American Cinema Editors). Benson’s Emmy-nominated work spans groundbreaking projects like “Eyes on the Prize II,” Showtime’s “Soul Food,” NBC’s “Chicago Med,” and OWN’s “Greenleaf.”
NPR host Brittany Luse from the acclaimed podcast “It’s Been a Minute” will moderate an insightful conversation with Benson during the ceremony. Comedian Jamie Roberts will host the awards event, which concludes with an announcement of the Nonso Christian Ugbode Fellowship winner and a celebratory after-party.
Virtual Retrospective Expands Access to Benson’s Legacy
BPM will offer a special Trailblazer Film Retrospective featuring works edited by Benson. These films will be available for free streaming on blackpublicmedia.org between April 28 and May 12, giving viewers nationwide access to Benson’s masterful editing.
The virtual retrospective includes “Beyond the Steps,” “Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise,” “New World, New Forms,” and “The Taste of Dirt.” It also features two pivotal episodes from “Eyes on the Prize II”: “The Promised Land” (Part 10) and “Keys to the Kingdom” (Part 13).
How to Participate in This Landmark Media Event
Tickets for the PitchBLACK Awards are available for $300 through the Apollo Theater’s website. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. on May 1, offering attendees a chance to witness history as winners are announced and celebrated.
Those unable to attend can follow the excitement on social media. BPM will share highlights and updates on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok under the handle @blackpublicmedia. For more information about competing projects and BPM’s broader mission, visit blackpublicmedia.org.
