Black Public Media has opened submissions for the 2026 edition of its PitchBLACK competition, offering independent filmmakers the chance to compete for $150,000 in production funding.
The Harlem-based nonprofit announced Wednesday that it is seeking feature-length nonfiction projects for the 10th PitchBLACK Forum & Awards, scheduled for next spring. Five projects will be selected to participate, with each receiving $20,000 in support. The winning project will receive an additional $150,000 production award.
PitchBLACK, launched in 2015, is billed by the organization as the nation’s largest pitch competition for independent filmmakers creating Black content.
Black Public Media said it is particularly interested in projects examining significant social issues, encouraging cultural understanding and reaching national or local audiences. Projects may be in pre-production, production, or early post-production but must be appropriate for distribution through public media.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and serve as the producer or director of the proposed project. They also must have at least three years of professional producing or directing experience or work with an attached senior producer. Applicants are required to maintain artistic, editorial, and budgetary control and own the project’s copyright.
Submissions are due Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.
The organization will also hold a free informational webinar Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. Eastern time to explain the application process and how projects are selected. Registration is available at https://bit.ly/BPMOpenCallWebinar.
Founded in 1979, Black Public Media supports film and immersive storytelling, develops media makers and produces and distributes original programming. The organization says it has awarded more than $2 million to film and immersive media projects through PitchBLACK.
Projects that have participated in the competition have later appeared on PBS, WORLD, Create, and PBS Digital, while program alumni have worked on productions for outlets including CNN, Showtime, Netflix, HBO, BET, NBC, and The CW.
The new open call follows recent recognition for PitchBLACK alumni. Two former winners received top jury prizes last month at the BlackStar Film Festival, continuing a track record that Black Public Media says has helped filmmakers move projects from development to national audiences.
