Submissions for the 2022 BlackStar Film Festival are now open.
The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global Indigenous communities, showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists from around the world.
Eligibility
Films must be directed by a person who identifies as Black, as Indigenous, or as a person of color (POC), from anywhere in the world. Work must feature persons of color or tell a story of Black, Indigenous, or POC experience.
Deadlines
- January 10, 2022 — Submissions Open
- February 1, 2022 — Early Deadline
- March 2, 2022 — Preferred Deadline
- April 1, 2022 — Final Deadline
- May 5, 2022 — Notification Date
- August 3-7, 2022 — Festival Dates
Rules & Regulations
- Duration
Narrative feature films and documentary films must not exceed running time of 120 minutes.
Shorts must not exceed running time of 40 minutes. - Entry Fees
Entry fees are per film and non-refundable. BlackStar reserves the right to disqualify a submission, without refund of any kind, if eligibility requirements are not met including if eligibility status changes post-submission.
Students: Entry fees for student submissions will be waived upon receipt of a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card or a letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment. Please send appropriate documents to submissions@blackstarfest.org to waive your fee. - Competition
Films will be automatically entered into juried and audience competition unless the entrant(s) request to be withdrawn. Entrants must make this request at the time of application.
Awards & Prizes
• Best Feature Narrative & Documentary
• Best Short Narrative & Documentary
• Best Experimental
• Audience Awards
Submissions may be a work-in-progress; however, works that are not final cuts must be clearly marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut” with an indication of what will change or what is missing (e.g., temp sound, missing animation, etc.). The deadline to receive the final print is June 12, 2022.
All accepted directors will receive one (1) all-access badge to the festival. Additionally, each director will receive a minimum of two (2) comp tickets to their film screening to distribute as they see fit.
Priority is given to recently completed films (in 2021 and 2022).
Preference is given to Philadelphia premieres at minimum, but premiere status is not required.
The 2022 festival will most likely be a hybrid event, with online and in-person components, depending on the status of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for more updates as we near closer to August.
Visit the 2021 BlackStar Film Festival site. Explore the schedule and watch panels from last year’s event.
