BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of Black, Brown and Indigenous people from around the world.
Since 2012, the festival has brought together filmmakers, supporters and enthusiasts through screenings, panels, workshops and conversations. This yearly gathering creates space for dialogue and opens the opportunity for greater understanding within and across our communities. The films presented by BlackStar constitute a dynamic and important collection — one that is unlike any other — because they highlight both independent filmmakers and cultural communities.
Through the festival and our other projects, BlackStar is building a liberatory world in which a vast spectrum of Black, Brown and Indigenous experiences are irresistibly celebrated in arts and culture.
Position Description
This internship is designed to give students and emergent professionals insight into programming for an international film festival. Interns will assist programmers who are managing our five submission categories (Experimental, Short Documentary, Feature Documentary, Short Narrative, and Feature Narrative) by screening submissions and preparing detailed film evaluations. The internship offers flexible hours, with approximately 10 hours per week spent viewing films in two assigned categories. Interns will have access to private films and are required to maintain confidentiality.
The dates of this internship are from January 7 to April 17, 2026, with a mandatory one hour virtual orientation on January 7 and an internship wrap up call on April 17. There will also be one mandatory 1-hour check-in meeting per month, for a total of six meetings for the duration of the internship. All work will take place remotely, and interns are not required to reside in Philadelphia to participate. Upon successful completion of the internship, BlackStar offers either college credit or a modest stipend of $750, plus a 2026 BlackStar Film Festival all access pass.
Skills & Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of and interest in film and media
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Ability to work independently viewing about 10 hours of film weekly
- Access to Google Suite
- Access to a laptop or desktop computer and strong internet access
- Foreign language reading and listening comprehension desirable
How to Apply
Please complete this application form by Tuesday, October 28. You should expect to hear back from us by mid-November. For inquiries about this internship, please email [email protected].