BlackStar Pitch
A live pitch competition for short non-fiction projects, with a grand prize of $75,000 cash.
ABOUT
In 2025, BlackStar Film Festival will host the sixth BlackStar Pitch.
Filmmakers will pitch their short nonfiction projects in front of a panel of judges to receive feedback and have an opportunity to win a grand prize of $75,000 cash.
In addition to the cash prize, the grand prize winner will also receive:
- 2 passes to the 2025 Camden International Film Festival
- Formal feedback and notes at rough and fine cut stages from BlackStar programs staff
- Mentorship from award-winning documentary production company Multitude Films, including: consultancy on pre-production, connections to industry crew, feedback at the rough cut stage, support in developing a distribution and exhibition plan for the completed short.
There will also be a runner-up prize of $25,000 cash plus:
- 2 passes to the 2025 Camden International Film Festival
- 2 mentorship sessions with Multitude Films.
- Feedback at the rough cut stage from BlackStar.
The BlackStar Pitch is designed to connect industry professionals with new voices in the independent film community. Taking place in-person during the 2025 BlackStar Film Festival on July 31. The event will showcase the work of up to 6 filmmakers, who will be selected based on their applications, due April 2. The filmmakers will receive coaching and an opportunity to pitch their works-in-progress to a distinguished panel of judges including funders, executives, distributors, and producers. The 6 finalists will also have a chance to meet one-on-one with a minimum of 2 judges, in virtual sessions prior to the Pitch contest to get direct feedback and advice on their projects.
The judges will choose the best pitch, to be announced privately during BlackStar’s Directors Brunch & Award Ceremony, and announced publicly on Monday, August 4th, 2025.
Each pitch will last 7 minutes and will be followed by 8 minutes of constructive feedback.
BlackStar Pitch is hosted in partnership with Blackbird.
DATES & DEADLINES
February 26
Submissions Open
April 2
Application Deadline
May 26
Notification Date
June 13
Chosen projects accept and provide verification of text for publication.
July 31
Pitch Takes Place
August 4
Winners Announced
RULES & REGULATIONS
Presentation
Each pitch will last 7 minutes followed by 8 minutes of constructive feedback.
Prizes
The first-place pitch will receive a $75,000 prize for production funds as well as mentorship from Multitude Films, feedback from BlackStar Projects programs staff, and 2 passes to the 2025 Camden Film Festival.
A second-place winner will receive a $25,000 prize for production funds as well as feedback from BlackStar Projects programs staff and 2 passes to the 2025 Camden Film Festival.
Eligibility
Pitches should be submitted by a project’s director or producer. Each pitch team must consist of a minimum of one and maximum of three members.
Directors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for The Pitch. Directors who are not based in the United States are not eligible to participate in The Pitch for this cycle. Directors must identify as Black, Brown, or Indigenous.
Productions with principal photography taking place outside of the United States are eligible to apply.
Pitches are for short nonfiction projects only; series will not be accepted. Projects must be in the development or production stage, with a total budget cap of $125,000.
Questions?
Have questions or concerns? Email [email protected]
Previous Winners
Highways (2024)
Dir. Zeshawn Ali
Highways tells the story of a truck stop in the midwest which has become a hub for immigrant cross- country truck drivers. Through an observational lens, this film follows these men as they build lives in this new country and try to find home on the open roads.
Postcolonial Piñata (2022)
Dir. Daniel Larios
Ampe: Leap Into The Sky, Black Girl (2021)
Dirs. Claudia Owusu and Ife Oluwamuyide
BY WATER (2020)
Dir: Iyabo Kwayana
Higher 15 (2019)
Dir: Ameha Molla
