AfroPoP Digital Shorts: The Morgue Twins
In this month’s digital short, retired identical twin morgue technicians, Marvin and Melvin Morgan – named after a funeral home – reflect on a 20 year career in New York City’s death care industry while contemplating their own mortality.
For nearly 50 years, Black Public Media has worked with independent filmmakers and public television providers to develop and distribute documentaries, narrative films and digital shorts about the global Black experience. More recently, we’ve begun working with immersive media makers to ensure Black content is part of the immersive media landscape. Explore our website to learn more about this award-winning organization and the creatives it supports.
Watch
Dressed Like Kings offers an intimate look at the South African tradition—oswenka—where men compete weekly for the title of “Best Dressed” to express pride and self-worth. Through the stories of three men, the film explores this fifty-year-old Zulu cultural practice, its challenges, and the question of whether such self-expression is worth the cost.
Weekly Dispatch
- October 13, 2026
The Poynter Institute and Public Media Company have joined together to launch the Future of Public Media Initiative. They want our feedback....
- September 29, 2026
This Thursday is the final day to submit projects for consideration in our 2026 Open Call. I can't wait to see what folks are working on...
- September 22, 2026
As the public media community convenes to reimagine its future, let's ensure that the NMCA has a seat at the table....
- September 8, 2026
A couple of weeks ago, I promised to share my reflections from this year's PolicyLink Summit. Read today's post for those thoughts....
- September 1, 2026
I hope you've enjoyed this summer. I certailny appreciated my vacay. The older I get, the more precious these late summer delights become....
- August 26, 2026
I hope you've enjoyed this summer. I certailny appreciated my vacay. The older I get, the more precious these late summer delights become....
- August 12, 2026
This year was BlackStar Film Festival’s 15th convening and it was as liberating, energizing, and fulfilling as always....
- August 6, 2026
The summer film festival season is in full swing and BPM is pleased to see several of the films it has supported in the mix....
- July 16, 2026
During America's 250th celebration last weekend, some of us reflected on Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”...
- July 9, 2026
During America's 250th celebration last weekend, some of us reflected on Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”...
- June 30, 2026
A new film by Stacey Holman about the role Black Americans played in the Revolutionary War and beyond is now streaming on PBS....
- June 23, 2026
The New York Times has named BPM's AfroPoP Season18 to the top of its "30 Shows to Watch this Summer” list....
- June 9, 2026
The summer film festival season is off to a red hot start. Don't miss your chance to catch sreenings featuring BPM-funded films and/or makers....
- June 3, 2026
Towards the end of last summer, I wasn't sure we'd be in a position to host another season of "AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange."...
- May 26, 2026
Freedom Hill Film School has lost its funding partner and is in danger of canceling the 2026 summer camp. Unless we help....
- May 13, 2026
Just two days after announcing the 2026 PitchBLACK winners, I hopped on a plane to attend this year's INPUT conference in Bogotá, Colombia....
- May 6, 2026
Last week's PitchBLACK program was outstanding! If you were lucky enough to be there for both events, you know what I'm talking about ......
- April 29, 2026
By the time you read this, PitchBLACK 2026 will already be underway. Ten teams, pitching 10 projects and hoping to win up to $150K....
- April 14, 2026
I recently attended a comedy pitch fest that included two of BPM's former fellows. ... It reminded me that pitchin'ain't easy....
- April 7, 2026
Creating new pathways is ardous work. Creating a path for others to traverse — and continue to improve — is even more grueling.....
- March 31, 2026
Today is your last chance to purchase Earlybird PitchBLACK Awards tickets at a 50% discount. Don't miss this opportunity to save....
- March 25, 2026
We are in a moment when women's voices are openly dismissed and their contributions quietly erased. ... This is why women in media matter....
- March 10, 2026
This month, we salute Angela Tucker and other filmmakers who are filling the herstory void by making films like "The Inquisitor."...
- March 5, 2026
MARCH 5, 2026 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Last week, I was honored to sit on the 2026 international INPUT selection committee. We met in Warsaw, Poland. In this role, I had a chance to see a...
our supporters