Reserve Your Spot at PitchBLACK

Ok, so you’re probably thinking: “That‘s what she always says.” You’re not wrong, But this year, it’s even MORE true because for the first time ever we’re bringing PitchBLACK to Harlem! Both the PitchBLACK Forum and PitchBLACK Awards will take place at the new Apollo Stages at the Victoria. This spectacular venue, which opened its doors last March, is the first expansion of the iconic venue’s physical footprint in its unparalleled 90-year history. BPM is headquartered only a few blocks away in Harlem, so we’re thrilled to be able to bring our signature event uptown to what is globally considered the center of African American arts and culture. 

The Program

PitchBLACK Forum kicks off on Wed., April 30 at 9 a.m., with Tameka Kee returning as  host. A slate of five film projects will be pitched in the morning followed by six immersive projects in the afternoon. The pitching filmmakers include: Brittany Alsot, Chelsi Bullard, Caron Creighton, Sidney Fussell, Arlieta Hall, Karen Hayes, Jennifer Holness, Jacqueline Olive, and Estevan Padilla. The immersive makers are: Anatola Araba, Stephen Christian, Jeremy Kamal, Joel Mack, Rasheed Peters, and Faith “Aya” Umoh. You can read about these makers and their projects by visiting the PitchBLACK 25 page on our website. 

Comedian Jamie Roberts will host PitchBlack Awards the next evening, Thurs., May 1. Our annual BPM Trailblazer Artist Chat will once again be led by NPR host Brittany Luse. She’ll talk with this year’s BPM Trailblazer Award recipient Lillian E. Benson (ACE) about her long and auspicious career. We’ll also announce this year’s NCU Fellowship recipient. The formal program will close with announcements of the PitchBLACK Forum’s film and immersive winners, who are vying for up to $150K in funding and distribution support. We’ll top off the evening with a lively afterparty.

Reserve Your Tickets, Today!

If you’ve never been to PitchBLACK before, now’s the time to make it a regular event on your springtime calendar. If you have attended before, what are you waiting for? Don’t delay in securing your spot and showing your support for the media makers we serve. Tickets for the Awards ceremony are on sale now at TicketMaster. Tickets to the Forum are for industry professionals and are available by invitation only. If you are a distributor, funder, investor, exhibitor, curator, programmer, producer, or impact producer and would like to attend PitchBLACK Forum, please complete our accreditation form. 

We look forward to seeing you in Harlem!