OCTOBER 1, 2025
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
By Leslie Fields-Cruz
Photo by Yekaterina Gyadu
If you’ve subscribed to this blog for a while, you probably already know that autumn is one of my favorite seasons. This year is no exception, in part, because the season is filled with film festivals, summits, and other gatherings. I don’t know about you, but during these challenging times, I look forward to connecting with colleagues face-to-face.
Upcoming Festivals
- Jackson Wild Summit, Sept. 29-Oct. 3, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
- Black.Indie.Ignite, Oct. 3-4, Los Angeles
- Hot Springs Film Festival, Oct. 10-18, Hot Springs National Park, Ark.
- Sag Harbor Black Film Festival (Shorts Series), Oct. 12, Sag Harbor, N.Y.
- New Orleans Film Festival Oct. 16-27, New Orleans
- Double Exposure Film Festival Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Washington, D.C.
I will speak at a couple of these events so, if you plan to attend, please make sure to stop and say hello.
Jackson Wild has already started, but if you’re interested in attending the rest of the virtual summit, register here and enter VIRTUALZ50 to receive a 50% discount.
I’ll be at Black.Indie.Ignite on Sat., Oct. 4. The event is hosted by KweliTV and includes two days of fireside chats, workshops, wellness, and connection for Black indie creators. BPM subscribers are entitled to a 25% registration discount using this code: IGNITE25.
On Sun., Oct. 12, join BPM Deputy Director Tonya Thomas at the Sag Harbor Film Festival (Shorts Series), featuring several BPM-supported fims. This event is a collaboration between BPM and the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreation center.
If you’re heading to Hot Springs Film Festival, make sure to catch Denise Greene, our program director, on a panel about public media.
Then on Thurs., Oct. 3O, I’ll join Mishi Ibrahim, Tara Hein-Phillips, and Amanda Pike at the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival symposium. Our panel is titled: One Year In: Forging New Alliances in Funding and Distribution.
Get Out There!
Regardless of whether our paths cross this fall, please make sure to get out and mingle with peers whenever you can while the weather is still mild. Soon enough, inclement weather will leave many of us bundled up and hunkered down.
Finally, if you haven’t yet contributed to our 1.8M Donors campaign, we’d appreciate your donation. Gifts of all sizes starting at $5 are welcome.