MAY 13, 2026
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
by Leslie Fields-Cruz
Just two days after announcing the winners of PitchBLACK Forum and honoring BPM Trailblazers Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith, I hopped on a plane to Bogotá, Colombia. That’s where this year’s annual convening of the International Public Television conference (INPUT) was held. INPUT is one of my favorite public media gatherings because it’s where film and TV lovers from around the world come together to discuss, debate and question the content distributed by our respective public media systems.
This year, I had the honor of serving as an INPUT moderator. I worked in a team of colleagues from Taiwan, Japan and Canada to review and curate documentary and current affairs programs from countries including Colombia, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Spain and the United States.
More than ever, the conversations at INPUT reinforced how important public media remains worldwide. Our industry is facing challenges globally, so it was inspiring to connect with filmmakers and programmers who remain deeply committed to truth, public service and authentic storytelling. I enjoyed my time at INPUT and look forward to seeing my new friends and colleagues in Taillin, Estonia, next year when we’ll do it all again with a new batch of programs.
Back in the USA
From Colombia, I traveled to San Francisco for CAAMFest, hosted by the Center for Asian American Media. While there, I screened films that made me laugh out loud and cry out for justice. Alongside BPM Program Director Denise Greene and our colleagues from the National Multicultural Alliance (NMCA), we continued important conversations about the future of public media and the imperative of sustaining organizations that support independent filmmakers from diverse communities. The time spent with longtime colleagues and friends was both energizing and affirming.
As I journey back to the comfort and ease of my home and New York office, I want to thank everyone at INPUT and CAAMFest for reminding me that good stories — no matter the language, culture or perspective — can and should be enjoyed by all of us.