Last Call for Open Call

The submission deadline for BPM’s 2026 Open Call is this Thursday, Oct. 1. We’ve already received dozens of submissions and expect that figure to grow exponentially in the coming days. I can’t wait to see what folks are working on.

BPM’s Open Call is special because it is this nation’s only one exclusively focused on documentary content that centers the global Black Experience. Each submission we receive is carefully screened by our review panel, which contains a combination of seasoned filmmakers, public media executives and media educators, all of whom are charged with the difficult challenge of whittling down the submissions to just a few finalists. Ultimately, five projects are selected to participate in our PitchBLACK program. 

Each of this year’s five selected projects will receive a $20K grant to help their makers prepare to participate in PitchBLACK next spring. The PitchBLACK Award recipient will be chosen by a different panel of industry professionals who will base their decision not only on the merits of the project, but the quality of the pitch. The winner of next year’s PitchBLACK Award will receive an additional $150K in production funding and distribution support.

Shout Out to Our Sponsors

BPM is deeply appreciative of Andscape, Netflix, PBS, Shutterstock, and Sonder Foundation. Their loyal support enables us to continue offering this prestigious program. In addition to the professional development support PitchBLACK offers, our fellows get the benefit of becoming part of this unique community of makers. Nearly all of our past PitchBLACK film award winners have premiered or are about to premiere their projects on PBS. Several of the filmmakers who have competed but didn’t win the big PitchBLACK award have still gone on to premiere work on public media. And most of the past PitchBLACK competitors continue to create content about the Black experience. 

At a time when stories about the lived experience of Black people are under siege, the importance of our Open Call and PitchBLACK cannot be overstated. All independent media makers need funding to support their projects and, in the current environment, funders of projects that center Black people are especially challenged. 

Why it Matters

The films that emerge from PitchBLACK enrich the world’s understanding of who Black folks are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. While this is BPM’s last call for submissions to the 2026 Open Call cycle, we’re working hard to ensure this invaluable program continues for many more years. If you or someone you know would like to become a PitchBLACK sponsor, contact us at: info@blackpublicmedia.org. We’d love to talk. 

Details about the upcoming 10th edition of PitchBLACK will be announced later this fall. Meanwhile, good luck to all who are submitting. We’ll be in touch with you soon.