PitchBLACK
Celebrate Black Storytelling
Black Public Media’s annual PitchBLACK Forum is the United States’ premier pitch competition for independent documentary filmmakers whose content reflects the Black experience. Makers of nonfiction film projects are invited to pitch their works for production funding. The winning projects are selected by a jury of industry leaders. PitchBLACK is attended by public media creators, distributors, and industry leaders from around the globe.
PitchBLACK 2026 was held April 29-30, 2026, at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria in Harlem.
Details about the 2027 PitchBLACK program will be announced in winter 2027.
PitchBLACK Highlights
- $2M+ in production funding awarded to PitchBLACK Forum winners
- Led to six network broadcasts
- Led to one immersive activation
- Led to two webseries
- Recognized seven documentary filmmakers with its Trailblazer Award
- Named five Nonso Christian Ugbode Fellows
PitchBLACK Film Forum
The PitchBLACK Film Forum features teams of documentary filmmakers pitching their projects to a panel of public media executives and funders. Forum winners can receive up to $150K in production funding.
PitchBLACK Immersive Forum
The PitchBLACK Immersive Forum features creative technologists pitching their projects to an expert panel of emerging media professionals and funders. Forum winners can receive up to $75K in project funding.
PitchBLACK Awards
Winners of the PitchBLACK Forum are announced at the PitchBLACK Awards, where we also present our BPM Trailblazer Award and announce recipients of the Nonso Christian Ugbode Emerging Media Fellowship.
The BPM Trailblazer Award is presented to prolific media makers who have produced an exceptional body of work and have a strong history of mentoring other makers. The Trailblazer Retrospective offers an opportunity for audiences to screen a curated selection of films by the Trailblazer for a limited time. The 2026 Trailblazer Retrospective is a virtual affair running April 27-May 10. The screenings are free, on-demand, but registration is required. The Trailblazer Retrospective registration portal will open in March.