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Black Public Media hosts several events annually. We also partner with a variety of organizations on professional development training and public screenings. Check out our upcoming events below.
CURRENT PROGRAMMING
BPM WATCH PARTY
Featuring Carlos Moore of My Friend Fela
VIRTUAL
SCREENING
Carlos Moore was a close friend and the official biographer for Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti. On May 28, at 7 p.m., he will join award-winning producer/director and BPM Director of Programs, Denise Greene as a featured guest in BPM's first Virtual Watch Party. Greene will engage Moore in a conversation about his relationship with the musician and his role as lead storyteller in Joel Zito Araújo's film My Friend Fela. The watch party also includes a screening of Opiyo Okeyo's live-action/animated short The Birth of Afrobeat. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A. Tickets to the watch party are free. Click below to find out how to register.
BLACK MEDIA STORY SUMMIT
BIENNAL NATIONAL CONVENING
VIRTUAL
SUMMIT
Biennially, BPM convenes a National Black Media Story Summit. Representatives from media networks, talent agents, content creators, and content distributors convene at these gatherings to discuss the state of Black stories across commercial media, XR, and public television. The Covid-19 crisis has forced us to re-design the 2020 Summit so that the conversation continues even though we anticipate most participants will still be sheltering in place.
The redesigned 2020 Story Summit is now a three-day virtual convening that includes an opening Town Hall (see below), a series of concurrent virtual panel discussions on the topic of distribution, and a Pride Month a clip and conversation salute to the work of documentary trailblazer Marlon Riggs. We'll close the summit with a celebration of our 40th Anniversary Game Changers at a virtual Dance Party. The Summit will run Tues.-Thurs., June 23-25.
THE POWER OF PITCHING
A PRESENTATION WITH REEL SISTERS
GUEST
LECTURE
Black Public Media Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz will provide information on how to fine tune the elevator pitch you use to presenting your film and tv projects to major distributors and entertainment companies. She will also discuss funding and distribution opportunities BPM makes available to Black filmmakers and producers. This virtual presentation will be held May 28, 6-8 p.m. Pre-registration is required.
COVID-19 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
VIRTUAL PANEL
EVENT
On Tues., June 23, 2020, at 7 p.m., BPM will open it's second National Black Media Story Summit with a Virtual Town Hall discussion about some of the innovative ways members of the Black creative community are dealing with the economic challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
PAST EVENTS
INTRO TO 360 Cameras
CLASS
EMERGING
MEDIA
FEBRUARY 20
6:00-9:00 PM
Students learn the pros and cons of four 360-degree cameras: The Samsung 360, Insta360 One X, GoPro HERO4 Black, and the Kandao Obsidian R.
This class is taught by an experienced VR Camera instructor and is designed for those seeking an entry-level introduction to these powerful storytelling tools.
Location: International House in Harlem, New York, 6-9 PM, $75.
REGIONAL STORY SUMMIT
SCHEDULED PERIODICALLY
PANEL
EVENT
FEBRUARY 27
ST PAUL, MN
The Regional Black Media Story Summits convene local media stakeholders and social justice thought leaders to address the issues and concerns highlighted in The Black Paper at the regional level. These events foster stronger connections among local partners in the march up to the next National Black Media Story Summit, which is scheduled for June 2020.
The Twin Cities Regional Summit was co-hosted by BPM and TPT, the Twin Cities public television station.