April 23, 2024
April 23, 2024BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
By Leslie Fields-Cruz
PitchBLACK Opens Tomorrow!
Happy PitchBLACK week! We at BPM look forward to continuing our Earth Day celebration by hosting you at our seventh PitchBLACK Forum & Awards program. Whether you’re joining us in person or virtually, get ready to meet the high level of talent we’ve convened for this year’s competition. Today was our “dress rehearsal,” so I’ve been listening to the makers practice their pitches. I am deeply impressed with not only the range of issues their projects cover, but the depth of passion each maker brings to their work. I’m glad I’m not a judge. Figuring out who wins isn’t going to be easy.
Last fall, our Open Call invited film projects specifically focusing on climate change and the environment. As a result, all five of the film teams participating in this year’s PitchBLACK are working on climate-oriented projects. I can’t think of a better way to continue this week’s Earth Day celebration than to attend PitchBLACK and hear what these visionary content creators are working on. And while the immersive projects aren’t focused on climate issues, they are equally as compelling and timely.
In-Person Seats are Sold Out!
If you had planned to attend PitchBLACK in person, but haven’t yet reserved your tickets, I’m sorry to say, you’re out of luck. The in-person events are entirely SOLD OUT. Fortunately, we are still accepting registrations for people who wish to watch virtually. If you’re interested, register today.
BPM is grateful to Netflix for their ongoing support of the PitchBLACK program. We thank PBS for supporting our BPM Trailblazer Award. We appreciate the Sonder Foundation for supporting our Nonso Christian Ugbode Award. We are also deeply grateful to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for supporting the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund, and to our PitchBLACK Friends.
By the end of the week, we’ll know which of these worthy projects have won PitchBLACK Awards. Today, however, I want to express congratulations to ALL of the participating teams. Each of your projects – whether they win or not – are important. I hope participating in this program has strengthened your vision for your project. I hope the interaction you’ve had with your fellow makers and mentors helps reduce the feeling of isolation that sometimes accompanies this type of work. Finally, I hope this experience equips you to more confidently pursue the financial support you need to bring these projects to fruition. My colleagues and I wish you the best of luck. It has been our honor and privilege to work with you.
