The annual pitch competition will select five independent filmmakers to compete for production funding and support for their feature-length nonfiction projects.
By Joseph Jonathan
Black Public Media (BPM) has opened submissions for its 2026 Open Call, inviting independent filmmakers to submit feature-length nonfiction projects for the opportunity to participate in the 10th PitchBLACK Forum & Awards, the organisation’s annual pitch competition for filmmakers creating Black stories.
Five projects will be selected to participate in PitchBLACK next spring, with each selected filmmaker receiving $20,000 to support their project. The eventual winning project will receive an additional $150,000 in production funding.
The open call welcomes projects across a range of formats, styles, subject matter, and genres. BPM is particularly interested in stories that explore critical issues, promote cultural understanding, and engage national audiences and/or local communities. Submitted projects may be in pre-production, production, or early post-production, but must be suitable for public media distribution.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be the producer or director of the proposed project. They must have at least three years of professional producing and/or directing experience, or have a senior producer attached to the project. Applicants must also retain artistic, budgetary, and editorial control of their project and own its copyright.
The PitchBLACK programme, launched in 2015, was created to help independent filmmakers bring high-quality and consequential stories to audiences. Since its inception, BPM says the programme has awarded more than $2 million to film and immersive media projects. Films that have participated in PitchBLACK have gone on to premiere on PBS, WORLD, Create, and PBS Digital, while programme alumni have produced film, television, and immersive projects for platforms including CNN, Showtime, Netflix, HBO, BET, NBC, and The CW.
PitchBLACK alumni have also recently received recognition at the BlackStar Film Festival. In August, Zenón and the Rebel Boats by Juan C. Dávila Santiago, produced by Camila Rodriguez Estrada, received the festival’s Best Feature Documentary award, while Finding Your Laughter by Arlieta Hall, produced by Brittany Alsot, received a Special Mention.
The 2026 call arrives as Black Public Media continues to navigate the loss of $1.8 million from its budget following Congress’ 2025 decision to rescind federal funding for public media. In response, BPM established the Black Stories Production Fund to support the continued production and distribution of Black stories, while reducing the organisation’s dependence on public funding that can be affected by political decisions.
Founded in 1979, Black Public Media supports the development of independent content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience. Over nearly five decades, the organisation says it has invested more than $18 million in documentaries and innovative immersive media projects. BPM-supported projects have received five Anthem Awards, five Emmy Awards, 10 Peabody Awards, 14 Emmy nominations, and an Academy Award nomination.
The 2026 PitchBLACK Open Call is open to eligible filmmakers until October 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. BPM will also host a free informational webinar on September 9 at 6 p.m. ET, where prospective applicants can receive guidance on the application process and learn more about how acceptance decisions are made. For further information on eligibility, submission guidelines, and to apply for the 2026 PitchBLACK Open Call, visit Black Public Media’s official website.