ABOUT

The BlackStar Pitch is designed to connect industry professionals with new voices in the independent film community. Taking place in-person during the 2025 BlackStar Film Festival on Thursday, July 31, with a closed audience up to 200 people. The event will showcase the work of up to 6 filmmakers, who will be selected based on their applications, due April 2. The filmmakers will receive coaching and an opportunity to pitch their works-in-progress to a distinguished panel of judges including funders, executives, distributors, and producers. The 6 finalists will also have a chance to meet one-on-one with a minimum of 2 judges, in virtual sessions prior to the Pitch contest to get direct feedback and advice on their projects. 

The judges will choose the best pitch, to be announced privately during BlackStar's Directors Brunch & Award Ceremony on Saturday, August 3rd, and announced publicly on Monday, August 4th, 2025.

Each pitch will last 7 minutes and will be followed by 8 minutes of constructive feedback. 

DETAILS

Eligibility

Pitches should be submitted by a project’s director or producer. Each pitch team must consist of a minimum of one and maximum of three members.

Directors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for The Pitch. Directors who are not based in the United States are not eligible to participate in The Pitch for this cycle. Directors must identify as Black, Brown, or Indigenous. 

Productions with principal photography taking place outside of the United States are eligible to apply.

Pitches are for short nonfiction projects only; series will not be accepted. Projects must be in the development or production stage, with a total budget cap of $125,000.

Presentation

Each pitch will last 7 minutes followed by 8 minutes of constructive feedback. 

Prize

The first-place pitch will receive a $75,000 prize for production funds as well as mentorship from Multitude Films, feedback from BlackStar Projects programs staff, and (2) passes to the 2025 Camden Film Festival.

A second-place winner will receive a $25,000 prize for production funds as well as feedback from BlackStar Projects programs staff and (2) passes to the 2025 Camden Film Festival.

Deadline

The application will open on February 26, 2025. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM PT on April 2, 2025.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by May 26, 2025.

Acceptance

Chosen projects will have to accept the offered pitch slot and provide verification of text for publication by June 13, 2025.
 

Questions?

Have questions or concerns? Email sydney@blackstarfest.org.

PARTNERS