In 2024, BlackStar Film Festival will host the fifth BlackStar Pitch. 

Filmmakers will pitch their short nonfiction projects in front of a panel of judges to receive feedback and have an opportunity to win a grand prize of $75,000 cash. 

In addition to the cash prize, the grand prize winner will also receive:

• (2) passes to the 2024 Camden International Film Festival 
• formal feedback and notes at rough and fine-cut stages from BlackStar Programs staff
• mentorship from award-winning documentary production company Multitude Films, including consultancy on pre-production, connections to industry crew, feedback at the rough cut stage, and support in developing a distribution and exhibition plan for the completed short. 

There will also be a runner-up prize of $25,000 cash plus: 

• two (2) passes to the 2024 Camden International Film Festival
• two (2) mentorship sessions with Multitude Films.
• feedback at the rough cut stage from BlackStar. 

ABOUT

The BlackStar Pitch is designed to connect industry professionals with new voices in the independent film community. Taking place on Wednesday, July 31, the event will showcase the work of up to 6 filmmakers, who will be selected based on their applications, due May 10. 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 the Filmmaker Brunch on Saturday, August 3, and announced publicly on Monday, August 5, 2024.

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

JUDGES

Erika Dilday | Executive Director of American Documentary Inc;  Executive Producer of POV

Jess Devaney | Founder & President, Multitude Films

Jess Kwan | Vice President of The Concordia Fellowship at Concordia Studios 

Jihan Robinson  | VP, Documentary Film & Series, Onyx Collective at Disney Entertainment

Jon-Sesrie Goff | Program Officer, JustFilms, Ford Foundation

Mervyn Marcano | Field/House Productions

DETAILS

Team

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

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 2024 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 2024 Camden Film Festival. 

Deadline

The application will open on April 8, 2024. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM PT on May 10, 2024.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by June 17, 2024. 

Acceptance

Chosen projects will have to accept the offered pitch slot and provide verification of text for publication by June 28, 2024

Questions?

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

PARTNERS