Honoring Black, Brown, and Indigenous luminaries in the field of art, film, and creative culture.
The Gala is BlackStar’s premiere fundraising event, supporting a suite of year-round cultural programming that provides Black, Brown, and Indigenous artists with the resources, support, and shine they need to thrive.
The Luminary Awards — previously handed out at the annual film festival — honor individuals and collectives for their contributions as artists and cultural workers. Past award recipients include: COUSIN Collective (2023), Mira Nair (2022), Menelik Shabazz (2021), Marcia Smith (2019), Ava DuVernay (2017), Julie Dash (2016), RZA (2014), and Howard University Film Program (2013).
The 2024 Luminary Awards will be held on December 3 at The Switch House in Philadelphia.