Pitch - BlackStar

BlackStar Pitch

A live pitch competition for short non-fiction projects, with a grand prize of $75,000 cash.

ABOUT

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, 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:

2 passes to the 2024 Camden International Film Festival
2 mentorship sessions with Multitude Films.
Feedback at the rough cut stage from BlackStar.

The BlackStar Pitch is designed to connect industry professionals with new voices in the independent film community. The event, taking place on Wednesday, July 31, will showcase the work of up to 6 filmmakers. Filmmakers will be selected based on their applications, due on 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 two 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.

BlackStar Pitch is hosted in partnership with Blackbird.

Application Closed

DATES & DEADLINES

April 8
Submissions Open

May 10
Application Deadline

June 17
Notification Date

June 28
Chosen projects accept and provide verification of text for publication.

July 31
Pitch Takes Place

August 5
Winners Announced

RULES & REGULATIONS

Presentation

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

Prizes

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.

Team

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.

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

Questions?

Have questions or concerns? Email [email protected]

2024 Finalists

Amy Martinez, director.
Chelsea Hernandez, producer.

The School of Hope

With unique access to outspoken teacher-founder Felicia Rangel-Samponaro THE SCHOOL OF HOPE will explore the fragile equilibrium of The Sidewalk School at the Mexico-Texas border which, against seemingly insurmountable odds, continues to strive to support and provide stability and education for vulnerable child asylum seekers in Matamoros.

Drew McCrary, director.
Xan McCrary, producer.

Searching for Saturn

In a captivating blend of documentary and speculative fiction, Searching for Saturn embarks on a soul-stirring trip through rural Alabama to uncover the enigmatic legacy of jazz icon Sun Ra and the Afrofuturist philosophy to map out a path toward queer liberation in the South.

Nausheen Dadabhoy, director.
Heba Elorbany, producer.

Halal Bodies

Do Muslim American parents have a sex talk with their kids? And if they don’t, how do young Muslims learn about sex, relationships, intimacy and their own sexual identities?

Nimco Sheikhaden, director.
Sara Chisiti, producer.

Exodus

EXODUS is a humanizing portrait of two women who face unique challenges following decades of incarceration. The film bears witness to their impassioned attempts to rebuild their lives and ultimately restore their humanity.

Odu Adamu, director.
Alexander Langford, Ricky Tucker, producers.

UNLEASHED! The Legacy of Tongues Untied

Unleashed explores Marlon Riggs’ groundbreaking film, Tongues Untied, and its unparalleled impact on Black, gay, queer, and same-gender loving men who create with a sense of community— and urgency.

Zeshawn Ali, director.
Aman Ali, producer.

Highways

Highways tells the story of a truck stop in the midwest which has become a hub for immigrant cross- country truck drivers. Through an observational lens, this film follows these men as they build lives in this new country and try to find home on the open roads.