HBCU Week NOW announces its first student film festival and an open call for submissions that look at the contributions of historically Black colleges and universities. The virtual festival will launch during Black History Month in 2026 with films made exclusively by HBCU students. Harlem-based Black Public Media is in charge of the call. Ten short films no longer than 30 minutes will be chosen and each filmmaker will receive $5,000. Submissions are due by Saturday, April 12, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and can be entered via the Black Public Media website. Filmmakers should be currently enrolled at an HBCU or to have recently graduated from one within the past three years. An information webinar is available on the Black Public Media site. “We welcome this opportunity to partner with HBCU Week NOW to identify and amplify young talent and their stories,” said Qiona Woffard, director of talent development at BPM. “We look forward to helping push the new voices of the film community to the forefront with this exciting new festival.”
