*Black Public Media is bringing its PitchBLACK Forum & Awards back to Harlem for a second consecutive year, continuing its mission to elevate Black storytelling even as financial challenges mount. The two-day event is scheduled for April 29 and 30 at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria, with support from Netflix and Andscape, per the news release.
Launched in 2015, PitchBLACK has grown into the nation’s largest pitch competition for independent filmmakers and creative technologists focused on Black content. Over the years, projects supported through the initiative have gone on to premiere on public media and streaming platforms, expanding opportunities for underrepresented voices.
Celebrated documentary filmmakers Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith will be honored as 2026 BPM Trailblazers on April 30 during the PitchBLACK Awards. A retrospective of their films will be streamed, with an in-person conversation moderated by NPR’s Brittany Luse at City College of New York.
This year’s event moves forward despite a $1.8 million loss in federal funding tied to the 2025 public media rescission vote. Organizers say the program remains committed to backing new work, with five documentary teams and five immersive creators selected to present their ideas to industry judges. Film participants include Reniqua Allen-Lamphere, Luchina Fisher, Thomas Allen Harris, Malkia K. Lydia, and Fiz Olajide, while immersive creators include Mia Imani, Roshmond “Sum” Patten, Connor Wall, Jonathan Williams, and the team of Georgiana Wright and Naomi Urey.
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“PitchBLACK continues to spotlight bold storytelling and innovation from creatives whose work expands how Black stories are told and experienced,” said Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of BPM. “At a time when public media is facing devastating cuts, PitchBLACK is both a celebration and a declaration. We are moving forward with urgency and conviction to ensure these stories are not only told, but supported and seen.”
Winners will be revealed during the PitchBLACK Awards on April 30, where up to $150,000 in film funding and $50,000 for immersive projects will be awarded. Additional programming includes a two-week online retrospective of Nelson and Smith’s work.
Registration is required for the PitchBLACK Forum, which can be attended in person or virtually. Tickets for the awards program are $300.00 and are available through Ticketmaster. To find out more about or support PitchBLACK, visit blackpublicmedia.org.
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