For Venida, For Kalief

Kalief Browder’s everlasting legacy expands via the poetry of his mother, Venida in an unfolding poetic journey revealing how an individual’s life and afterlife can transcend boundaries to ignite change once thought unattainable.

For nearly 50 years, Black Public Media has worked with independent filmmakers and public television providers to develop and distribute documentaries, narrative films and digital shorts about the global Black experience. More recently, we’ve begun working with immersive media makers to ensure Black content is part of the immersive media landscape. Explore our website to learn more about this award-winning organization and the creatives it supports.

Are you a climate conscious fashion consumer?

American Experience - American Coup: Wilmington 1898

What The Storms Taught Us - Streaming Now

AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange - Season 16 Episode 3: Kati Kati

Subscribe to HBCUWeekNOW!

AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange - Listen To Me

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Men of Courage

AfroPoP Digital Shorts - R.E.S.T

AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange - This World Is Not My Own

AfroPoP Digital Shorts - Always Tracy

“My vision and my idea was always to share the achievements and contributions and beauty and talent and artistry of Black people with the world. And to do it through film and television.”

"I think that spaces like this are so important to give us the room to tell our stories in new and interesting ways"

"The call for content creators to share the African American Experience does not wait for peace or promise. Our stories are part of what makes the world a better place."

FOR MEDIA MAKERS

Resources and information to assist and support media makers.

FOR CREATIVE TECHNOLOGISTS

Resources and information to assist and support media makers.

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Dressed Like Kings

Stacy L. Holman

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Dressed Like Kings

Dressed Like Kings offers an intimate look at the South African tradition—oswenka—where men compete weekly for the title of “Best Dressed” to express pride and self-worth. Through the stories of three men, the film explores this fifty-year-old Zulu cultural practice, its challenges, and the question of whether such self-expression is worth the cost.

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Sweet Samara

Divad Durant

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: The Aunties

Charlyn Griffith-Oro, Jeannine Kaymebe-Oro

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Spare Me

Will Mauricette

AfroPoP Digital Shorts: Sundown Road

M. Asli Dukan

Outta The Muck | Trailer

Director: Ira McKinley and Bhawin Suchak

Watch Trailer

The Picture Taker | Trailer

Directors: Phil Bertelsen

Watch Trailer

The Big Payback | Trailer

Directors: Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow

Watch Trailer

Let The Little Light Shine | Trailer

Director: Kevin Shaw

Watch Trailer

Last Call for Open Call

This Thursday is the final day to submit projects for consideration in our 2026 Open Call. I can't wait to see what folks are working on...

A Seat at the Table

As the public media community convenes to reimagine its future, let's ensure that the NMCA has a seat at the table....

Reflections on PolicyLink Summit 2026

A couple of weeks ago, I promised to share my reflections from this year's PolicyLink Summit. Read today's post for those thoughts....

It’s Open Call Time Y’all!

I hope you've enjoyed this summer. I certailny appreciated my vacay. The older I get, the more precious these late summer delights become....

Late Summer Delights

I hope you've enjoyed this summer. I certailny appreciated my vacay. The older I get, the more precious these late summer delights become....

Liberated with BlackStar 15!

This year was BlackStar Film Festival’s 15th convening and it was as liberating, energizing, and fulfilling as always....

Our Makers Are Crushing It!

The summer film festival season is in full swing and BPM is pleased to see several of the films it has supported in the mix....

‘Yes, We Can’ is What We Do

During America's 250th celebration last weekend, some of us reflected on Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”...

Celebrate Blackness and Liberty Wherever Freedom Rings

During America's 250th celebration last weekend, some of us reflected on Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”...

‘Declarations’ and Other True Stories this Month

A new film by Stacey Holman about the role Black Americans played in the Revolutionary War and beyond is now streaming on PBS....

NYT Names ‘AfroPoP’ Among 30 Shows to Watch This Summer

The New York Times has named BPM's AfroPoP Season18 to the top of its "30 Shows to Watch this Summer” list....

Summer Film Festival Season is Red Hot!

The summer film festival season is off to a red hot start. Don't miss your chance to catch sreenings featuring BPM-funded films and/or makers....

‘AfroPoP’ is Back!

Towards the end of last summer, I wasn't sure we'd be in a position to host another season of "AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange."...

Preserving Youth Storyteller Camps

Freedom Hill Film School has lost its funding partner and is in danger of canceling the 2026 summer camp. Unless we help....

Globetrotting for Public Interest Stories

Just two days after announcing the 2026 PitchBLACK winners, I hopped on a plane to attend this year's INPUT conference in Bogotá, Colombia....

And the Winners Are …

Last week's PitchBLACK program was outstanding! If you were lucky enough to be there for both events, you know what I'm talking about ......

It’s Time to Pitchblack

By the time you read this, PitchBLACK 2026 will already be underway. Ten teams, pitching 10 projects and hoping to win up to $150K....

Pitchin’ Ain’t Easy

I recently attended a comedy pitch fest that included two of BPM's former fellows. ... It reminded me that pitchin'ain't easy....

Saluting Our Trailblazers

Creating new pathways is ardous work. Creating a path for others to traverse — and continue to improve — is even more grueling.....

Last Chance to Save on PitchBLACK Tix

Today is your last chance to purchase Earlybird PitchBLACK Awards tickets at a 50% discount. Don't miss this opportunity to save....

Elevating Women’s Voices in Media

We are in a moment when women's voices are openly dismissed and their contributions quietly erased. ... This is why women in media matter....

Filling the Herstory Void

This month, we salute Angela Tucker and other filmmakers who are filling the herstory void by making films like "The Inquisitor."...

Speaking Truth to Power

MARCH 5, 2026 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Last week, I was honored to sit on the 2026 international INPUT selection committee. We met in Warsaw, Poland. In this role, I had a chance to see a...

Change is Hard

FEBRUARY 24, 2026 BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA WEEKLY DISPATCH By Leslie Fields-Cruz Change is inevitable. Substantive change is very hard. But some strategies make it easier than others. As our industry adjusts to new realities, I implore us to ensure the...

Love Lessons from the ‘Benito Bowl’

Mixing art and love in contentious times Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King...