The 2026 Open Call is NOW OPEN

BPM’S 2026 Open Call welcomes submissions from Tuesday, Sept. 1 to Thursday, Oct. 1.

Anyone who has ever watched Black content on public media has likely been touched by the work of Black Public Media. For nearly 50 years, we’ve 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.

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American Experience - American Coup: Wilmington 1898

What The Storms Taught Us - Streaming Now

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

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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

It’s Open Call Time Y’all!

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Change is Hard

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Love Lessons from the ‘Benito Bowl’

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