Black Public Media has opened submissions for its 2026 Open Call, inviting independent filmmakers to submit feature-length nonfiction projects for the opportunity to participate in the 10th PitchBLACK Forum & Awards next spring.

PitchBLACK is described by Black Public Media as the nation’s largest pitch competition for independent filmmakers who create Black content. Five projects will be selected to participate, with each selected filmmaker receiving $20,000 to support their project. The winning project will receive an additional $150,000 production award.

Black Public Media is seeking projects across a range of formats, styles, subject matter and genres. The organization is particularly interested in stories that explore critical issues, promote cultural understanding and engage national audiences and/or local communities.

Projects may be in pre-production, production or early post-production, but must be suitable for public media distribution.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be the producer or director of the proposed project. Applicants must have at least three years of professional producing and/or directing experience or have a senior producer attached to the project. They must also hold artistic, budgetary and editorial control and own the copyright of the proposed project.

Submissions will be accepted through Thursday, October 1, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Black Public Media will host a free informational webinar about the 2026 Open Call on Wednesday, September 9, at 6 p.m. ET. The webinar will provide guidance on how to apply and information about how acceptance decisions are made.

Founded in 1979, Black Public Media funds film and immersive stories, develops media makers, and produces and distributes original content. Since launching PitchBLACK in 2015, the Harlem-based national nonprofit has awarded more than $2 million to film and immersive media projects.

Films that have competed at PitchBLACK have gone on to premiere on PBS, WORLD, Create and PBS Digital. Program alumni have produced film, television and immersive projects for PBS, CNN, Showtime, Netflix, HBO, BET, NBC, The CW and other outlets.

The program's recent alumni have also received recognition at the BlackStar Film Festival. Last month, two former PitchBLACK winners received top jury honors at the festival. Zenón and the Rebel Boats by Juan C. Dávila Santiago, with Camila Rodriguez Estrada as producer, received the festival's Best Feature Documentary award. Finding Your Laughter by Arlieta Hall, with Brittany Alsot as producer, received a Special Mention.

“As we prepare for our 10th PitchBLACK, we are looking for filmmakers with urgent, original stories that can deepen understanding of the Black experience and connect with audiences across the country,” said Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media. “We’re looking forward to identifying compelling projects, investing in the people behind them and helping prepare filmmakers to take their work to the next level.”

Black Public Media is continuing its work following the loss of $1.8 million from its budget after Congress' 2025 vote to rescind federal funding for public media. In response, the organization established the Black Stories Production Fund to help ensure that Black stories are not subject to political whims.

Black Public Media supports content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience. According to the organization, it has invested more than $18 million in documentaries and immersive media projects over nearly 50 years.

BPM-supported projects have received five Anthem Awards, five Emmys, 10 Peabodys, 14 Emmy nominations and an Academy Award nomination.

The organization is also expanding its community of supporters through its 1.8 Million Donors campaign and the Black Stories Production Fund.