#OscarsSoWhite? Not here.

The 5th Annual BlackStar Film Festival will take place August 4 through August 7, 2016 in Philadelphia.

Submit to the 2016 Festival!

It's that time of year again! BlackStar 2016 submissions are officially open. Our early bird deadline is Monday February 29, and our regular deadline comes soon after on Friday March 18. Check out our FilmFreeway page to submit.

Some of the awards and prizes at BlackStar include:

Best Feature Narrative & Documentary
Best Short Narrative & Documentary
Best Experimental
Best Music Video
Audience Awards

To learn more visit blackstarfest.org/submissions.

Become a member

BlackStar is kicking off its inaugural membership program! Join today to save money, get access to exclusive perks (including waived submissions fees) and help to support one of the greatest cultural treasures in our city. For a limited time join at a discounted rate! Through April 30, 2016 you can join at 2/3 the cost of regular membership for only $75!

For more info visit blackstarfest.org/membership.

Celebrate

BlackStar is pleased to be the 2016 recipient of the PNC Arts Alive for Innovation in Honor of Peggy Amsterdam Award given by the Arts + Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. BlackStar along with the other 2016 winners will be recognized at the 31st Annual Awards Celebration on Tuesday, May 24, from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Tickets are on sale now!

Screenings

BlackStar is excited to be partnering with the producers of BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez (BlackStar 2015 Favorite Documentary Feature) to bring the film to a screen near you. If you are interesting in booking the film please contact Eugene Haynes, eugene@blackstarfest.org.

The film will be screening at the following dates and locations in the coming months:

Intermedia Arts Center (Minneapolis, MN): February 4-6, 2016
Pan African Film Festival (Los Angeles, CA): February 4-15, 2016
The Little Theatre (Rochester, NY): February 13, 2016
Women In Media - Newark (Newark, NJ): March 2016
Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY): April 2, 2016

Opportunities

The Flaherty Seminar

The prestigious Robert Flaherty Film Seminar is now accepting applications for their 2016 Fellowship Program. Fellowships cover the full cost of the Seminar. The deadline is Friday, February 19, 11:59pm (EST). Check out the details and the application form to apply at flahertyseminar.org.