Filmmakers

Submit Your Film

Submissions are currently closed! Stay tuned for the submission deadlines to be considered for the 2023 estival.

The Black Film Festival of New Orleans proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, the world’s best online submission platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners, unlimited video storage, digital press kits, and more. Click to submit with FilmFreeway or to learn more.

Submit via Film Freeway

Awards & Prizes

At our Jazz Brunch awards show we’ll recognize the best films and the best performances of the festival. Our specially customized awards will be given in the following categories.

Best Feature
Best Short Film
Best Web content
Best Documentary
Best New Orleans Project
Best Actor & Actress
Best Director *
Best Writer
Best Cinematography *
Best Music/Sound *
Best Animation
Best Wardrobe/Makeup
Audience Award

(Individual awards, web content and shorts will be considered together. Features will have their own individual awards, and documentaries will be separate where applicable and in categories indicated by asterisks.)

Sponsor Prizes

Our generous sponsor Sound Hard has donated $500 in sound equipment rentals to the winner of our Best New Orleans project. And Women in Film & Television is awarding a $100 prize to our jury award winner for best film.

"Great Celebration"

Thank you for hosting an inspiring festival. The films were diverse and top-notch, and it was a great celebration of the talented filmmakers. The festival volunteers are so friendly and passionate about filmmaking. Another special element was the organizers emphasis in engaging the city. The Black Film Festival of New Orleans captures the spirit and culture of the city.

Paul Fishback via FilmFreeway

"Welcoming"

As a New Orleans based filmmaker, I was very excited to see so much work by local filmmakers, but there were also talented artists from all over the country. Gian went out of his way to be welcoming of everyone, and to make sure time in New Orleans was well spent. In addition to bringing together artists from all over, this was a very nurturing event for the local film community.

Rachel Grissom via FilmFreeway

"Culturally Rich Experience"

Festival Director Gian Smith cooked up a culturally rich experience for us Black Film Festival of New Orleans filmmakers! In addition to well attended screenings with in-depth Q&A sessions, he curated a weekend of activities that introduced us to the city's vibrant and diverse arts community - including one of the most impactful walking tours I've ever witnessed

Albert Lawrence via FilmFreeway