Black Arts Movement Film Fest

Founded in 2019, Black Arts Movement Film Fest is a multi-day celebration of Black storytelling through film, held each Black August in Oakland’s Black Arts Movement Business District. BAM Film Fest emerges at the intersection of cultural preservation and radical imagination, using the power of film to spotlight Black life in all its complexity and brilliance. The festival honors the legacy of Black August and the Black Arts Movement, liberatory actions that understood storytelling as a form of liberation.

Venue

Bam House
1540 Broadway
Oakland, California 94612

Dates & Deadlines

June 21, 2025
Opening Date

July 11, 2025
Regular Deadline

July 18, 2025
Notification Date

August 1 – 3, 2025
Event Date

Awards & Prizes

Jury Prize
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short/Webseries
Best Narrative Short/Webseries
Best Music Video

Rules & Terms

BAM Film Fest accepts films made by and/or about people of Black/Afrikan descent. Filmmakers are not required to be of Afrikan descent.

Films can be of any genre -- drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, music video, etc. PAFF accepts features,, shorts and web series; narratives and documentaries.

All submissions must be in English or have English subtitles.

By submitting I understand that I am agreeing to the following:

I am currently the owner of this work. Should ownership or rights to my film change, I must notify the Black Arts Movement Film Fest. I own or control the copyright and am duly authorized to submit this documentary film to the Black Arts Movement Film Fest and to the best of my knowledge, all statements on this document are true;

This documentary contains no material which could result in tort claims, royalty claims, claims for breach of contract, or claims of any sort whatsoever; If this documentary is selected for screening at the Black Arts Movement Film Fest, I grant Black Arts Movement Film Fest the right to screen this film in the Bay Area, California, August 1-3, 2025;

I understand and agree that this film entry, if selected for the Film Fest, may be used for promotional purposes for the Festival and/or its partners and I grant Black Arts Movement Film Fest and its partners the rights to use clips of the footage, photographic stills and/or titles and information from the film for promotional purposes;

I fully indemnify and hold Black Arts Movement Film Fest and its partners harmless from any claims which may arise in connection with this film. If a claim arises in connection with this film, I will bear all the costs of defense incurred by Black Arts Movement Film Fest and pay any award of damages which may ensue. I also agree to reimburse Black Arts Movement Film Fest for any attorney fees incurred in connection with the defense of such a claim. By submitting my film, I am indicating that I understand, comply with and agree to the Terms of Entry and the eligibility requirements.

 

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