The inaugural HBCU Week NOW Student Film Festival is set to showcase exceptional talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Ten award-winning films by students and recent graduates will begin streaming on January 27, marking a significant milestone for emerging filmmakers from these prestigious institutions.
The winning shorts will stream on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel after being selected from a competitive pool of 36 submissions from across the nation. Each winning project receives a $5,000 award and inclusion in the festival produced through a partnership between Maryland Public Television and Black Public Media, the Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit.
Diverse stories span multiple genres
The selected films represent a wide range of storytelling approaches and subjects, demonstrating the breadth of creative vision among HBCU students. Directors from Hampton University, Howard University and Spelman College created works spanning documentary, experimental, animation and science fiction categories.
The festival lineup includes films exploring true stories, fictional narratives and artistic experiments. Some works examine the first HBCU polo and lacrosse teams, while others tackle environmental justice themes and the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Additional films explore concepts of femininity and the Black body through various cinematic lenses.
Meet the winning filmmakers
- Hannah Koonce from Spelman College created For Me, By Me, representing the class of 2028.
- Kendi King, a 2025 Spelman graduate, directed From Rodeo to Polo: The First HBCU Polo Team, documenting athletic pioneers.
- Audra Davison from Spelman’s class of 2022 produced The Hale Academy.
- Nia Lambert, graduating from Spelman in 2025, crafted Lady T.
- Zachary Ramseur from Hampton University’s class of 2028 created One and Only.
- Jolene Carter, a 2025 Howard University student, directed Paralysis by Analysis.
- Quaran Ahmad from Howard’s class of 2025 produced Shotgun.
- Miya Scaggs, graduating from Spelman in 2025, created StarChild.
- Amira Barrett from Spelman’s class of 2025 directed What Is The Black Body?
- Kennedy Rome from Spelman’s class of 2026 completed Whispers of White.
Opening doors for emerging talent
Black Public Media issued an open call for submissions in spring 2025, welcoming entries from current HBCU students and recent graduates who completed their degrees within the past three years. The competition did not require enrollment in film or media programs, allowing students from all academic backgrounds to participate.
Travis E. Mitchell, Maryland Public Television senior vice president and chief content officer, emphasized how the festival provides emerging filmmakers from HBCUs with a national platform. He noted the initiative gives students momentum to transform their work into the next generation of public media content, honoring the enduring history and cultural heritage of these institutions.
Leslie Fields-Cruz, Black Public Media executive director, highlighted how the selected films demonstrate a strong pipeline for Black stories across different time periods. She praised the range from intimate documentaries to ambitious science fiction projects, noting these artists are prepared to lead future storytelling efforts.
Expanding Black History Month programming
HBCU Week NOW is amplifying its reach during Black History Month in February. The acclaimed Maryland Public Television documentary Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect returns to PBS stations nationwide, while two new short films will premiere on the HBCU Week NOW YouTube channel. Louisiana Public Broadcasting contributed Bayou Magic: The Alvin Jazz Institute, and Alabama Public Broadcasting created Wall of Sound.
The public media partnership includes Maryland Public Television, PBS North Carolina, South Carolina Educational Television, WXXI Rochester, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, WABE Atlanta, Howard University Television and WORLD. The initiative receives support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and sponsorship from Morgan State University.
The student film festival represents a cornerstone initiative celebrating HBCU culture through authentic storytelling while creating opportunities for the next generation of content creators.
Source: Black Public Media and Maryland Public Television via Cheryl Duncan
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