BlackStar Film Festival 2025
Jul 31 — Aug 3
Mission
The BlackStar Film Festival is an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and global communities of color — showcasing films by Black, Brown, and Indigenous people from around the world. What we do:
• Provide an expansive view of indie cinema of the global majority.
• Create space for nuanced discourse at the intersection of film, art, and social justice movements.
• Support genre-defying artists at the vanguard of imagining a more liberatory world.
Highlights from the 2024 festival.
“ BlackStar Film Festival has grown into a marquee platform for showcasing some of the world’s most creative and influential Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices in filmmaking and the visual arts.”
OKLA JONES, ESSENCE
Director Shatara Michelle Ford speaks after the world premiere of Dreams in Nightmares at BlackStar Film Festival 2024. Photo by Mochi Robinson.
Community
Select Festival Alumni and Guests
Adepero Oduye
Ahmir ‘Questlove’
Thompson
Arthur Jafa
Ava DuVernay
Bashir Salahuddin
Blitz Bazawule
Bradford Young
Darius Clark Monroe
Denée Benton
dream hampton
Elissa Blount Moorhead
Gabourey Sidibe
Garrett Bradley
Haile Gerima
Imani Perry
J Wortham
Julie Dash
Kahlil Joseph
Lisa Cortés
Lulu Wang
Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich
Tariq ‘Black Thought’
Trotter
Experience
Film Screenings
Parties Panels & Conversations
Special Events
Venues
In 2025, the festival is slated to take place in Center City Philadelphia, at multiple venues along the Avenue of the Arts, including the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center and Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
Timeline
June 3 Festival Program Announced
July 1
Jul 31 - Aug 3
Festival
“The festival works to promote a fiercely expansive crop of work...[It] goes beyond representation”
Arimeta Diop, Vanity Fair
Audience
In 2024, the Festival had a record-breaking year for ticket and pass sales. We continue to attract a multiracial, cross-generational demographic to Philadelphia, with major attendance from surrounding metropolitan areas, including New York City and Washington D.C. Our core audience can be described as one that’s attuned to and vocal in conversations around the power of the moving image and shifting narratives about communities of color.
This is a crowd that thrives on seeking out exciting independent artists and emerging visionaries before everyone else finds out about them.
• 96 Films Screened
• 48 Countries Represented
• 7 Panels
• 7,000+ in person
• 10,000+ online
• 60+ press mentions, including in Vanity Fair, Philadelphia Inquirer, Variety, and more, reaching a combined audience of over 4 million readers.
They are tastemakers, trendsetters, creatives, industry insiders and most of all socially conscious supporters of projects and filmmakers who honor and authentically portray the day-to-day lives of the global majority.
“ I believe one day we’ll look back, and BlackStar will really show a continuity of a whole lineage of filmmakers from the Haile Gerimas to the Jenn Nkirus and Ja’Tovia Garys.”
MADELEINE HUNT-EHRLICH, FILMMAKER
Notable Films
The
Dreams In Nightmares
The
Random Acts of Flyness Seeking Mavis Beacon
The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire
Mars One
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
Burial of Kojo
Forty-Year Old Version
Press
"BlackStar’s greatest achievement is its ability to realize the festival experience described in its aims, to “create space for imagination, critique, gathering, pleasure, love and radical care."
“At the BlackStar Film Festival, a Revelatory Understanding of Cinema” “Deeply conscious of the current moment — while glancing back, forward, and even out of this world.”
“The intimacy and intricate care that BlackStar puts into the organization and accessibility of its annual film festival make it feel like a deeply considered project.”
"[BlackStar has] bloomed into a prized platform and community-builder that is unlike any other film festival in the country."
"[BlackStar is] more than just a film festival—it is a movement that celebrates and amplifies marginalized voices." “BlackStar Film Festival Has a Mission, and Plenty of Ambition”
Sponsorship
Sponsorship at BlackStar Film Festival is designed to support your company’s business objectives and align your company’s name, image, products and services with our influential and creative participants.
Sponsorship deadline: May 31, 2025
Sponsorship Packages
Customization of sponsorship packages are available at the Silver and above levels. To discuss sponsorship packages, contact Chief Operations Officer, Catherine Lee, at catherine@blackstarfest.org.
Sponsorship Levels
Title $250,000
• Exclusive Title Sponsor of the Festival
• Logo placement at top tier on all promotional materials, on festival trailer, on step-andrepeat, on street advertising, and on festival lanyards
• Two page opening ad in program guide and ad in festival takeaway
• 20 Industry passes
• 6 Invitations to Directors’ Brunch and Awards Ceremony
• Activation opportunities and logo placement at all venues, including in-venue banners and activation at opening and closing night parties
Platinum $125,000
• Logo placement in second tier in all promotional materials, on street advertising, and on festival trailer
• Acknowledgement in radio and podcast ads
• Back inside cover ad in program guide and ad in festival takeaway
• 10 Industry passes
• Promotional product in filmmaker gift bag
• In-person Festival and Digital Festival onscreen ads (up to 15 seconds) before each screening
• 4 Invitations to Directors’ Brunch and Awards Ceremony
• Activation opportunity at primary venue
• Social media activation and discount benefits of Bronze tier
Gold $75,000
• Acknowledgement before every screening and panel
• Logo placement in third tier, on website, and program guide
• Full page ad in program guide
• 6 Industry passes
• Promotional product in filmmaker gift bag
• In-person Festival and Digital Festival on-screen digital still ad before each screening
• 2 Invitations to Directors’ Brunch and Awards Ceremony
• Social media activation and discount benefits of Bronze tier
Sponsorship Levels
Silver $50,000
• Logo placement in fourth tier, on website and program guide
• Half page ad in program guide
• 4 Industry passes
• 1 Invitation to Directors’ Brunch and Awards Ceremony
• Social media activation and discount benefits of Bronze tier
Bronze $25,000
Brass $10,000
• Logo placement in sixth tier, on website and program guide
• Social media activation
• Pass and discount benefits of Copper tier
• Logo placement in fifth tier, on website and program guide
• Half page ad in program guide
• 2 Industry passes
• Discount code for 15% off passes and tickets for employees/ members
• Social media activation
Copper $5,000
• Logo placement in seventh tier, on website and program guide
• 2 All Access passes
• Discount code for 10% off passes and tickets for employees/ members
Industry Lounge
Lead Sponsorship: $75,000
The Industry Lounge provides an intimate space for participating filmmakers and Industry passholders to network, build knowledge, and relax each day during the Festival. The Industry Lounge is a special space with opportunities for special programming and engagement with those working in the field.
The Daily Jawn Stage
Lead Sponsorship:
$50,000
The Daily Jawn Stage, which attracts thousands of attendees to the lobby of the Kimmel Center, features a robust schedule of panels, Q&As, and other events throughout the duration of the Festival, creating space for critical dialogue and additional engagement with themes related to the film program as well as relevant topics from the wider field. The stage and all associated events are free and open to the public.
BlackStar Bazaar
Lead Sponsorship:
$30,000
Located inside the central venue, BlackStar Bazaar spotlights independent artisans selling art, apparel, accessories, décor, and more. The Bazaar, which is curated to showcase local Black, Brown, and Indigenous-owned businesses, is free and open to the public.
Opening or Closing Night Party
Lead Sponsorship:
$30,000 each
The Opening and Closing Night parties are two of the most well-attended single events of the festival. With over 1800 tickets issued in 2024, the Opening Night Party kicks off the Festival in the spirit of community and high vibrations, while the Closing Night Party closes out the Festival with unforgettable energy and style. Festival parties are free and open to the public.
Director's Brunch
Lead Sponsorship: $25,000
Annually, BlackStar awards outstanding filmmakers in the following categories: Best Feature Documentary, Short Documentary, Feature Narrative, Short Narrative, Experimental Film, and the Philadelphia Filmmaker Award. These awards are presented at the exclusive Filmmaker Awards & Director's Brunch Ceremony.
Filmmaker Mixer
Lead Sponsorship: $25,000
The Filmmaker Mixer is a Saturday night happy hour event that creates a space for both celebration and networking amongst participating filmmakers, industry professionals, and aspiring filmmakers.
Accessibility
Lead Sponsorship: $25,000
BlackStar Film Festival thoughtfully centers access and disability justice principles. Our goal is to ensure our programming continues to be access-centered so that we are not developing programming that excludes, rather ensuring that each program is inherently accessible. In a 2023 report by FWD-DOC, we were listed among the five most accessible film festivals in the world. According to the survey (which included 75 of the top festivals between 2022 and 2023), BlackStar ranked number 2.
Accessibility Measures
• Production of a Festival Accessibility Guide
• Hiring of ASL Interpreters and Audio Describers
• Acquiring equipment and integrating technology for audio description, captions, etc."
• Purchasing COVID tests, masks, air purifiers and other health safety materials
We dedicate significant resources to implementing accessibility measures under the guidance of peers, artists and staff, and guided by disability justice consultants.
We are continuously looking for support to enrich our accessibility offerings, which serve at least ~17% of our audience. You can help us remain at the forefront of the industry through cash or in-kind sponsorship.
First Friday at the Barnes
Lead Sponsorship: $25,000
Each year, BlackStar partners with the Barnes Foundation to co-host their regularly scheduled First Friday program. The event features live music and performances, art, cocktails, and light fare and provides an opportunity for increased Festival visibility to a new audience.
Opening or Closing Night Screening
Lead Sponsorship: $10,000
The Opening and Closing Night films are one of the most anticipated and high-profile screening opportunities of the festival. Featuring World, North America, or US premieres, this event will sell out and receive national press coverage and feature an official red carpet.
Wellness
Lead Sponsorship: $10,000
Radical care, engaged listening and centering the needs of our audience, team, local vendors, artists, and collaborators are at the very heart of BlackStar’s work. We meticulously craft spaces in which all participants are recognized as kindred; necessary strands of an ever-expanding tapestry of connection.
We welcome partners that deeply value radical hospitality to help extend the reach of our care.
Wellness Initiatives
• Hosting facilitated grounding and debrief sessions around programming with heavy or disturbing themes;
• Allocating quiet spaces for neurodivergent guests or folks who require a moment of relief and restoration amidst the festival's fast-paced environment.
Merchandise
From outfitting our Staff to partnering on the official Festival sweatshirt, there are numerous opportunities for high visibility and impact via merchandise sponsorship. We produce over 1000 items of merchandise annually, including t-shirts, hats, and publications.
In-Kind Sponsorship
We also welcome in-kind sponsorship of other products or services as it aligns with our programmatic needs. Should you be interested, please reach out to our team to discuss options.
Additional opportunities to sponsor products and events not mentioned above are available.
To discuss bespoke sponsorship packages, contact Catherine Lee, Chief Operations Officer, at catherine@blackstarfest.org.
“ BlackStar stood out in the most spectacular way. From submissions to the last day of the festival, the level of intentionality was brilliant. BlackStar is legit one of the best festivals I have ever attended.”
BLACKSTAR 2024 FILMMAKER
In the heart of Philly + online worldwide.
Whether you’re a seasoned brand or an indie newcomer, by advertising with the festival, you have the opportunity to reach our influential audience in-person and around the world. Advertising deadline: June 9, 2025
Visit blackstarfest.org/festival/ advertising for guidelines
program guides
page views
Advertising Rates
*Interstitials are 10 second still or video ads that play on a loop before and after screenings, without sound. Virtual screening ads are 10 seconds and play directly before a film in the virtual festival platform. All ads are displayed in full color.
In-Person
Events:
Print ads, tabling opportunities, and interstitial* ads at screenings, panels, and parties happening in-person in Philadelphia
Tabling
Pre-Screening
$1,000 Single day tabling
$1,000 Single interstitial ad
$3,500 Half page in festival program guide
Online:
Ads before virtual screenings or placement on the BlackStar streaming website itself
Website
VOD
$1,000 Single webpage ad or Newsletter banner
$1,000 Single pre-screening still ad
$3,500 Full festival tabling
$50,000 Full festival interstitial ads
$5,000 Full page in festival program guide
$25,000 Ad in fest takeaway
$2,500 Single page banner
$50,000
Exclusive homepage banner
$2,500 Single pre-screening video ad
$50,000 All screenings ad
2024 Sponsors
Join Us
Take part in the world’s most welcoming, inspiring, and collaborative festival for filmmakers of the global majority. Support fiercely independent media and genredefying artists who are shaping and shifting culture. Engage with our multicultural audience of tastemakers and influential attendees.
Advertising: blackstarfest.org/ads
Sponsorship: blackstarfest.org/sponsorship
Maori Karmael Holmes
Chief Executive & Artistic Officer maori@blackstarfest.org
Imran Siddiquee
Chief Communications Officer
imran@blackstarfest.org
Catherine Lee Chief Operations Officer catherine@blackstarfest.org