Annual Film Festival Initiative
A global stage for bold storytelling—BESLA’s Film Festival showcases emerging filmmakers and powerful short films, connecting creators with top entertainment and sports law industry leaders.
Annual Film Festival Initiative
A global stage for bold storytelling—BESLA’s Film Festival showcases emerging filmmakers and powerful short films, connecting creators with top entertainment and sports law industry leaders.
BESLA’s Annual Film Festivals celebrates filmmakers all around the globe and celebrates African American storytelling. Filmmakers are invited to submit their short films every fall for a chance to showcase their work at BESLA’s Annual Conference. This is more than a screening—it’s an opportunity to showcase your work, gain recognition from influential industry professionals, and join a network of creatives and leaders shaping the future of entertainment. Finalists compete for the chance for their film to be featured on a major digital platform.
About Us
Eligibility
- Films must be 10 minutes or under, including credits.
- Submissions must be the entrant’s original work and must not infringe upon any third-party rights.
- Entrants must have all necessary rights and clearances for the submitted film at the time of submission, including music, images, and all other intellectual property.
Submission Guidelines
- Films must be in English or have English subtitles.
- Multiple entries are allowed, but each entry must be submitted separately.
- Works-in-progress are accepted, but final versions must be delivered by the screening deadline.
- Only new films are eligible. Films previously submitted to the festival in prior years will not be considered.
- If selected, filmmakers must provide a high-resolution digital file (ProRes or H.264) for screening. DCP is not accepted as the primary screening format.
Selection Process
- All eligible submissions are reviewed by the Festival Programming Team.
- Selection decisions are at sole discretion of BELSA.
- Selected films may be used for promotional purposes, including festival trailers, marketing materials, and social media.
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