There is an organisation fronting $150,000 to young filmmakers to help find the next innovative stories about black people in an initiative that is already bearing fruit.

Harlem based National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) is the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to media content about the black experience. They already produce the documentary series AfroPop and have many more projects starting to bloom.

In 2014 the organisation started their incubator and fund and offered between $50,000 and $100,000 to develop pilots. In year two of their 360 incubator fund they are offering up to $150k.

So, if you have something then you have until the end of the month and applications are available at www.bit.ly/NBPC360-2016.

BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Leslie Fields-Cruz, the head of the NBPC. Here is the begginning of their interview…

BlackEnterprise.com: How did the NBPC 360 incubator and fund come about, what was the catalyst?

Fields-Cruz: In 2013, the board and staff embarked on a strategic planning session. We needed to re-evaluate our mission and look at the programs we are offering black filmmakers. We needed think innovatively about what we can offer. We thought that an incubator would be a great opportunity. We have always done professional development but let’s figure out a way we can combine that with substantial rewards so that producers can walk away with money and a much stronger support system. We wanted to help them get the funding or financing to be closer to completion of their projects.

What type of artists or filmmakers do you seek to participate in the incubator?

We had about 160 applications last year and that was whittled down to 25 after the first round and out of that group we selected eight projects for the incubator. Usually we have 10 but last year we chose eight. We are not looking for those filmmakers who have just finished school and who don’t have too many credits to their name. [Rather], we are looking for the emerging producer or mid-career producer who has completed a film and it has had a broadcast or has had a very successful festival run. And they are looking to expand and build upon their career; they need additional support and to expand their network in the industry. We always had independent producers contacting NBPC and seeking funding.

buy spiriva online https://www.dentalmavericks.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/png/spiriva.html no prescription pharmacy

But we had not had an open call for about five years. So a lot of this year was me meeting and speaking to independent producers and letting them know what was coming down the pike. We are actively trying to bring new talent to work in the PBS system. We know that public television is very interested in [hiring] the next generation of talent and producing content that reflects the changing demographics.

And you can read much more here: http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/the-national-black-programming-consortium-is-offering-150000-to-independent-filmmakers/