Black Film Space

Name

Black Film Space

Legal name

Black Film Space Inc

Website

https://blackfilmspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Industry Education and Community Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAJ

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYMPADAAAO

Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Film Development & Financing

SECONDARYMPADAKAF

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

Keywords

• Black filmmaker support
• Film industry education
• Filmmaker community programs
• Screenwriting mentorship
• Nonprofit film grants

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscription at $75/year providing access to programs, events, grants, mentorship applications, workshops, and community networking. Membership is non-refundable after 7 days.
2. Donations and Contributions: One-time donations, monthly recurring donations through BFS Champions program, major gifts ($5,000+), employer matching gifts, stock donations, and donor-advised fund contributions. Black Film Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 84-4051388) enabling tax-deductible donations.
3. Foundation and Corporate Sponsorships: Funding from foundations (cliveRd, The Gotham) and corporate sponsors (A&E Networks, Giant Pictures, Tongal, Entertainmint) who support the organization's grant programs and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Black Film Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 that supports Black filmmakers through education, community programs, grants, mentorship, and industry resources. It offers paid membership, grants, fiscal sponsorship, screenwriting accountability groups, courses, virtual panels, a podcast, a jobs board, and events such as BFS Weekend and The Black Film Space Awards.

Product overview

Black Film Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a membership-based platform with multiple interconnected programs designed to support Black filmmakers throughout their careers. The core offering is the $75/year membership which provides access to grants, mentorship, screenwriting development tools, educational content, and community features. Key products include the Grants Program (providing direct funding from $500 micro-grants to $10,000 proof of concept grants), the Mentorship Program (pairing filmmakers with industry professionals), Fiscal Sponsorship (enabling fundraising under their nonprofit status), Screenwriting Accountability Group (structured Zoom writing sessions), TV Pilot Writing Course (paid course with Atlanta Film Project), Free Virtual Panels (recorded educational content), the Black Film Space Podcast (industry interviews), Jobs Board (Google Groups-based opportunity sharing), BFS Weekend (annual conference), and The Black Film Space Awards (annual gala). The portfolio ranges from free community resources to premium paid programming, creating a comprehensive pipeline from emerging to established filmmakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Film Space Membership Annual membership at $75/year providing Black filmmakers access to the Black Film Space community and resources.
• Grants Program Funding program offering grants to Black filmmakers, including specialized grants such as the Black TV Pilot Grant and Script Supervise Grant.
• Mentorship Program Mentorship program connecting Black filmmakers and screenwriters with experienced industry professionals for career and project guidance.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Program Fiscal sponsorship program allowing independent Black-led film projects to receive tax-deductible donations through Black Film Space's 501(c)(3) status.
• Screenwriting Accountability Group Accountability program for screenwriters providing structured peer support to help Black screenwriters complete scripts on schedule.
• TV Pilot Writing Course Educational course teaching Black screenwriters how to develop and write a television pilot.
• Black Film Space Podcast Podcast delivering content and conversations relevant to Black filmmakers, screenwriters, and the film industry.
• Jobs Board Online jobs board listing film industry opportunities, jobs, and crew calls for the Black Film Space community.
• BFS Weekend Signature in-person event bringing the Black Film Space community together for multi-day programming, networking, and professional development.
• The Black Film Space Awards Award program recognizing achievement and excellence among Black filmmakers and projects supported by Black Film Space.
• Free Virtual Panels Free virtual panel discussions featuring film industry professionals, offered to the Black Film Space community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ scripts completed through screenwriting accountability groups
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Film At Lincoln CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural institution and arts organization providing partnership and collaborative programming opportunities for Black filmmakers.
• Academy Museum of Motion PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier museum dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of cinema, partnered for programming and filmmaker support.
• Tribeca Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international film festival providing showcase opportunities for Black filmmakers.
• Essence Hollywood HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia brand partnership for programming and events.
• New Orleans Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional film festival providing collaboration and showcase opportunities.
• American Black Film FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier festival celebrating 28 years of empowering Black artists and showcasing content by and about people of African descent.
• Urbanworld Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest internationally competitive festival focused on Black and diverse content, founded by Stacy Spikes.
• The Television Academy (New York Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization providing professional development and networking opportunities.
• New York African Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm festival providing showcase opportunities for African filmmakers and diaspora content.
• TechnicolorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment technology company providing post-production support partnership.
• Atlanta Film ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull service story consulting firm partnering for TV Pilot Writing Course with Spade Robinson.
• Stonybrook UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution providing partnership and support.
• Hibernian HallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partnership for events and programming.
• Final DraftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScreenwriting software company providing partnership support.
• Afrofuture FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival partnership including short film competition in Ghana with 5K prize for Ebenezer Blanche.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Film Independent: Film Independent is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports independent filmmakers through education, mentorship, fiscal sponsorship, and the Spirit Awards. Closely comparable to BFS in providing grants, mentorship, and community for filmmakers, serving a broader but analogous constituency.
• ARRAY: Founded by Ava DuVernay, ARRAY is a nonprofit film collective and distribution company that supports Black filmmakers through production, distribution, and educational programs. Directly comparable to Black Film Space as a Black filmmaker support organization with grant, fellowship, and community programming.
• Black Public Media (BPM): BPM is a nonprofit organization that supports Black filmmakers and content creators through funding, professional development, and industry pipeline programs. Directly comparable to BFS as a Black-focused film nonprofit with similar programmatic offerings.
• Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP): IFP is a nonprofit organization that supports independent filmmakers through year-round programming, mentorship, labs, and the Gotham Awards. Compares to BFS in providing career pipeline programs and community for filmmakers, though with a broader filmmaker focus.
• American Black Film Festival (ABFF): ABFF is a premier festival and event organization celebrating Black filmmakers for over 28 years. Compares to BFS in its focus on Black film community building and showcasing Black talent, with overlapping festival/event programming.
• Women in Film: Women in Film is a nonprofit advocating for gender equity in the film industry through mentorship, education, and advocacy programs. Comparable to BFS in nonprofit structure, membership model, and career pipeline focus, though focused on gender rather than racial equity.
• Black TV & Film Collective: A collective of Black entertainment professionals supporting Black talent in TV and film through networking, mentorship, and industry advocacy. Closely comparable to BFS in its mission to empower Black filmmakers and content creators through community and professional development.
• New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT): NYWIFT is a nonprofit membership organization providing education, mentorship, networking, and pipeline programs for women in film. Comparable to BFS in nonprofit structure, membership model, and community-focused programming for film industry professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Sundance Institute: Sundance Institute is a major nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers through labs, fellowships, the Sundance Film Festival, and artist programs. Comparable to BFS in nonprofit mission and artist support, but far larger in scale, brand recognition, and resources.

Emerging players

• Black Arts Movement (various): A constellation of Black arts and cultural nonprofits supporting Black creative communities across multiple disciplines. Comparable to BFS as a Black-focused arts nonprofit providing community and development resources, though broader in scope beyond film.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/blackfilmspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-film-space

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Film Space