Dreams Take Flight: Black Public Media Crowns Visionary Storytellers at PitchBLACK

Chicago’s Brittany Alsot and Arlieta Hall (l-r), whose Finding Your Laughter documentary took top prize of $150,000 at the 2025 PitchBLACK Awards (photo credit Ed Marshall)

The legendary Apollo Stages at the Victoria in Harlem pulsed with excitement Thursday night as Black Public Media (BPM) lit up the dreams of independent filmmakers and tech-savvy artists at the eighth annual PitchBLACK competition. Think of it as the ultimate launchpad, where groundbreaking ideas meet the funding to soar. This year’s electrifying event pushed BPM’s total investment in Black creative visions past the impressive $2 million mark.

Among the night’s shining stars were Chicagoans Arlieta Hall and Brittany Alsot. Their deeply personal project, Finding Your Laughter, tugged at the heartstrings, chronicling Arlieta’s poignant journey as a caregiver for her father battling Alzheimer’s. Their powerful story resonated deeply, earning them a significant $150,000 to bring their feature documentary to life.

The immersive storytelling category also ignited imaginations. Los Angeles-based new media artist known simply as Aya wowed the crowd with a futuristic vision set in the distant year 5054. Her interactive sci-fi project features mesmerizing AI dancers, their movements trained on the rich archives of Nigerian Akwa Ibom dance. Aya’s innovative artistry secured her a cool $50,000 to further develop her captivating world. Joining her in the winner’s circle was Jeremy Kamal from Prince George’s County, Maryland. His sci-fi exploration game, Run, a third-person adventure into the unknown, snagged a well-deserved $25,000.

But the accolades didn’t stop there. The evening also celebrated established and emerging talent. History-making film and television editor Lillian E. Benson, a true pioneer in her field, was honored with the BPM Trailblazer Award, a nod to her remarkable contributions. Atlanta resident Joel A. Mack, a bright creative under 30, was named the Nonso Christian Ugbode Digital Media Fellow, recognizing his promising future. And in a first-ever fan-voted award, New Orleans director Nailah Jefferson took home the AfroPoP Digital Shorts Viewers’ Choice Award for her moving documentary, Descended from the Promised Land: The Legacy of Black Wall Street, a testament to the enduring power of untold stories.

PitchBLACK isn’t just about handing out checks; it’s about fostering a vibrant community of Black creatives and providing the vital resources they need to share their unique perspectives with the world. As BPM continues to champion these voices, the future of Black storytelling across film, art, and technology looks brighter than ever.