Hello.... This is your festival director Gian Smith.

**Make sure to check out our newest addition, the 7NOLA, a one week film competition taking place May 12-May 19, 2024 for a chance to win $5,000 in cash prizes! Register by May 10, 2024 by emailing gian@bffno.com with the SUBJECT LINE: 7NOLA**

Black Film Festival New Orleans is a unique, cultural and festive experience for black filmmakers. In addition to our film screenings we have exciting concerts, poetry and comedy events, and thoughtful film discussion panels for our audience. Our visiting filmmakers receive African American themed city tours, parties, food, spirits and lots of engagement with our festival director and our New Orleans film family. Come be part of a great indie film community and celebrate with us for BFFNO 2024! Check out our website or our instagram for some of our pictures and videos to see what a great time it is.

This festival is a hybrid festival. We will do a virtual screening as well as in person screenings. ONLY AWARD NOMINATED FILMS will automatically receive an in-person screening. BUT you still may screen in person IF you attend in person. We will also offer a supplementary screening day for all filmmakers who attend the festival. You will have to send in your plane ticket info or your hotel or air bnb rental info if you are driving in order to confirm you will be in New Orleans for the festival. Please understand in order to program the festival we would prefer to prioritize screening films for filmmakers who will be in attendance. If you cannot attend but have been chosen you will still be a part of our virtual festival. Hope this makes sense.

Awards & Prizes

At our awards showcase which will be live streamed we will be recognizing the best films and the best performances of the festival. Our specially customized awards will be given in the following categories.

Best Feature
Best Short FIlm
Best Web content
Best Documentary
Best New Orleans project
Best Actor & Actress
Best Director
Best Writer
Best Cinematography
Best Music/Sound
Best Editing
Audience Award
7Nola

Rules & Terms

Anyone may submit to Black Film Festival of New Orleans. Obviously your chances of being accepted to the festival increase greatly the more people of color who are involved. So if you're a non-poc make a film by, about and with black people and you'll be much more strongly considered.

Let me make this clear. If there are no black people involved in your film you will have wasted your money and I won't give it back. I mean... being honest, if most of the people making the film aren't black, and most of the people on the screen aren't either you probably just wasted your money. You'd be surprised at how many people will still submit in spite of the name of this festival and what I just said but hey... thanks for the fifteen bucks.

26 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jimmie Thomas

    I didn’t make the festival but my parents did. They leaned a lot and felt welcomed. It was also both their first time being at a film festival. They can’t wait to go back. I’m forever grateful. Note every festival moving forward has a high bar to over come. Much love

    July 2023
    Helpful
  • Katrina Brook Flores

    Wonderful and amazing festival. Gian and the festival team show up and show out, truly bring filmmakers into the greatness of their city and their passion for this festival. So blessed to have had our film Assaman part of the Official Selection in 2023. You feel like part of an extended family once you screen at BFFNO!

    June 2023
    Helpful
  • Ken Gregory

    Great festival! Great staff! Amazing venue! Excellent communication!

    May 2023
    Helpful
  • Oswmer Louis

    We had an amazing time at BFFNO! The panels were great and the audience was fantastic! They seem to have a really great connection with their local community- each screening was a full house. This is a festival that clearly cares about filmmakers and we will absolutely be back.

    April 2023
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much, and glad we got to share your film. Loved the moment when the crowd gasped at the end too. It was exactly how I felt watching for myself the first time lol. Can't wait to see what your team does next!

  • Freddie Gardner

    Gian is the king. He was super inspiring to meet and be around. I was grateful and honored to share the experience with so many great filmmakers and artists. A wonderful first experience in the NOLA and will definitely be coming back with all my future projects!

    April 2023
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    D*** bro... Thank you