The CULTURAL CONNECTIONS FILM FESTIVAL (CCFF) ™ presented by The Gilchrist Group, LLC, is a weekend event in Washington D.C. celebrating every form of global storytelling, showcasing films, TV shows, podcasts, screenplays, and visual art that highlight diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives from around the world. This festival connects undiscovered artists, nondependent creators, social influencers, audio storytellers, entertainment executives, and their captive audiences to explore narratives that foster cross-cultural understanding and dialogue. With a commitment to supporting Black artists displaying the courage to exercise their entitlement to be boldly truthful in their storytelling medium while disrupting mainstream narratives, the CCFF is an artistic movement that uplifts and normalizes the Black global worldview in Hollywood by championing and empowering these artists at the forefront of this storytelling.

With a careful selection process from curated and submitted projects, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, podcasts, stage readings, and immersive presentations, the festival provides a platform for undiscovered, developing, renowned and reemerging storytellers to share their work with an engaged global audience. Panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and interactive workshops further enrich this experience, offering deeper insights into the stories being showcased and the artistic processes of their creative architects.

The Cultural Connections Film Festival is the only event of its kind intentionally catering to the unique lifestyle of those who are dedicated to conceiving, designing, and producing content. During the event, there will be some select programming actively focused on the specific elements needed to promote career sustaining tools for global Black storytellers seeking lifelong careers in the entertainment industry. In addition to the traditional programming generally presented at film festivals.

Awards & Prizes

TBA

Rules & Terms

General Rules:
ALL FILMS MUST BE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR CONTAIN ENGLISH SUBTITLES.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY SUBMISSIONS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY, OR ARE CURRENTLY, EXHIBITED/LICENSED VIA BROADCAST NETWORKS, CABLE CHANNELS, MAJOR STREAMERS, OR HAVE/HAVE HAD AGREEMENTS FOR THEATRICAL RELEASES VIA MAJOR STUDIOS.

WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, PROJECTS THAT HAVE SCREENED AT ANY FILM FESTIVAL AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE.

o All content must be directed, written and/or produced by persons of African descent.
o Content must adhere to the total run times outlined in each category.
o Content must have started principal photography no earlier than January 1, 2024.
o Primary preference will be given to content premiering at the Cultural Connections Film Festival.
o Secondary preference will be given to content that is premiering in Washington D.C.
o Content that has previously played and won awards at more than two (2) festivals can be exhibited at the festival, but will not be eligible for competitive categories.

ALL SCREENING TIMES/LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS FILM FESTIVAL.

CCFF AND JUDGES RESERVE THE RIGHT NOT TO GRANT AN AWARD.

If a submission involves two or more writers as applicants, only one prize (if any) will be awarded. Submitters are responsible for the division of any prize amongst their team.

ORIGINALITY and PERMISSIONS:

INDEMNITY
Submissions must be the original work of the applicant(s). If based upon another person’s life or upon a book or other underlying work, applicant(s) must secure any necessary rights to make such adaptations. However, it is not necessary to submit the adaptation or rights agreements to the Festival. Neither the Festival nor its jurists are required to investigate or attests to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights secured. By entering the competition, you are acknowledging that you have secured all necessary rights.

BY SUBMITTING THE MATERIAL, THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS FILM FESTIVAL, THE GILCHRIST GROUP LLC, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, CONTRACTORS, AND AFFILIATES, FROM ANY LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBMISSION AND FROM ANY FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES, THAT ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We strongly suggest that applicants copyright their materials with the U.S. Copyright Office.

CCFF reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject or disqualify any ineligible entries, without a refund.