ESSENCE FILM FESTIVAL MISSION STATEMENT

The ESSENCE Film Festival (EFF), in collaboration with Essence Studios, showcases exceptional original projects in film, television, music, and new media created by Black storytellers across the African diaspora. Anchored in the belief that Black stories deserve to be told in their full truth with intent to disrupt mainstream narrative, and that Black storytellers should feel entitled in their right to do so, the Essence Film Festival has built a movement that uplifts and normalized the Black global worldview in Hollywood by championing and empowering the artists at the forefront of this storytelling.

FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

Essence Film Festival (EFF) is the ultimate gathering of global Black storytellers, and audiences seeking to discover these new voices and new perspectives. As the premiere destination for emerging global creatives and cultural curators alike, the Essence Film Festival presents dynamic content on international platforms. Our annual celebration of storytelling traditions across Black America and the African diaspora champions creative expression through entertainment by uncovering and amplifying new voices, talent, and ideas through premiere exhibitions from content creators across the global filmmaking community. Following the legacy of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture, the Essence Film Festival is centered around programming targeted to the global Black community, women, and people of color.

Each festival day provides innovative experiences where audiences discover and celebrate storytelling in all forms, from film and television projects to music and audio presentations. Daily industry conversations, symposiums, workshops, panel discussions and other events during the Essence Film Festival brings artists and audiences together through transformative cinematic experiences that facilitate a pipeline to carry and support indie creators from pitch through production. Through the power of Black storytelling, the event connects dynamic filmmakers to career advancing resources, births new cultural connections, and creates cinematic heirlooms as we reach new and established audiences worldwide.

ADDITIONAL iNFORMATION:
The ESSENCE Film Festival sits within the campus of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. However, it is a separate festival within the New Orleans Convention Center.

Acceptance into the ESSENCE Film Festival DOES NOT entitle filmmakers to the following:

Events outside of the convention center
Private events throughout the weekend
Events at the Superdome, including the concert series
Any event not specifically produced and/or programmed by the ESSENCE Film Festival team

Awards & Prizes

Trophies are awarded on the last day of the event in each competitive category.
Essence Film Festival requires the attendance of a key member of the production team to be present to receive the award.
Please ensure you will be able to attend the film festival awards ceremony in person when submitting to competitive categories.
The awards ceremony takes place late afternoon on the SUNDAY of the festival (time TBD). Please make travel plans accordingly.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Awards are based solely on the overall merit of entries.
ESSENCE reserves the right to define "AUDIENCE" and "JURY"
ESSENCE and Judges reserve the right not to grant an award.

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.

PROJECTS THAT HAVE SCREENED AT ANY FILM FESTIVAL AFTER MAY 31, 2026 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, 2023.
o Primary preference will be given to content that is premiering at the Essence Film Festival.
o Secondary preference will be given to content that is premiering in New Orleans.
o Content that has previously played 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 ESSENCE FILM FESTIVAL.

SCREENPLAY COMPETITION RULES & GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

This competition is only open to writers who do not currently earn a living writing for film or television.
Short scripts that have already been produced are ineligible.
Awards are based solely on the overall merit of entries.

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

Scripts 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 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 ESSENCE FILM FESTIVAL, ESSENCE STUDIOS, ESSENCE VENTURES, ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, ITS EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, 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

No revisions or missing pages will be accepted once an entry has been received.

We strongly suggest that applicants copyright their materials with the U.S. Copyright Office and/or register their screenplay/teleplay with the Writers Guild of America, East or Writers Guild of America, West. Please consult an attorney regarding any questions about these.

Scripts must not have been optioned or sold prior to July 10, 2024. Applicants must immediately send written notice to Essence Film Festival if there are any changes in status following submission.

Note on ADAPTATIONS: Scripts 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 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.

Note on TELEPLAYS: This competition welcomes spec scripts for any currently airing network or cable program AND original pilot scripts. In order for spec scripts to be eligible for consideration, the show must not be canceled prior to the start of the current television season (September 2025).

No show bibles, treatments, or reality show formats will be accepted for the teleplay competition

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

REMINDER: NO REVISIONS OR MISSING PAGES WILL BE ACCEPTED ONCE ENTRY HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Brandon Broussard

    Festival was great! Never had an individual screening for a short at a festival before. And we won Best Short!

    July 2026
    Helpful
  • Hope Giselle

    First, I want to say thank you for selecting Not Your Average Girl as part of the ESSENCE Film Festival. It was an incredible experience, and I genuinely had a wonderful time. Once we arrived and the festival got underway, the team was incredibly communicative, organized, and accessible. I always felt like support was just an email away, and the hospitality throughout the weekend was excellent. It was clear that the staff cared deeply about creating a positive experience for filmmakers.

    That said, I do think there are some exciting opportunities to elevate the experience even further.

    One area I’d love to see expanded is how filmmakers are integrated into the larger festival. I would have loved to see a dedicated conversation on one of the main ESSENCE stages featuring the festival filmmakers. Giving us an opportunity to discuss our films, the importance of Black storytelling, and what it means to tell our own stories would not only spotlight the work but also create meaningful networking opportunities with audiences, executives, and industry professionals.

    I also think a filmmaker welcome mixer before screenings would add tremendous value. Having an opportunity to meet the other filmmakers, connect with industry guests, and build community before the weekend begins would make the experience feel even more intentional.

    Finally, I think there’s an opportunity to increase the long-term value of winning the festival. While the recognition itself is meaningful, there isn’t much incentive beyond the honor of being selected. Given ESSENCE’s incredible media platform, I’d love to see winning filmmakers receive editorial coverage, a feature in ESSENCE Magazine or on its digital platforms, filmmaker profiles, or other promotional opportunities that help extend the life of our films beyond the festival weekend. The networking was invaluable, but it still felt like much of the responsibility for leveraging the moment rested on the filmmakers themselves.

    Overall, I left deeply grateful for the experience. The festival introduced me to wonderful people, meaningful conversations, and new audiences, and I’m honored to have been included. I simply believe the experience has the potential to become one of the premier launching pads for Black filmmakers if it continues investing in not only celebrating our work during the festival, but also amplifying our careers long after the screenings end.

    July 2026
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  • Iman Shervington

    I received an email on June 10 that my podcast was accepted but that it was moving from the Film Festival to the inaugural Creator & Podcast Festival. That is the last communication I received. I emailed back July 1 to see if I could get more information, yet only received an automated email as a response. I traveled to New Orleans, but had no information about the Creator & Podcast Festival, so I didn't go to anything.

    July 2026
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  • Ron Worthem

    We really enjoyed the staff and events surrounding the 2025 EssenceFilmFestival

    June 2026
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  • Milon Parker

    Essence Festival was an amazing experience. Not only did my film get selected to be in the festival it won for 2025 Best Screenplay. 🙌🏽 Be on the look out for it. "GOLD STAR" ⭐️ 🏆☺️ #MilonVparker

    July 2025
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