The empire is crumbling around us.
While many look on in despair, we look to the creative class.
The artists. The technologists. The dreamers. The story-shapers.
Those who know that our imagination is our weapon—and our salvation.
Those who know that the role of the artist is to make revolution irresistible (Toni Cade Bambara),
and the role of the technologist is to accelerate that Liberation (Olori Lolade Siyonbola).
This year, we gather under the theme: Art as Cultural Software.
We believe that stories are not just reflections of our world—they are the operating systems that shape it. Through film, visual art, sound, design, and technology, we can rewrite the code of culture itself.
NOIR FEST is the first-of-its-kind hybrid festival curating the finest aspirational Black films and visionary art from across the diaspora. Through the integration of cinematic curation, sonic storytelling, creative technology, and intuitive platform design, we are transforming how Blackness is viewed, felt, and understood globally—by uplifting visually stunning, aspirational media centered on believable Black heroes.
This year, NOIR FEST lands during Harvard-Yale Weekend, one of the most high-profile cultural moments in the Northeast. With 50,000+ attendees in New Haven, there has never been a better time to disrupt the narrative and give the people something deeper, bolder, and more transformational.
We’re calling on artists, filmmakers, technologists, musicians, and visionaries whose work:
- Reimagines Black history and futurity
- Centers joy, love, romance, family, friendship, faith, and creative power
- Builds believable characters our communities can respect and aspire to become
- Invites us to see beyond the crisis and remember our power
We are currently accepting submissions of:
- Short films, features, docs, experimental work, animation, and music videos
- Sonic and immersive storytelling
- Creative technology installations or narrative experiences
- Student films and emerging creator content
- Archival or classic visionary Black films
Best Film - Collective Visualization Prize - (Plaque, $1000 & Sponsored gift package)
As all selected films will feature stunning visuals, superior acting and aspirational characters, the biggest NOIR FEST prize is awarded to the contemporary film which provides the audience with the story most desirable to see manifest in reality. Viewers will rate each project according to the desirability of it's content, were the story to take place in reality. Jury will make final selection in case of ties.
Finest Art - Visionary Asset Prize - (Plaque, $500 & Sponsored gift package) This award goes to the most striking and most impactful visual art as rated by community members.
Special Jury Honor - Legendary Classic (Plaque & Sponsored gift package)
This award goes to the classic film rated highest by our audience.
*All awardees are selected based on audience rating data. Jury to break ties as needed.
