Black Alphabet Film Festival (BAFF) is Chicago's premier film festival for the Black LGBTQ community.

Our mission is to promote social equity awareness and education in all aspects of life for the Black LGBT+ community through the use of media and the creative arts.

Each year our festival expands to other cities across the country, enabling us to screen your film in many markets.

Winners in each category (Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short) will receive a quality engraved crystal award showing the festival year and the name of the film.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Films must be directed, produced, or written by a person of African descent who identifies as LGBTQ and/or feature a topic culturally relevant to the Black LGBTQ community.

Films previously screened at the Black Alphabet Film Festival are not eligible.
Narrative feature films and documentary films running time must not exceed 90 minutes.

All Non-English language works must have English subtitles. Dialogue lists will not be accepted.

Though not required for eligibility, preference is given to Chicago premieres.
The entrant confirms the entry submitted is original work and has legal rights to the film.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The entrant must properly complete an official Black Alphabet Film Festival entry form, comply with entry rules and guidelines, complete entries (including fee payment and eligible screeners), deadlines, and other specified requirements.

The following formats eligible for Festival screening: DVD, Blu-Ray screener, Online Entry (e.g., Youtube, Vimeo) or private website. If using password protected, the password must be included on the entry form.

Entrants are permitted to submit work-in-progress. For submissions to be considered a work-in-progress, the work(s) submitted must clearly be marked “Work in Progress (WIP)” or “Rough Cut (RC)” with an indication of what is missing (e.g., color correction, sound mixing, etc.) and what will change. Please note the programming committee will only consider the version submitted.

To qualify for student entry fees, entrant must provide a photocopy of a current and valid student ID card, a sealed transcript, or letter from an accredited school that verifies enrollment.

Entry fee(s) will be waived only upon receipt of required verification.
*Entrant has the option of submitting online or by mail.

ONLINE SUBMISSION

Online submissions can be submitted via FilmFreeway

ENTRY FEES

Entry fees are non-refundable and must be in U.S. dollars.

MULTIPLE ENTRIES

The entrant is allowed a maximum of (2) submissions. Each entry must be submitted on its own and include a separate entry form and entry fee.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE

All entrants will be notified on or before September 15, 2021.

SHIPPING

The entrant must pay the cost of shipping an entry to the festival. BAFF will not accept Collect or COD shipments. All International exhibition copies being sent directly to the BAFF office must be sent “free domicile” with all transportation charges, delivery fees, duties and taxes prepaid by the shipper. Entrant is responsible for tracking shipment being sent to the Festival. The festival will not accept nor assume responsibility for any lost or damaged materials shipped.

CONFIRMATION

Entrants will receive notification the entry was received by email.

AUTHORIZATION

The entrant assumes all financial responsibility and legal liability for work submitted. By submitting entries into the Festival, the entrant accepts BAFF 2020regulation and submission guidelines and authorizes BAFF to use all materials submitted for promotional purposes.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • It was an absoulte joy working with and participating in the Black Alphabbet Film Festival with my film STORMY WEATHER RHAPSODY!. Although a smaller niche film festival, it demonstrated a high level of professionalism and communication usually only experienced in top tier film festivals.. I appreciate their determination in making their festival accesible especially during the very challenging issue Covid-19 presented. I certainly hope to participate in the Black Alphabet Film Festival with future film projects. - Jesse Charbonier -

    January 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Jesse we enjoyed working with you as well.

  • Dawn Storey

    I loved being apart of the BAFF! It was super inclusive, and had an amazing panel on Day 1. Thank you for including LiME and allowing our film to be shared amongst an amazing community of film lovers!

    November 2019
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Donta,
    We appreciate you and look forward to working with you in the future.