The Black Continental Independent Movie Awards (BCIMA, pronounced Bee-See-Ma), also known as the Black Cinema Awards, is an online film festival and awards event that recognizes and celebrates excellence in film by persons of African descent or films about the global black experience.

Our Mission

To promote black independent filmmakers and support black films.

Our Vision

To increase marketing and distribution opportunities for black independent filmmakers or films related to black issues.

BEST FILM

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST ACTOR

BEST ACTRESS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

BEST EDITOR

BEST SHORT FILM

BEST DOCUMENTARY

BEST SOUND

Films completed two (2) years before the submission start date are eligible for consideration in our selection. Non-English submissions must be available in their original language with English subtitles.

Selection Criteria

Our selection process is conducted by a panel of film enthusiasts, and selected films are notified via FilmFreeway.

- Films that promote black culture or address black issues
- Films made by black independent filmmakers

Nominations

Our nominations (best film, best director, best screenplay, etc.) are recommended by the selection panel and published on our website (www.bcima.com).

Judging Process

Our judging methodology is heavily influenced by a peer-to-peer rating system, where filmmakers who have been selected for their particular categories (features, shorts, or documentaries) serve as judges.

After we set up the BCIMA judges sub-user account, judges are required to watch and rate films that have been uploaded and assigned to them on FilmFreeway.

Rating Categories:

1. Originality & Creativity
2. Direction
3. Writing
4. Cinematography
5. Lead Male(s) Performance(s)
6. Lead Female(s) Performance(s)
7. Supporting Male(s) Performance(s)
8. Supporting Female(s) Performance(s)
9. Editing
10. Sound & Music

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Joy T.J. Riley

    Thank you BCIMA for recognizing indie filmmakers in the diaspora! It has been an incredible experience! And thank you for being creative with your way of navigating around the present climate.

    November 2020
  • Frank Mccurrie

    One of the best virtual festivals I was apart of.

    November 2020
  • Great Festival I am honoured my movie Saving Mbango won Best Feature film , Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Editor.
    See you next year!

    November 2020
  • Jasmine Andrews

    Great festival. I wish I could have attended in person.

    November 2020
  • Atlas O Phoenix

    My team and I were thrilled to be nominated for 6 awards. This was one of the best stops on our film tour. I liked the peer-to-peer judging platform. I got to see a lot of great shorts. To be included among those films was a blast. We received an Honorable Mention for Little Men. Due to the pandemic, we couldn't network, but it was still a great experience. Can't wait to tell the team! Thanks again, BCIMA!

    November 2020