Co-founded by Sergio Mims (1955-2022) in 1994, the Black Harvest Film Festival is the Midwest’s longest-running film festival celebrating Black filmmaking. This annual festival, presented by and held at the Gene Siskel Film Center, a public program of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, curates short and feature films, filmmaker dialogues, and special events, proudly showcasing influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of diaspora side by side. BHFF celebrates the vital and visionary work with this dynamic 10-day festival that is grounded in community, legacy, and the future of Black film.

The 32nd Black Harvest Film Festival will be held November 6–15, 2026.

Awards & Prizes

Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Black Harvest Film Festival Prize - Best Feature ($2,500 prize)
Richard and Ellen Sandor Family Black Harvest Film Festival Prize - Best Short ($1,000 prize)

Rules & Terms

Feature-length films (any length 45 minutes or longer) and shorts (up to 45 minutes in length or shorter) are eligible for consideration.

All entries must include a screener link, a completed entry form, and a press kit or credit list.

Year of completion must be 2025 or later.

Films that have had public Chicago or suburban screenings prior to the Festival are generally ineligible for consideration. You must let us know with your submission materials if your film has or will play in Chicago prior to Black Harvest. Films that are available online/virtually (publicly available on YouTube, Vimeo, personally websites, etc.) are ineligible for consideration.

Films not in English must be submitted with English subtitles.

Only films directed, co-directed, produced and/or written by Black, African American or African Diaspora identifying filmmakers are eligible for consideration.

Entries selected for the festival must be available for public exhibition in one of the following formats: DCP or Apple ProRes formatted digital file. DVD and Blu-ray discs will not be accepted for theatrical projection.

All legal clearances including, but not limited to, talent, music, or stock footage are the responsibility of the filmmaker.

The Gene Siskel Film Center reserves the right to utilize clips or stills from any film selected for the festival for publicity purposes.
28 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • HAUI aka Howard J Davis

    Brilliant experience! We got publicity and wonderful feedback from audiences.

    December 2025
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  • Sarah Oberholtzer

    Had a wonderful time as a selected filmmaker. There was also a great selection of films as an audience member!

    November 2025
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  • Moya Bailey

    So delighted to participate in this festival! I hope to be back!

    November 2025
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  • Regina Hoyles

    Truly one of the most well done, well-curated festivals I have ever attended. Our film Missing Rhythms had the incredible opportunity to screen with BHFF and I’m so glad that we did. Being from the Chicagoland, I wanted our film to have a screening in the city and the Black Harvest team did an outstanding job in coordinating and crafting an excellent block of films. They truly put an emphasis on the work and the audiences were super engaged. Definitely one I will be recommending! Thank you jada-amina, Nick, Patrick, and the entire team for making this such a fantastic experience!

    November 2025
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  • Oluwaseun Babalola

    So glad I could be a part of the Black Harvest lineup and its screening history!

    November 2025
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