Submissions for the Reel Black Film Festival which celebrates and showcases Black non-fiction filmmakers based in the Midwest are open through October 17, 2025.
Kansas City, MO—Kansas City PBS invites Black filmmakers based in the Midwest to submit non-fiction short and feature films to its second annual film festival. The festival will showcase the vibrant culture, history and creativity of Black filmmakers through the power of film. This year’s festival will showcase a compelling curation of local short and feature-length films from Black filmmakers across the region.
With over 300 people in attendance, 2025’s festival included Mid-America Emmy® award-winning filmmakers Nico Giles Wiggins, Jacob Handy, and Kerry Rounds and their respective films “Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance,” “The Potato King: A Dynasty Built on Dirt and Dreams,” and “Diamond Jubilee: A 75-Year Celebration of Carter Broadcast.”
“Kansas City is such a creative hub, full of so many talented creatives and storytellers, so I'm not surprised the city embraced the first annual Reel Black Film Fest with open arms. And as a public media organization, it's our job to create these safe and educational spaces for individuals to connect with the community at large,” said Tori Foushee, Content and Programming Manager of Kansas City PBS.
At the 2026 Reel Black Film Festival attendees can expect screenings, panel discussions with filmmakers, shopping with local vendors, networking opportunities, and four non-cash prizes that will include one (1) Grand Jury Award: Best Feature Film, one (1) Grand Jury Award: Best Short Film, one (1) Audience Choice Award: Best Feature Film, and one (1) Audience Choice Award: Best Short Film. The Grand Jury Awards will be selected by the festival's screening jury, while the Audience Choice Awards will be determined by votes from festival attendees.
“Coming off of the success of last year's Reel Black Film Fest, we are excited to welcome storytellers and cinephiles to Kansas City in a continued effort to bring folks together, showcase powerful films, and honor the incredible creative contributions of the Black community in the Midwest,” said Kliff Kuehl, President and CEO of Kansas City PBS.
Filmmakers can submit their work directly through the Reel Black Film Fest’s Film Freeway portal at https://filmfreeway.com/ReelBlackFilmFest.
Dates and venue for the 2026 Reel Black Film Fest are to be announced soon. For more information and event updates, visit https://kansascitypbs.org/reelblack.