Lab | BlackStar

Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab

A year-long fellowship with BlackStar for Black, Brown, and Indigenous filmmakers in Philadelphia.

BlackStar is proud to have presented the Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab, an opportunity designed to uplift emerging and mid-career artists in the Greater Philadelphia area. BlackStar’s Filmmaker Lab supported projects by Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers with mentorship, funding and critical feedback over the course of a year-long program. BlackStar provided $50,000 in production funds and acted as an executive producer on each short film created during the Lab. Lab films premiered at past BlackStar Film Festivals.

Selected directors received mentorship throughout the fellowship including feedback on works-in-progress, advice on working with crew and career guidance from a working director. The fellowship supported short narrative, experimental or hybrid projects.

The Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab is not currently open to submissions.

Former Fellows & Past Projects

Adamstown (2025)

Dir. Andrew Bilindabagabo

A film still from Food for the Souls shows a young Black woman and man in an embrace sharing a gaze.

Food for the Soul (2025)

Dir. Chisom Chieke

A film still from Las Cosas Que Brillan shows a black frame around a staged scene. Inside the frame is a woman dressed as a mermaid, with a yellow tail and top, sleeping on a faux rock. Standing above her is a man dressed as a soldier, wearing dirty armor with a grimy face, gazing down at her. They are positioned within a theatrical set designed to mimic an ocean scene with a series of waves behind them.

Las Cosas Que Brillan (2025)

Dir. Kristal Sotomayor

A film still from Run, Sister Joan shows a Black nun standing at an opened window. The side of her face is illuminated by the light from outside as she looks over her shoulder at the camera with a serious face.

Run, Sister Joan (2025)

Dir. Walé Oyéjidé

A still from The Freedom to Fall Apart shows two Black men in a mansion-like setting. They are dressed in suits. One is wearing a white mask. The other, who is not wearing one, is looking up a staircase with a curious expression.

The Freedom to Fall Apart (2023)

Dir. by David Gaines Prod. by Elizah Turner

A still from All That's Left shows a Black woman dressed in a soft purple silk gown and a wine glass sitting on some kind of display.

All That's Left (2023)

Dir. by Simone Holland Prod. by Stephanie Malson

An Endoscopy (2023)

Dir. by Zardosht Afshari Prod. by Aaron Brokenbough Jr.

A still from Ourika! shows a young Black girl laying in a bed. Her hair is long and flowing across the mattress.

Ourika! (2022)

Dir. by Xenia Matthews

A black-and-white still from Big Three shows a group of three Black singers a recording studio.

Big Three (2022)

Dir. by Julian Turner

A still from The Love Machine shows a young Black girl laying down. There is a soft red glow on her face.

The Love Machine (2022)

Dir. by Jasmine Lynea

A still from Tonight, We Eat Flowers. It shows the bodies of two people standing behind a vase of flowers. The woman is reaching in to grab one.

Tonight, We Eat Flowers (2022)

Dir. by Bettina Escauriza

The 2025 BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab was presented with support from Independence Public Media Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation.