Filmmakers:

The Oak Park Black Film Festival celebrates African-American stories and history, aiming to amplify Black voices and narratives within the film industry.

Films must be by a writer, director, and/or producer who is a person of color (including but not limited to East Asian, South Asian, Black, African-American, Latino, and Pacific Islander) AND/OR feature people of color in the cast/storyline.

We are currently accepting film submissions in the categories including narrative and documentary films, both features and shorts.  Local filmmakers are encouraged to apply for the opening Local Films Day! 

Films in competition may not have had a commercial distribution or been broadcast in the United States. The OPBFF committee reserves the right to waive this rule in the case of small non-commercial, non-publicized showings.

All films must have been completed after January 1, 2025, unless approved by the OPBFF Committee.

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A FILM

Awards Include:

• Best Short Film
• Best Feature Film
• Best Documentary Film
• Founder’s Choice

2024 Award Recipients:

Best Feature Film: ”Albany Road” (Christine Swanson, Director)

Best Short Film: “Belief” (Christian Loubek, Director)

Best Documentary: “Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It” (Paris Barclay, Director)

Best Local Film: “The Erasure” (Akeela Blair, Director)

Viewer’s Choice: “TIME II: Unfinished Business” (Sibyl Fox & Robert Richardson) 

2023 Award Recipients:

Best Feature Film: “Honor Student” (Tamika Miller, Director)

Best Short Film: “We Were Meant To” (Tari Wariebi, Director)

Best Documentary: “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones” (Harriet Marin Jones, Director)

Viewer’s Choice: “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” (Joe Brewster & Michèle Stephenson, Directors)