Black Motherhood: Real Outcomes/Future Visions 
Impact Series Shorts Submission Form

Level Forward, in partnership with Population Media Center, is producing a series of narrative short films centered on the theme Black Motherhood: Real Outcomes/Future Visions. This series will explore both the current realities and potential futures of Black motherhood in the United States, offering a window into the lived experiences and aspirations of Black mothers from a range of socioeconomic, geographic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. As systemic injustice perpetuates a crisis in Black maternal health, the goal of these short films is to foster a deeper, more empathetic understanding of the challenges, triumphs, inequities, and joys that shape Black women’s journeys to and through motherhood in America. We recognize that films about Black maternal health experiences can elicit strong, painful memories and emotions. Our intention is not to create re-traumatizing films; rather to create stories with some positive deviance - a point of light, hope, something to highlight and build upon. By telling these stories, we aim to surface the kind of disruptive and humanizing perspectives that not only invite audiences to think differently, but that move them to feel and call them to action. 

Building on the legacy of Level Forward short films—including Doretha’s Blues, by Channing Godfrey Peoples, Jack and Joe Don’t Want To Die, by Kantu Lenz, Human Terrain, by Parisa Barani, and Red White And Blue, by Nazrin Choudhury—it’s now time for your work to be showcased and considered. We’re looking for scripts, proposals, or films in progress to join our Black Motherhood series. We know the transformative power of narratives and adopt a holistic, learning-forward approach to catalyzing social change. The stories we amplify are scaffolded within various layers of support.
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Here is what filmmakers and filmmaking teams can expect from us:‍

  • ‍Funding for the production and post-production of your short film
  • Production, impact, and distribution support
  • Comprehensive, participatory research tailored to your film’s subject matter
  • Experiential learning programs that deepen and expand the film’s capacity for social change
  • Ancillary content production and impact measurement services

Here is what we need from filmmakers and filmmaking teams:‍

  • ‍Scripted personal films with a strong narrative – shorts with a clear beginning, middle, and end
  • Films from a variety of genres – sci fi, comedy, drama, action, animation, etc.
  • Proposals that consist of any combination of the following: treatment for the project, a mood board or lookbook, scripts, examples of past work, and a director’s statement
  • A completed film or film in process, just not one that has already premiered in any public or festival forum
  • Projects with or without producers—we will provide producers where needed
  • Scripts must be in final stages—we will provide notes for your consideration
  • All submissions must be ready to shoot in fall 2025

EXTENDED DEADLINE:BUDGET: TBD 

‍Level Forward makes brave stories, produces courageous conversations, and works for enduring impact. A public benefit entertainment mini-studio comprised of creatives, entrepreneurs, and change-makers, the company works on project and system levels to balance artistic vision, social impact, and stakeholder return. Films include Bjork's Cornucopia, Mountains, Red, White and Blue, The Year Between, Body Parts, and The Assistant. Broadway and live shows include ROMEO + JULIET, SUFFS, How To Dance In Ohio, Parade, POTUS, Slave Play, What The Constitution Means To Me, and Sanctuary City. Visit our website to browse our Tony Award, Spirit Award, Anthem Award-winning and Oscar-nominated creative work.
Population Media Center makes the stories that remake the world. PMC is raising global sustainability through community empowerment on the most human level—by telling transformative stories. Trained in the art and science of storytelling for social impact, PMC partners with local talent and production teams in countries around the world to create award-winning, popular entertainment for TV, radio, and the web that is positively life-changing. Especially for women and girls. By addressing the most pressing, fundamental threats to global sustainability where it matters most—in human hearts and minds—PMC inspires entire communities to choose a healthier, more equitable, and flourishing world for all.

ENTER ALL SUBMISSIONS HERE: https://www.dashboard.levelforward.co/series-submission-form