HBCU First Look Film Festival

Join us for the HBCU First Look Film Festival!!!

Schedule of Events:

09:00 am - 5:00 pm: Walk-Up and On-Site Registration
03:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Theater Screening Room - Film Screening Marathon Two days of continuous curated film screenings featuring HBCU student filmmaker challenge finalists with independent alumni film premieres
10:00 am - 6:00 pm: HBCYOU presents Beyond the Lights Career Lounge!  - Learn about and sign up for internships and meet vendors in the Lounge: Learn about summer 2025 internships and One on One mentorship opportunities.
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: David E Talbert Masterclass- director, playwright, filmmaker, author, and influencer will conduct a masterclass.
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm: Opening Plenary Lunch: A Celebration of Black Cinema and Activism. A Conversation with Actress Naturi Naughton on Power, Passion, and Perseverance - Hosted by Loni Love
01:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Presented by NBC: Crafting Change: A Career in Storytelling and Advocacy with executive producer and showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll (Found, All American) Moderated by Cori Murray
02:45 pm - 3:45 pm: "Strictly Business": Independent Filmmaking and Entrepreneurship with Production Companies - Cheryl Polote-Williamson and Bree West. Moderated by Ronda Penrice.
04:00 pm - 5:00 pm: TV One Presents How to pitch YOUR show and Film "Advice from Pros" with Brittany Inge and E. Roger Mitchell
05:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Reception to network at the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival. Hosted by DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment
07:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Opening Night Film and Talk Back - Moderator Jawn Murray for Kemba Movie