We are excited to invite you to join us as we launch the inaugural Melanated Movie Night Film Festival, an initiative created to celebrate and amplify black voices and black stories through film. 

 

 The Melanated Movie Night Film Festival is a celebration of the genius that is Black creativity told through the vessel of film. Created to uplift and spotlight emerging and established Black filmmakers nationwide, MMNFF is designed to provide a safe space for Black filmmakers to be seen, heard, and celebrated while building lasting industry connections.

 

Our History

The Melanated Movie Night Film Festival is the brain child of writer and film lover, Stalina Goodwin. Leading a group of black cinema lovers, called the Melanated Movie Club, into deep discussions about film and the black experience, Goodwin decided that she wanted to discover more stories from black filmmakers. Thus beginning Melanated Movie Night,  an evening where select black Maryland based filmmakers could have their films shown in theater to an audience. But this was not enough. Soon enough the call that started in Maryland began to echo across the country and the Melanated Movie Night Film Festival was born.

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CATEGORIES, CRITERIA & ELIGIBILITY

All category submissions must meet time requirements and technical standards to ensure final programming can be accommodated.

 

Feature Film

 A narrative or documentary film with a longer runtime but still curated to fit the winners’ showcase.
Runtime: 40–60 minutes maximum
Criteria:

• Strong storytelling, pacing, and narrative structure

• Cinematic quality (direction, acting, cinematography, sound)

• Cultural resonance with Black experiences

• Originality and artistic clarity
   

Eligibility:

• Director or writer must be Black 

• Film must have been completed between 2020 and 2026

• Must not be currently distributed via major streaming platforms
  Submission Fee: $45 Early / $55 Regular / $65 Late

 

Short Film

Narrative, documentary, or experimental short.
Runtime: 1–20 minutes
Criteria:

• Compelling story or concept

• Strong creative execution and technical quality

• Emotional impact and cultural relevance
   

Eligibility:

• Director or writer must be Black 

• Film must have been completed between 2020 and 2026

• Submission Fee: $25 Early / $35 Regular / $45 Late

 

Student Film 

A short film (any genre) created by a high school, undergraduate, or graduate student.
Runtime: 1–15 minutes

Criteria:

• Creativity, originality, and boldness

• Demonstrated growth or artistic risk

• Effective cinematic expression on a student budget

 

Eligibility:

• Director must be a current student or recent graduate within 1 year

• Must provide student ID or enrollment verification

• Must be Black or a member of the African diaspora
  Submission Fee: $15 across all deadlines 

 

 

Directorial Debut

Definition: A filmmaker’s first publicly released film.
Runtime: 1–20 minutes
Criteria:

• Vision and distinct directorial voice

• Cohesion, pacing, and compelling direction

• Strong leadership in storytelling and production
   

Eligibility:

• First film released by the director

• Director must be Black

• Completed within the last 24 months
  Submission Fee: $20 Early / $30 Regular / $40 Late

 

MMNFF AWARDS

Category Awards

Each category will receive the following award distinctions:

• Best Feature Film

• Best Short Film

• Best Student Film

• Best Directorial Debut (Walter Goodwin Jr. Leap Award)

 

Awards include:

• Trophy or crystal award

• Laurels

• Spotlight in festival press release and social media

• Screening at the in-person winners’ showcase

 

 

MMNFF Official Rules & Terms

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Submission Requirements

1. All films must be submitted through an approved submission platform (e.g., FilmFreeway).

2. A working link or upload of the film must be provided at the time of submission.

3. Films must include English audio.

4. Submissions are considered final once entered; replacements will not be accepted after the deadline unless specifically requested by festival staff.

 

Eligibility

To qualify for consideration:

1. The majority of the creative team (director, writer, producer, and or showrunner) must be Black.

2. Films must have been completed between 2020 and 2026 (not including Directorial Debut)

3. Films must not be fully available on major streaming services. (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime,etc.)

4. All submitted films must meet the category runtime requirements:

   • Feature: 40–60 min

   • Short: 1–20 min

   • Student: 1–15 min

   • Directorial Debut: 1–20 min

5. Student filmmakers must upload valid proof of enrollment.

 

 Premiere Status

The festival does not require premiere status; films may have screened elsewhere.
However, preference may be given to films not widely distributed or publicly released.

 

 Content Requirements

1. Filmmakers must hold all necessary rights for music, footage, images, performances, and intellectual property.

2. The festival is not liable for any copyright disputes.

3. Films promoting hate, discrimination, or illegal activity will be disqualified.

4. AI-generated films are allowed only if AI is used minimally (e.g., color grading, minor VFX). Fully AI-generated narrative films are ineligible.

 

Submission Fees

1. Submission fees are non-refundable, regardless of selection status.

2. Fees must be paid in full at the time of submission to be considered.

 

Selection Process

1. All submissions are reviewed by a diverse panel of screeners and judges selected by Stalina Goodwin and the festival’s programming team.

2. The judges’ decisions are final, and no feedback is guaranteed.

3. Finalists will be notified by email.

4. Winners will be selected based on storytelling, creativity, technical quality, cultural resonance, and festival theme alignment.

 

Winners’ Showcase Screening

Because the festival’s in-person showcase is limited to 4 hours, the following apply:

1. The festival reserves the right to adjust screening order or determine which films will be screened based on runtime.

2. Selected winners must deliver a high-quality screening file (1080p minimum) within 7 days of notification.

3. Failure to provide a playable file may result in forfeiture of the screening slot (award remains intact).

 

Awards

The festival presents the following awards:

• Best Feature Film

• Best Short Film

• Best Student Film

• The Walter Goodwin Jr. Leap Award for Best Directorial Debut

 

Awards may include trophies, certificates, interviews, and promotional features.

The festival reserves the right to add, modify, or remove awards if necessary.

 

 

Marketing & Promotion Consent

By submitting, filmmakers grant the festival permission to use:

• clips (up to 30 seconds),

• screenshots,

• stills,

• poster images, and

• filmmaker bios
  for promotional purposes related to the festival’s marketing, social media, and press campaigns.

The festival will never release the full film without permission.

 

Liability

1. The festival is not responsible for technical issues arising from failed uploads, faulty links, or incompatible file formats.

2. The festival is not responsible for travel, lodging, or other expenses related to participation.

 

 Rule Changes

The festival reserves the right to amend or update these rules at any time. Any updates will be posted on the festival’s primary submission platform.