Since 2016, Race Forward and Working Films have partnered together to create Race Flicks, a micro-film festival at Facing Race that spotlights film as a vital storytelling force in the racial justice movement.
We’re pleased to be co-curating the Race Flicks track with Working Films, a national leader in harnessing documentaries for social change and environmental justice. Race Flicks lifts up critical issues of racial justice through film and opportunities for activists, organizers, nonprofits, and others to use them to advance their work.
The Facing Race and Working Films team will work with selected filmmakers to create dynamic programming and discussions tailored to the topics raised by each film.
We welcome films that have a strong focus on stories of racial justice in the US South - a region that survived by growing roots of the civil rights movement, environmental justice movement, and abolitionist movement.
Quality of Filmmaking and Storytelling: We are looking for beautifully shot, story-driven documentaries that use powerful characters and engaging stories to educate and move audiences. Films can be long (over 30 minutes) or short form (under 30 minutes). Note: all must be under 75 minutes.
Diversity: In addition to addressing issues of racial justice we are interested in films that depict people of different ages, abilities, national origins, ethnicities, sexual orientations, etc.
Representation and Accountability: We will prioritize filmmakers telling their own story or that of their own community. For filmmakers telling stories of a community of which they are not a part, we will prioritize films that reflect a participatory production process that engaged the people represented in the film and films that clearly show the agency and power of the community. For more information about what we mean by “participatory production process,” visit www.docaccountability.org, where you can find a guiding framework for “Values, Ethics, and Accountability within Nonfiction Filmmaking” among many other resources.
Filmmakers’ Commitment to Social Change: We want to showcase projects made by filmmakers who have a commitment to using their storytelling abilities to make tangible change. We are interested in your plans for how your film can be used or is already being used to make change, whether that’s through community healing, political action, mutual aid, movement building, etc.
Timeliness of the Topic: We will prioritize films that address timely, current racial justice issues across the U.S.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be 18 years of age.
- This opportunity is open to filmmakers with feature-length documentaries and short documentaries featuring stories about racial justice. Films must not exceed 75 minutes.
- Films may feature stories from anywhere in the world, but priority will be given to films and filmmakers based in the U.S. Midwest.
- Filmmakers must have a vision and goals for the film’s impact beyond just widespread viewership (i.e. Do you see your film motivating people to sign a petition? Call their legislators regarding the issues in the film? Connect organizers and activists across different movements? etc.)
- Priority will be given to filmmakers with a personal connection to the film’s story and/or a strong process of ongoing consent and accountability to the people and communities featured in the film. Visit www.docaccountability.org to explore more about what this means.
- Filmmakers may submit more than one film.
Selected filmmakers will be invited to attend the Facing Race Conference to present their film and take part in a panel discussion (including other conference presenters/organizers) around the film’s topic. Selected filmmakers will receive:
- A complimentary All-Access pass to the Facing Race Conference
- 1 night of free lodging at a hotel near the conference venue
- Monetary travel support on an as-needed basis
To apply, please complete the application by 11:59 pm EST on June 22, 2026, and please include a preview link to screen your film.