Black Cinema Collective, est. 2019

Black Cinema Collective (BCC) is comprised of a group of multicultural artists and scholars who examine and celebrate works of African and African diasporic filmmakers through programmed screenings and community discussions. We were founded in 2019 by Berette Macaulay at the behest of Susan Harewood at University of Washington-Bothell where we began. Together with founding members Mateó B. Ochoa (aka Chile Dulce) and Savita Krishnamoorthy, we organize screenings, watch parties and talks that hold space for the complex existence and storytelling inventions of Diasporians.

With both a Black Feminist and Black Global lens, we consider intersectional histories and topical stories by supporting multiple forms of filmmaking from local and global artists, activists, documentarians, and organizers. We have benefited from a guiding Advisory Circle lead by Susan Harewood and Lauren S Berliner, as well as our cherished community of friends and partners who work with us to platform work otherwise unknown to Seattle audiences and beyond. Through our focused events on Black film and visual productions, we exercise agency and care as custodians and students of a broader spectrum of Afro-Diasporic cultures.

BCC is a recipient of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture C.A.R.E. Grant (2023 - 2025), Seattle Foundation Creative Equity Fund (2021), the 4Culture Projects Grant (2021), the Redmond Arts Season Grant (2021), and the Simpson Center for the Humanities Graduate Research Grant (2019). BCC is fiscally sponsored by Northwest Film Forum and is currently a project of i.ma.gine | e.volve™.

Visit the Black Cinema Collective Website to see our work and programs.

The Collective

berette

founder | lead organizer

programs & operations + development

chile (aka mateó)

founding member | co-organizer

media design & programs

savita

founding member | co-organizer

development & programs

member liaison | social media, communication, + admin assistance

jas (active 2022 - 2023)

member | social media + programs intern

abbie (active 2022 - 2023)

member | social media mgmt + educational outreach support

Advisory Circle

Susan Harewood (film study/pedagogy/purpose)

Lauren S. Berliner (communications/organizational operations support)

THE BCC FILMMAKER MICROGRANT PROGRAM

ABOUT the Black Cinema Collective FILMMAKER MICROGRANT

Black Cinema Collective (BCC) launched their first microgrant in January 2023 for first-time Black filmmakers based in Washington or Oregon, giving a total of $10, 000 in cash awards and a prize package of artist development support for four (4) awardees. Winner announcements were made May 2023, with a celebration party and awardee introduction held on Nov 17th, 2023 at Northwest Film Forum.

Based on the work and communities BCC serves, Black identifying, queer, trans, straight, non-binary, non-gender conforming applicants, 18+ with an active interest in film, cinema studies, Afro-Diasporic filmmaking were invited to apply.

The 2023 microgrant is fiscally supported by the Creative Equity Grant received by Black Cinema Collective in 2021 from the Seattle Foundation. The Artist Development package of awards is offered through generous co-sponsorship support by Northwest Film Forum. The 2023 Grant Media Open Call design by jas moultrie, Grant Media Announcement design by Chile.

CONGRATULATIONS to BCC’s inaugural Filmmaker Microgrant Awardees - Amber Flame, Leah Teklemariam, Taylor-Nicole Tinsley, and Cacey Williams!

The 2024 Black Cinema Collective Filmmaker Microgrant launched April 29, 2024 as a US National Call for Black, Afro-descendant, and Afro-diasporic filmmakers in the post production stages of their projects, giving $15, 000 in cash awards and a screening + subscription prize package to two (2) awardees. Winner announcements will be made September 2024.

This year’s microgrant is fiscally supported by the Creative Equity Grant from the Seattle Foundation, with BCC Team support from City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Award sponsorship is provided by MUBI, Northwest Film Forum, New York African Film Festival, with media sponsorship from International Examiner. 2024 Grant media design + program support by Chile Dulce, and BCC admin assistance, communications + marketing by Em Chan.

LEARN More + APPLY to the 2024 BCC Filmmaker Microgrant HERE.

The Black Cinema Collective Filmmaker Microgrant is created by BCC lead organizer Berette S Macaulay with development support from BCC co-organizers Savita Krishnamoorthy and Abbie Altamirano; and Northwest Film Forum's Managing Director Christopher Day and Executive Director Derek Edamura.

BCC in the Word

Feminist Media Histories | UC Press, 2021

(Re)imagined Possibilities: The Resilience of the Black Woman Griot, Zeinabu irene Davis in Conversation.

by Berette S Macaulay & Savita Krishnamoorthy

We had our first article based on an interview with scholar and renowned filmmaker, Zeinabu irene Davis published in Feminist Media Histories, University of California Press, Jan 2021. Edited by Dr. Jennifer Bean.

Read HERE