Black Film Space (BFS) is marking a major milestone with the announcement of honorees for its 10-Year Anniversary celebration and 4th Annual Black Film Space Awards, taking place Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Manhattan Neighborhood Network in New York City. The red-carpet ceremony will commemorate a decade of amplifying Black storytellers in film and television while honoring ten standout creatives whose work continues to expand the narrative of Black representation on screen. For
Founded in 2015, Black Film Space has spent the past decade nurturing Black filmmakers through education, networking, mentorship, and funding opportunities. This year’s awards serve as both a celebration of the honorees and a reflection on ten years of community-building and industry advocacy.
“This year’s awards is not only a celebration of our honorees, but it is a celebration of our organization’s ten years of existence,” said Co-Founder Lande Yoosuf. “Black filmmakers struggle with recognition and equity in our industry, and we want this night to count as an opportunity for our honorees to celebrate their incredible careers. It is also a fundraiser and our hope is to get support for our 2026 goals. We are committed to sticking around as long as possible.”
Attendance and sponsorships for the event are tax-deductible, with proceeds supporting the organization’s 2026 programming initiatives, including business development resources, skill-building workshops, and career-support grants.
2025 BFS Award Honorees
- Visionary – Dawn Porter
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker and founder of Trilogy Films. Known for Gideon’s Army, Trapped, John Lewis: Good Trouble, and Luther: Never Too Much. - Powerhouse – Effie T. Brown
Award-winning producer and CEO of Gamechanger Films. Known for Dear White People, Real Women Have Curves, Desert Blue, and Rocket Science. - Luminary – Tracey Baker-Simmons
Showrunner and executive producer with 25+ years of experience. A pioneer of reality television, best known for Being Bobby Brown. - Advocate – Alex O’Keefe
Television writer celebrated for character-driven narratives that explore social themes. Credits include The Bear and Netflix’s WWE RAW. - Maverick – Shirley Vernae Williams
Emmy-nominated producer and director with work spanning Netflix, HBO, and Essence Studios. Founder of Willie B. Studios. - Trailblazer – Darnell Martin
Writer, director, and producer known for Cadillac Records and episodes of Law & Order and The Walking Dead. The first African American woman to direct a major studio film. - Savant – Nikole Hannah-Jones
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The 1619 Project, later adapted into a Hulu docuseries. Founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. - Day One – Dallas Rico
Screenwriter uplifting Black, queer, and cowboy-centered storytelling. Writer for Reasonable Doubt and creator of identity-rooted reimagined Western narratives.
About Black Film Space
Black Film Space is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the careers of Black filmmakers through craft and business development, community-based programs, workshops, networking, and funding pathways. Co-founded by Reggie Williams and Lande Yoosuf, the organization has supported thousands of emerging and established creators over the last decade.
The 4th Annual BFS Awards stands as both a look back and a leap forward—honoring legacy, spotlighting leadership, and fueling the future of Black storytelling in film and television.