The 3rd Annual HBCU First LOOK Film Festival closed with major announcements that signal a powerful future for young Black storytellers in film and television. During the festival’s Awards Ceremony Luncheon, founder Sheila Eldridge revealed an exciting new partnership between the festival and Tubi — one that will showcase over 100 films from HBCU filmmakers directly on the streaming platform.
“We are so excited to announce that we have formed a partnership and a deal with Tubi, and over 100 films will be airing on the platform once they’re submitted through our program,” Eldridge shared during her remarks. “It took us over a year to make this happen, and we are so proud to have a major outlet on board to give our future storytellers that first look.”
The partnership will establish HBCU First LOOK’s first dedicated channel on Tubi, offering a platform for student and alumni filmmakers to reach audiences worldwide and reinforcing the festival’s mission to create a direct pipeline between HBCUs and the entertainment industry. Eldridge also highlighted that Ryan Coogler expressed his support for the festival’s vision and its commitment to developing the next generation of filmmakers.
In addition to the Tubi announcement, Ti-Shea Meadows, Vice President, Operations, Channel Planning, & Culture at Paramount Storytellers Lab, unveiled another incredible opportunity for this year’s festival winners — an invitation to join her team at the 2026 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival.
This year’s HBCU First LOOK Award Winners include:
- Best Wellness Film (First Place): HIM+ – Chazriq “Chazam” Clarke, Florida A&M University
- Best Feature Film (Second Place): Strut The Yard – Destiny Stubbs, Howard University
- Best Family & Faith Film (Third Place): Meet the Family That Stick Together – Taylor Dews, Spelman College
As the festival enters its third year, the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival continues to prove itself as one of the most vital platforms for rising Black creatives — building pathways from the classroom to Hollywood and ensuring that the next generation of storytellers not only have a seat at the table but a stage to shine.