The HBCU First LOOK Film Festival is returning to Howard University for its third year, bringing a powerhouse lineup of industry voices, emerging filmmakers, and HBCU student talent to campus November 6–8.
Serving as this year’s Creative Ambassador, Marsai Martin leads a weekend built to educate, empower, and expand access for HBCU creatives across film, television, and digital media.
The festival opens on campus with screenings and student-focused programming before the night leads into Café Mocha Radio’s SaluteTHEM Awards, where Lynn Whitfield, Ryan Coogler, Marsai Martin, and more will be honored.
For more information and tickets, click here.
Featured Speakers & Guests
This year’s talent lineup brings together an impressive mix of trailblazers and rising voices across film, television, and digital media, including Creative Ambassador Marsai Martin, legendary actress Lynn Whitfield, and filmmaker Ryan Coogler. They are joined by J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley), LaRoyce Hawkins (Chicago P.D.), Felicia Pride (Bel-Air), producer and studio head Tressa Azarel Smallwood, filmmaker Datari Turner, and producer Phil Thornton. Additional speakers include showrunner Shaye Ogbonna (Fight Night, The Penguin), ESPN’s Julian Gooden, actress Lauren E. Banks, casting director Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, director Leslie Small, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Wilson Jr., creator Brooke Hart Jones, content creator Dasan Frazier, talent manager Oronde Garrett of M88, and Benin Mtume from Tubi’s content acquisitions team.
And more executives, creatives, casting leaders, and industry mentors.
Festival Programming Overview
Across the three-day experience, attendees will participate in masterclasses, intimate talks, talent development sessions, studio recruitment activations, and student film screenings.
- Acting Masterclass led by Lauren E. Banks (Howard alum, Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts)
- Launch of FirstLOOK Student Film Marathon (screening on-site + in-app)
- Opening Plenary: Elevating Future Storytellers
Conversation with Marsai Martin, moderated by Loren Lorosa (The Breakfast Club) - Career & Craft Conversations
- A Thin Line Between Love & Success — with Lynn Whitfield, Keith D. Robinson, moderated by Cori Murray (Ebony)
- Global Impact in Film & Digital — featuring Kevin Wilson Jr., Dasan Frazier, Oronde Garrett, Benin Mtume
- The MegaMind Effect — Fireside chat with producer Tressa Azarel Smallwood
- Studio Engagement
- Paramount “Beyond The Lights: Elevation Lounge” — internships, mentorship, casting calls
- Evening Screening
- Above The Tide + conversation with Julian Gooden (ESPN)
- Boomerang: AI & Animation for Filmmakers featuring Brooke Hart Jones, Lewis T. Powell, B. Monet
- Hidden Figures: Women in Power Behind the Scenes with Lauren Banks, Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, moderated by Ronda Racha Penrice
- My HBCU Joy Awards hosted by Loni Love
- Foxhole Fireside Chat w/ Datari Turner, moderated by Phil Thornton
- The Wood: Black Men in Hollywood with LaRoyce Hawkins, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Leslie Small
- Hollywood Shuffle: Independent Filmmaking & Finance with Kelley Kali, Imani Robinson, Shaye Ogbonna
- Closing screening: Unexpected Christmas directed by Phil Thornton
Throughout the festival, students can also participate in on-site recruitment, internship sign-ups, and film industry networking.
2025 Film Challenge Finalists
Earlier this year, the HBCU First LOOK Film Festival invited HBCU students and recent graduates to “speak their truth” through its annual National Student Filmmaker Challenge, calling for projects across drama, comedy, documentary, animation, and more. Submissions ran from February 11 to August 28, 2025, across seven categories — including the newly added Global Impact Film category — with finalists competing for cash prizes and industry mentorship.
Creative Ambassador Marsai Martin announced this year’s finalists, whose films will screen during the festival before winners are revealed at the closing ceremony.
Best Feature Film: Strut The Yard – Destiny Stubbs, Howard University
Best Short Film: Tobacco Road – Kiara Danae Mangum, Howard University
Best Documentary: Fight the Stigma – Devin Walker, Morgan State University
Best Mobile Film: This Is Fine – Syniah Gooden, Howard University
Best Family & Faith Film: Meet the Family That Stick Together – Taylor Dews, Spelman College
Best Wellness Film: HIM+ – Chazriq “Chazam” Clarke, Florida A&M University
(New) Global Impact Film: Two Tickets – Mazen Haj Kassem
For more information and tickets, click here.