BCCHTX
SPOTLIGHTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK FILMMAKERS
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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The BCCHTX Film Academy is Black Cinema Club HTX’s new filmmaker incubator designed to help promising filmmakers move from idea to completed short film.
Through this inaugural program, five filmmakers will each receive a $2,000 grant, along with mentorship, milestone-based accountability, and a clear roadmap to create a short film between 5 and 15 minutes in length.
This is not just funding. It is a completion-driven program.
The Academy is built for filmmakers who have already made something before and are ready for the next step with more structure, more support, and more follow-through. Selected filmmakers will move through a light-touch yet intentional process that includes script development, pre-production planning, production, post-production check-ins, and final delivery.
The goal is simple: help filmmakers actually finish strong work.
Recipients were announced live at BCCHTX Film Festival on April 19, 2026.
The Academy officially began in June 2026, and all films will be completed by the end of 2026, with a screening pathway through Black Cinema Club HTX in 2027.
MEET THE COHORT
Five filmmakers. Five stories. One shared journey.
Meet the inaugural cohort shaping what comes next for Black cinema in Houston, Texas.
ALAZAR
ASRAT
Film in Development: “BURNING ALIVE“
Genre: Drama | Thriller
Synopsis: After the sudden death of her father, the daughter of a revolutionary takes the man she believes to be responsible for his death hostage. This leaves her brother, who unlike her had refused to follow in their fathers footsteps, with a difficult decision. Join his sister in her attempt to get justice for their father's murder or continue to live a life devoid of activism.
CHANDLER
PACHECO
Film in Development: “STILL WATER“
Genre: Slice of Life | Drama
Synopsis: Still Water follows a young girl spending the day fishing with her grandfather, where a simple tradition slowly reveals deeper lessons about life, trust, and loss. The film explores how relationships with how loved ones, especially across generations, shape who we become and stay with us long after they’re gone.
JOI
PIERRE
Film in Development: “ZYDECO! ZYDECO! ZYDECO!“
Genre: Romance I Dance I Dramedy
Synopsis: On her bittersweet 30th birthday, Jamilah, a burnout caregiver, is swept to a zydeco bash by her best friends. Formerly a diva on the dance floor, she now struggles to dance. There, she encounters Monti, a charming but gritty cowboy whose simple invitation to dance becomes the catalyst for her to let go of the anxiety and responsibilities that have made her life stiff.
LYNETTE
GUIDRY
Film in Development: “H-TOWN CHRONICLES“
Genre: Surreal Drama
Synopsis:H-Town Chronicles follows two college freshmen returning to Houston for what they expect to be a quiet spring break. As the week unfolds, they find themselves pulled into a series of strange and out-of-the-ordinary situations that disrupt their sense of normalcy. Blending grounded reality with subtle surrealism, the series explores how the unexpected can emerge within even the most ordinary moments.
PAYTON
MACK
Film in Development: “TYPE A”
Genre: Drama | Comedy | Coming of Age
Synopsis: This short film follows Imani, a young woman who must come to terms with her asexuality on the day of her 25th birthday. Haunted by a nightmare of rejection from her unofficial boyfriend, De’Andre, she spends the day confronting her anxieties about intimacy and the seemingly perfect relationships around her. When given the chance to be honest with De’Andre, her fear ultimately gets the best of her, leading her to push him away.
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POWERED BY A COMMUNITY OF INVESTORS IN BLACK CINEMA
The Academy is made possible through organizations committed to expanding access, resources, and opportunities for Black filmmakers.
THE ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
WHAT SELECTED FILMMAKERS RECEIVE
Each selected filmmaker will receive:
$2,000 in grant funding
Mentorship and strategic guidance
A structured production timeline
Milestone-based accountability
A path toward screening through Black Cinema Club HTX in 2027
Grant structure
Each selected filmmaker will receive:
$1,000 upfront after acceptance and onboarding
$1,000 after milestone progress is met, based on timely participation and required deliverables
Black Cinema Club HTX reserves the right to tie the second payment to the completion of a milestone.
WHO THE ACADEMY IS FOR
The BCCHTX Film Academy is for filmmakers who:
Have already completed at least one prior project
Are serious about directing or creating a short film
Have a clear idea for a project they want to make now
Can complete a film between 5 and 15 minutes
Want structure, deadlines, and support to help them finish
Are ready to execute their film in 2026
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, applicants must:
Have completed at least one previous project from start to finish
Submit a concept for a short film that will be 5 to 15 minutes
Be available to participate in the Academy timeline from June through December 2026
Be willing to meet program deadlines and milestone check ins
Submit all required application materials by the deadline
Be available for an interview if selected as a finalist
Priority may be given to filmmakers with a strong connection to Houston and those contributing to Black film culture in Houston
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Applicants must submit:
A portfolio or sample of previous completed work
An artist statement
A proposed film concept
The genre of the film
The projected runtime
The current stage of development
A resume or creative bio
A preliminary budget
A basic production plan or intended timeline
Any script pages, treatment, or deck if available
Contact information and social links
Applications will be evaluated based on:
Strength of previous work
Clarity and originality of the proposed film concept
Artistic voice and point of view
Readiness to complete the project within the timeline
Professionalism, discipline, and follow through
Alignment with the mission of Black Cinema Club HTX
GRANT TIMELINE
March 13, 2026
March 25, 2026 @ 11:59 PM CST
March 26 - March 31, 2026
April 1, 2026
April 2 - April 10, 2026
Week of April 13, 2026
April 19, 2026, at the BCCHTX Film Festival
Late April - May 2026
June 2026
June - December 2026
December 15, 2026
2027
Applications Open
Applications Close
Application Review
Finalist Notifications
Finalist Interviews
Top 10 Finalists Announced
Five Grant Recipients Announced Live
Paperwork + Prep
Academy Orientation
Program Runs
Final Film Delivery Deadline
Academy Screening Window
PROGRAM
MILESTONES
PROGRAM
EXPECTATIONS
To keep the program focused and manageable, the Academy will follow a light touch milestone structure.
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June 2026:
Orientation session
Program expectations
Timeline review
Initial creative check-in
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Deadline: July 15, 2026
Submit revised draft or treatment
Receive feedback
Submit the final script for approval
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Deadline: August 15, 2026
Confirm key collaborators
Submit the top-line production plan
Share intended production dates
Submit updated budget and readiness check
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Deadline: October 1, 2026
Principal photography completed
Submit production update
Confirm next post-production steps
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Deadline: November 1, 2026
Submit rough cut or work-in-progress cut
Receive feedback
Identify final notes and delivery path
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Deadline: December 15, 2026
Picture lock completed
Final film delivered
Final assets submitted, including stills, synopsis, and credits
Filmmakers will be expected to remain engaged throughout the year in the development of their project and the Academy community.
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Selected filmmakers are expected to:
Communicate professionally and respond promptly
Meet all published deadlines
Complete milestone deliverables
Actively move their project toward completion
Participate in required Academy check-ins
Represent themselves and Black Cinema Club HTX professionally
OWNERSHIP &
RIGHTS
Filmmakers retain ownership of their work, with specific rights outlined in the program agreement.
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Filmmakers retain ownership of their films and underlying intellectual property.
Black Cinema Club HTX is providing grant support, mentorship, and program oversight. It is not taking ownership of the film.
By participating, selected filmmakers will be asked to grant Black Cinema Club HTX:
The right to reference the project as part of the Academy,
The right to use approved stills, clips, titles, and descriptions for promotional purposes, and
The right to screen the completed film in connection with BCCHTX Academy or BCCHTX programming.
Selected filmmakers may also be required to include a credit such as:
Created with support from the Black Cinema Club HTX Film Academy
A simple recipient agreement should be signed before grant funds are disbursed.