We firmly believe that representation matters. If you are a BIPOC Director living in the US, and have a horror film to submit, please complete our waiver application to submit your horror film to us for free. Upon approval, we will email you the password for submitting your film to us through FilmFreeway in our Horror Films by BIPOC Directors category.
Note: This is a submission grant program, and if the grant is exhausted, this category may become unavailable without notice. Films submitted in this category must be DIRECTED BY a filmmaker who is Black/African American, an American Indigenous Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or LatinX. The goal of this program is to foster and encourage horror filmmaking by under-represented minorities in the United States, so to qualify, the DIRECTOR THEMSELVES must fall into this category (regardless of the ethnic make up of cast or production).
What is BIPOC?
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Pronounced “bye-pock,” this is a term specific to the United States, intended to center the experiences of Black and Indigenous groups and demonstrate solidarity between communities of color.
The term “BIPOC” is more descriptive than people of color or POC. It acknowledges that people of color face varying types of discrimination and prejudice. Additionally, it emphasizes that systemic racism continues to oppress, invalidate, and deeply affect the lives of Black and Indigenous people in ways other people of color may not necessarily experience. Lastly and significantly, Black and Indigenous individuals and communities still bear the impact of slavery and genocide.
BIPOC aims to bring to center stage the specific violence, cultural erasure, and discrimination experienced by Black and Indigenous people. It reinforces the fact that not all people of color have the same experience, particularly when it comes to legislation and systemic oppression.