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Start Over Repository Black Film Center & Archive Year 1986 to 1987

5.2. Videocassette Submissions, 1985-1993

Date:
1985-1993
Scope Content:

Sidney Poitier Fellowship (SPF) applicants were asked to submit a 15-minute sample work on a VHS videocassette. Video submissions vary in content from portions of the work-in-progress proposed in the SPF application to previously completed works to compilation reels. Applicants were offered the choice to have videocassettes returned after judging, and for many applications in this series no video submission is held.

Videocassettes listed in this series were received with SPF application materials. For some works-in-progress, a later version of the production was later submitted to the BFHFI. A separate inventory of videocassettes submitted to other BFHFI competitions, which includes these later versions, may be found in "Series 4. Black Filmworks the annual BFHFI Independent Film, Video Screenplay Competition, 1987-2003 (bulk 1990-2003)": http://purl.dlib.indiana.edu/iudl/findingaids/bfca/VAD4348 . For some items, the existance of a version submitted to the regular competition has been noted has been noted, however this cross-listing is not comprehensive.

Arrangement of this series follows the entry numbering system BFHFI assigned to each application packet.

  1. Black Film Center & Archive
  2. Mary Perry Smith Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Archives collection, Series 5. Sidney Poitier Fellowship Competition, 1985-1993, bulk 1992-1993
  3. 5. Sidney Poitier Fellowship Competition

Mary Perry Smith Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Archives collection, Series 5. Sidney Poitier Fellowship Competition, 1985-1993, bulk 1992-1993 2 Boxes 52 Videocassettes 2 Audiocassettes

Campus:
Indiana University Bloomington
Repository:
Black Film Center & Archive
Collection ID:
COL 5
Date:
1985-1993, bulk 1992-1993
Creator:
Smith, Mary Perry, 1926-2015 and Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc.
Scope Content:

This series consists of application materials submitted for consideration for the Sidney Poitier Fellowship (SPF) competition. The Sidney Poitier Fellowship for Emerging Black Filmmakers was announced by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI) in 1992 as a program to award up to ten fellowships to black film/video artists in the process of beginning or completing projects. The SPF program sought to "discover and provide support to talented persons who are pursuing careers as video and film makers" and to further the BFHFI's mission to provide resources to "those who are creating new and dynamic media images from our cultural perspective" (BFHFI planning document). The BFHFI announced the first Poitier Fellowship winners, who were selected from a pool of 102 applicants, at its 20th and final Oscar Micheaux Awards Ceremony in October 1993. The Awards Ceremony souvenir program includes a listing of the Poitier Fellowship awardees. Although the BFHFI intended to present ten awards bi-annually, the Sidney Poitier Fellowship program did not continue after its initial year.

SPF applicants were required to submit budgets, treatments, scripts, or project proposals, as well as a sample work on videocassette. The applications reflect a broad spectrum of independent film and video making from the early 1990s. Proposals include feature films, film school student projects, documentaries, community television, animation, experimental short films, and new media productions submitted by applicants ranging from first-time filmmakers to experienced mid-career veterans.

Videocassettes included with applications have been arranged in a separate series. Except when unavailable, each application has a corresponding sample work on videocassette found in the Videocassettes Series

Physical Description:
2 Boxes, 52 Videocassettes, and 2 Audiocassettes
  1. Black Film Center & Archive