Level Forward, in partnership with Population Media Center, is producing a series of narrative short films centered on the theme Black Motherhood: Real Outcomes/Future Visions.

This series will explore both the current realities and potential futures of Black motherhood in the United States, offering a window into the lived experiences and aspirations of Black mothers from a range of socioeconomic, geographic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. As systemic injustice perpetuates a crisis in Black maternal health, the goal of these short films is to foster a deeper, more empathetic understanding of the challenges, triumphs, inequities, and joys that shape Black women’s journeys to and through motherhood in America. We recognize that films about Black maternal health experiences can elicit strong, painful memories and emotions. Our intention is not to create re-traumatizing films; rather to create stories with some positive deviance - a point of light, hope, something to highlight and build upon. By telling these stories, we aim to surface the kind of disruptive and humanizing perspectives that not only invite audiences to think differently, but that move them to feel and call them to action.

The following fictional shorts will explore both the present-day realities and future possibilities of Black motherhood in the U.S., and will ground audiences is stories of care, joy, resilience, and hope.

1. Cliff & Clara & Her Baby
2. Colors We Made
3. Smile, Roxy!
4. Baby, Baby, Baby
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Filmmakers have been applying to the program through our submissions page which remains open! It’s not too late to submit. We will remove the link once we close submissions.