Voices of Culture

A non-competitive showcase of short films directed by persons of African descent. This section is by invitation only. Films submitted for, but not selected as finalists in, the HBO Short Film Award competition are automatically considered.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Open to U.S. and international entries.
  2. Directed by a person of African descent.
  3. Entrants must be 18 or older.
  4. Maximum runtime of 30 minutes, including credits.
  5. In English or with English subtitles.
  6. Completed post-production on or after January 1, 2025.
  7. Must not have been previously exhibited or licensed for broadcast, cable, or online exhibition prior to ABFF (May 27–31, 2026).