CALLING ALL ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIVISTS & FILMMAKERS!

The NAACP is launching its second year of the NAACP Climate in Color: Reframing our Future Short Film Program! This exciting opportunity will give a winning filmmaker the opportunity to produce a short film addressing environmental climate justice issues impacting Black communities that highlights some innovation for the future. The films can be narrative or documentary, and will need to be based on at least one of the pillars of work that the Center for Environmental and Climate Justice prioritizes for its work with communities:

• Right to a toxic free environment (including removing contaminants from air, water, soil and everyday items such as clothing)
• Energy Democracy (including imaginative ways for communities to consider relationships with energy sources)
• Sustainable Communities (including disaster resiliency work, water infrastructure, tree canopy, food eco-systems)
• Zero Emissions.

The winning filmmaker will be announced in June 2026, and they will have an opportunity to discuss their film at NY Climate Week in September.

The filmmaker will be awarded a grant to produce and showcase a short film by the end of 2026, in collaboration with the NAACP Center for Environmental & Climate Justice, the NAACP Hollywood Bureau, and NAACP+ Studios.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 18 years of age by May 28, 2026.
• Must submit a pitch for a short film based on at least one of the pillars that the NAACP Center for Environmental and Climate Justice prioritizes for its work with communities (no more than 500 words).
• Must submit an excerpt from a sample script that demonstrates your skill set as a screenwriter, no more than 5 pages.
• Must submit one creative sample (short film, commercial or photography) that demonstrates your skill set as a filmmaker.
• Must submit a written statement between 250-300 words answering the essay questions below.
• Must provide your transportation to and from New York, unless otherwise discussed and agreed to, to discuss the film. (Local hotel accommodations will be provided for selected filmmakers/activists based on double occupancy).

NOTE: Projects that are currently in production or post-production will not be considered. If the NAACP learns that the Climate in Color project is in one of those stages after the application selection, the NAACP reserves the right to select a new filmmaker for the program. Each applicant is only allowed to submit one project.

Applications are open to residents of the U.S. Projects must be in English or have an English translation. Narrative and documentary films can be considered. Filmmakers are responsible for clearing any rights and permissions to the film.NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc. shall be the exclusive owner, including, without limitation, the owner of all intellectual property rights, in all films, including all footage shot or edited as part of the competition or with equipment furnished as part of the competition.

Please complete and submit this form by May 28, 2026 8:45 PM (PT)/11:45 PM (ET)

Please submit your short film pitch based on at least one of the pillars of the Center for Environmental Climate Justice prioritizes for its work with communities.

• Right to a toxic free environment (including removing contaminants from air, water, soil and everyday items such as clothing)
• Energy Democracy (including imaginative ways for communities to consider relationships with energy sources like data centers)
• Sustainable Communities (including disaster resiliency work, water infrastructure, tree canopy, food eco-systems)
• Zero Emissions

NAACP Climate in Color: Reframing our Future Short Film Program Media Release

For good and valuable consideration, including but not limited to, being permitted to apply for and/or participate in the NAACP Climate in Color: Reframing our Future Shorts program (“Program”), I hereby irrevocably grant to the NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc. (“NAACP EPI”) and its successors, licensees, assigns, and contractors the absolute, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, in perpetuity, right to record, photograph, depict, edit, modify, use, publicize, distribute, broadcast, reproduce, live-stream, post, print, copyright, license, or digitize, for any legal reason or purpose: (1) my voice; (2) my image and/or likeness; and (3) any project that I work on as part of the Program (“Work”).

Such a legal reason or purpose includes, but is not limited to, any arising out of, or related to, the Program and/or NAACP EPI marketing, education, and/or social media.I grant to the NAACP EPI all rights, title, and interest in: (i) all such recordings, photographs, and depictions in any form or medium existing now or in the future; and (ii) the Work. I understand that the NAACP EPI will take reasonable steps to ensure that it, its successors, licensees, assigns, and contractors present the Work and any such recordings, photographs, and depictions in a manner that reflects positively on the NAACP EPI and me.

In return, I hereby release, discharge and agree to hold harmless the NAACP EPI and its agents, successors, licensees, assigns, and contractors from any and all liability of any nature or description which arises out of, or is related to: (i) any such recordings, photographs, and depictions; and/or (ii) the Work, and from any damage or injury that may result from any type or recording process or other action taken in furtherance of completion of the finished product.

I agree not to institute, assert or consent to others instituting, asserting any legal action or lawsuit against the NAACP EPI, or its agents, successors, licensees, assigns, or contractors on any grounds, including but not limited to program content, print content, advertising and advertisers, fees, contractual terms and marketing. I HAVE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT PRIOR TO SIGNING.