HBCU First LOOK Festival Returns with STARZ and ANDSCAPE Partnership
News related to:HBCU First LOOK Film & TV Festival · 3 min read
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The 4th Annual HBCU First LOOK Film & TV Festival returns to Howard University on November 5-7, with STARZ as its inaugural presenting sponsor. The three-day event will create an immersive experience for students and emerging creators, connecting them with HBCU alumni actors, filmmakers, producers, and industry leaders through screenings, master classes, and interactive, hands-on sessions.
The festival will feature two key events: the 2026 I Aspire Ambassadors, named Laya DeLeon Hayes and DaSan Frazier, will serve as hosts for the Salute THEM Awards luncheon. The luncheon will celebrate the 2026 I Aspire 25, recognizing HBCU alumni across five categories: Visionaries, Changemakers, Storytellers, Filmmakers, and Entrepreneurs. The 2026 I Aspire Ambassadors will also host the Salute THEM Awards luncheon, where winners of the HBCU First LOOK Film Challenge, selected from more than 450 entries, will be announced and awarded $5,000 and an internship opportunity.
STARZ, home to critically acclaimed and award-winning series such as "P-Valley" and "Power," will participate in key programming during the festival. The network will continue to support diverse talent and emerging storytellers, in line with its commitment to creating opportunities for women and underrepresented audiences in front of and behind the camera.
ANDSCAPE, a content studio exploring the depth of Black identity through sports and culture, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at the festival. The celebration will feature a special Clips & Conversations tribute with award-winning producers Sheila Matthews and Jesse Washington, showcasing memorable stories and ANDSCAPE's cultural impact.
The 2026 lineup includes producer Autumn Bailey-Ford, who will examine the increasingly global nature of film production, and actress and filmmaker Nicky Micheaux, who will lead a master class on the rise of vertical storytelling. Grammy Award-winning producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will explore the relationship between music and film.
Creator-focused sessions will feature Alexis Powell, creator of The Jennifer Hudson Show's viral "hit" Spirit Tunnel; Howard University alumnae and content creators Jade & Jadah; media personality Jamila Mustafa; and independent filmmakers and producers the Vanzant Brothers. Actress and I Aspire 25 honoree Kennedi Reece, who appears on CBS's Beyond the Gates and featured in Netflix's upcoming A Different World reboot, will participate on a leading lady panel.
AspireTV will host a Clips & Conversation spotlighting its expansion into original scripted programming with New State of Mind, an HBCU-set comedy from producer Bentley Kyle Evans that follows first-year students navigating college life.
HBCU First LOOK, founded by Howard University alumna Sheila Eldridge, provides a platform for emerging creators to showcase their work, connect with executives, and build a pipeline of career opportunities. This year, 12 Howard University students are helping produce the festival, lending a direct voice to programming and interactive elements presented. The festival is produced by students, for students, giving them a seat at the table and an active role in bringing the festival to life.
Black Girl Vitamins will host Fueling Your Future, a two-day wellness and career activation centered on how physical well-being supports the sustainability needed for creative careers. TV One returns with a "red carpet" readiness experience, supporting Micheaux's master class on vertical storytelling.
Additional partners include HBCUgo.tv, Storytellers Lab, Café Mocha Network, the Howard University Radio Network, and the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME).
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