Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series has announced two new awards that will be presented by Centric, that will offer opportunities for women filmmakers to have their work aired on the BET Network subsidiary.

As a key sponsor for Reel Sisters’ 19th Annual Film Festival, Centric will present the first Centric/Reel Sisters Best Short Award and Centric/Reel Sisters Best Narrative Film Award to selected filmmakers. The awards will come with a “first look” opportunity for Centric that will extend to the network’s other platforms, in the future. Also, the award winners will receive a licensing option for the rights to air their films on Centric, as well as other promotional benefits.

Reel Sisters will announce the winners at the film festival in October – the festival will be held from Oct. 22 to 23, 2016 at LIU Brooklyn.

“We are honored to partner with Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series and provide opportunities for women filmmakers to gain more exposure,” said Depelsha McGruder, Senior Vice President of Programming, BET & Centric. “As the first network designed for Black women, we look forward to building and growing relationships with organizations that reflect our audience and showcase the brilliance and creativity of Black women.”




“Reel Sisters is honored to have Centric, The First Network Designed for Black Women, provide a platform for audiences to enjoy films by our trailblazing women filmmakers. We need to keep supporting outlets like Centric where our stories are shared and celebrated,” said Carolyn A. Butts, Founder of Reel Sisters.

Founded in 1997 by African Voices magazine and LIU Brooklyn, Reel Sisters is the first Brooklyn-based festival devoted to women of color filmmakers. Reel Sisters presents 30 films produced, directed and written by women of color across the globe each year. The festival has enriched the city with more than 900 films by women of African, Caribbean, Latino, Asian, Indian, and Native American descent and awarded over $12,000 in scholarships to women filmmakers. The groundbreaking festival has influenced other media organizations to launch initiatives that help Black women gain access to directing jobs in Hollywood and bring independent film projects to life.

For information Reel Sisters visit www.reelsisters.org.