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🎬 MEDWAY LENS —

FILM & VIDEO OPEN CALL

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Online Showcase Submission - Summer 2026

🎬 Why Submit to Medway Lens?

Be part of the very first Medway Lens, a month-long celebration of photography, film, and video across Medway.

This is more than a submission — it’s an opportunity to share your work, grow your network, and be part of a creative community.

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✨ What You’ll Gain

🎥 Professional Exposure

Have your work featured as part of our online showcase, alongside a curated programme of events, and shared through The Black Art Hub’s digital platforms.

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🤝 Networking Opportunities

Connect with photographers, filmmakers, artists, curators, and creatives working across Medway and beyond.

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📢 Artist Support

Selected filmmakers will receive promotional support across our website and social media, helping your work reach a wider audience.

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🎓 Creative Development

Gain access to a programme of talks, workshops, and discussions led by industry professionals and academics, including topics such as the following:

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  • Photography & Film Practice

  • Publishing & Creative Careers

  • Documentary & Visual Storytelling

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We designed these sessions to foster your creative growth, boost your confidence, and advance your career.

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🚀 Be Part of It

Whether you’re just starting out or already established, Medway Lens is open to hobbyists, students, and professionals.

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👉 This is your chance to be part of a growing creative movement in Medway.

Film & Video 'Short Shorts' Submissions ONLY

👤 Section 1 — Personal Details

Multi-line address

🧾 Section 2 - Experience Level

Your Experience level - Please select one
Additional Information (Optional)

🎬 📷 Section 3 - Artistic Background

Primary Art Form:

🤝 Section 4 - Equality Monitoring (Optional):

Age
Gender Identity
Additional Considerations

Please use the options below to specify any additional aspects of your gender identity or sexual orientation that may not be covered in the standard categories. If you feel comfortable, we encourage you to share this information, as it helps us better understand and support the diversity of our community. However, if you prefer not to disclose, please select "Prefer Not to Say. We (TBAH CIC) welcome and encourage submissions from diverse identities and orientations.

Sexual Orientation
Ethnicity:
Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity. The following information is collected to help us monitor and improve our practices, and to fulfill requirements from our funders. This data is crucial in securing funding that supports our exhibitions and programs. Providing this information is entirely optional and will remain confidential.

🎬📹 📷 Section 5 — Submission Details

Submission Type:

All participating artists and poets must complete and submit this Submission form to be eligible for the exhibition.

Genre:

📝 Section 6 — Description

🔗 Section 7 — Film Access

Section 8 — Upload your Preview Clip

Please note: this is only for film & video preview uploads.


Please label your video files in the following format: FullName_ArtworkTitle.mp4 (e.g., JaneDoe_SunsetDreams.mp4).

Your fiile name must match the name on your submission form

Section 12 — Signature required to participate

Drawing mode selected. Drawing requires a mouse or touchpad. For keyboard accessibility, select Type or Upload.
How did you hear about us?

🧾Section 13 — Media Consent Quick Feedback (Optional)

Please select one:


☐ ⭐ Very Easy

☐ ⭐⭐ Easy

☐ ⭐⭐⭐ Okay

☐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Difficult

☐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Difficult

🧠 Did you feel confident completing this form ?

Any questions email: theblackarthub@gmail.com

Data Protection Statement

Your personal information is being collected for the purpose of processing your submission and participation in our exhibition. We will not share your data with any third parties. Your data will be securely stored and only used for communication related to this exhibition and future opportunities from The Black Art Hub CIC.

* Important Information for Form Users We kindly ask for your cooperation in providing some optional demographic information in our Video submission form. Here’s why it matters: Supporting Our Mission: The data you provide helps us promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in our exhibitions and programs. It also enables us to meet the reporting requirements of our funders, ensuring we can continue to secure the necessary resources to support our artistic community. Confidentiality Guaranteed: Your information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. All data collected is securely stored and used only for aggregated reporting purposes. This means your individual responses will never be shared with any third parties or linked back to you personally. Your Choice: Providing this information is entirely optional. If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select the "Prefer not to say" option.  If you have any concerns or questions about how your information is used, please feel free to reach out to us at theblackarthub@gmail.com. We're here to ensure you feel comfortable and informed at every step of your participation.

🤝 Partners

Delivered in partnership with:

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  • The Halpern Gallery

  • Medway Artbox

  • Wordsmithery / Medway River Lit (MRL)

  • The Chatterday Show - Official Podcast Partners

  • Medway School of Arts

  • Hulk’s Darkroom & Studio

  • Historic Dockyard Chatham

  • A Better Medway

  • Wellbeing Walk Medway

  • PA ALLIANCE

  • Medway Libraries - Twydall Library

  • Poco Loco

  • Photoworks

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💷 Funded by

👉 Arts Council England

Film Credit: Kevin Paul Lawrence

Film Title: 'Misunderstood' 

Insta: @kevinpaulstudio

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Participant of TBAH Intersectionality Art Exhibition 2024

Online Showcase Submission

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✨ About

The Black Art Hub CIC invites submissions for Medway Lens—A Month of Photography, Film, and Video.

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This open call is for film, video, and moving image work, forming part of a curated online showcase running alongside the gallery exhibition.

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We welcome submissions from:

  • Hobbyists

  • Students

  • Emerging creatives

  • Professional filmmakers and videographers

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👉 All levels are welcome.

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🌍 Opportunity

Selected submissions will:

  • Be featured on The Black Art Hub website

  • Be shared across digital platforms

  • Be included in Medway Lens online programming

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👉 Several selected filmmakers will also be featured on our blog and platforms.

 

🎥 What to Submit

All submissions must include:

1. Preview Clip

  • 30–60 seconds recommended

  • Used for the website and promotion

 

2. Full Film

You must provide ONE of the following:

✔ A direct viewing link (preferred)

  • YouTube

  • Vimeo

  • Website

  • Social media

 

OR

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✔ Upload your full film

📌 If Uploading Your Film

  • Maximum duration: 90 minutes

  • Maximum file size: 500MB

  • Accepted formats: MP4 / MOV

👉 If your film exceeds these limits, it must be hosted online and shared via link.

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📐 Format

  • Landscape or portrait accepted

  • All genres welcome

  • Experimental and documentary work encouraged

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📅 Key Dates

  • Submission Deadline: Monday 11 May 2026

  • Programme Launch: 28 May 2026

  • Exhibition Period: 28 May – 1 July 2026

 

💷 Cost

Free to submit
(Funded by Arts Council England)

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⚖️ TERMS & CONDITIONS

🎬 Submission Terms

  • Work must be original

  • You must own the rights to your submission

  • You grant The Black Art Hub CIC permission to:

    • Display your work online

    • Use preview clips for promotion

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📌 Content Guidelines

This is a public-facing programme.

Submissions must not include:

  • Hate speech or discrimination

  • Explicit or offensive content

  • Harmful or illegal material

 

🚫 AI Policy

Fully AI-generated films are not permitted.
AI-assisted editing must be declared if used.

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⚖️ Selection

  • Not all submissions will be selected

  • Selection is curated by The Black Art Hub CIC

 

📢 Promotion

By submitting, you agree to:

  • Support promotion where possible

  • Share the programme via your networks

 

📂 Data

  • Your information will be used for programme delivery only

  • Not shared externally without consent

5 Weeks 

We are offering a selected number of artist features.

'Tick yes on the submission form to be featured.

Make your talent accessible and visible. 

TBAH Website, Youtube Channel & Social Medial Platforms

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WE GOT YOU !

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7

ONLINE 

ENGAGEMENT 

SOCIAL MEDIA

PLATFORMS 

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It takes a village.

Thank you to all our Partners and facilitators.

Medway Partnerships

🎬 Show Off Your Brilliance

 

6 Essential Tips for Filmmakers & Videographers Showcasing Your Work

Exhibiting your film or video work is a powerful way to share your vision, tell stories, and connect with audiences beyond the screen.

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Whether you’re a hobbyist, student, or professional, showcasing your work helps build visibility, develop your practice, and open up new creative opportunities.

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Here are six key tips to help you make the most of your showcase:

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📢 1. Promote Widely

Use social media, creative networks, and local platforms to share your work.

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👉 Don’t just post once — build momentum leading up to the event.

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🎯 2. Engage Your Audience

Think about how your work will be experienced.

  • Share a short preview clip

  • Introduce your film with a short caption or context

  • Be present (online or in person) to engage with viewers

 

🎞️ 3. Present Your Work Professionally

Make sure your film is:

  • High-quality resolution

  • Correctly formatted

  • Clearly titled and credited

 

👉 A strong presentation elevates how your work is received.

 

♿ 4. Make It Accessible

Ensure your work can reach a wider audience:

  • Add subtitles or captions

  • Keep audio clear and balanced

  • Consider pacing and readability

 

👉 Accessibility is part of good storytelling.

 

🤝 5. Network & Collaborate

Use the opportunity to connect with:

  • Other filmmakers

  • Photographers and artists

  • Curators and creative organisations

 

👉 Conversations often lead to future projects.

 

🔁 6. Follow Up & Build Momentum

After your work is shown:

  • Share clips and highlights

  • Thank the organisers and collaborators

  • Reflect on feedback

 

👉 Every showcase is a step forward in your creative journey.

 

🚀 Final Thought

Your work deserves to be seen.

Take the opportunity to share it, talk about it, and own your creative voice.

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