The TNBFC flagship events to Champion Black Talent and Tackle Barriers Across UK Screen Industries -
Black News 
The TNBFC flagship events to Champion Black Talent and Tackle Barriers Across UK Screen Industries -
On Thursday 18th December 2025: The New Black Film Collective (TNBFC) confirmed the return of its two flagship events - PictureEast Film Festival and TNB XPO - in 2026, marking another milestone in its mission to drive systemic change, strengthen the pipeline for Black talent and celebrate Black excellence across film, TV, and gaming.
Backed by partners including BFI, Film London, Warner Bros., Film and TV Charity, and Channel 4, both events are free and open to all, providing vital, accessible platforms for Black creatives to connect, showcase work, and engage directly with industry decision-makers.
PICTUREEAST FILM FESTIVAL | 20 -25 January 2026 (Newham), 27 January – 1 February(Barking & Dagenham)
Reigniting the power of cinema in the community, PictureEast returns as a bold cultural celebration co-curated with Newham residents. This free fortnight celebration of cinema was developed in response to the borough’s cinema closures, as the festival restores the shared joy of the big screen - spotlighting underrepresented communities and local voices too often missing from mainstream screens.
The 2026 edition will feature:
- Film previews and feature screenings including Wasteman and My Father’s Shadow
- Short film showcases and cultural events
- Panel discussions co-led with local voices
The full programme will be announced soon. Audiences can sign up to TNBFC’s newsletter for updates.
TNB XPO | London & Online, 23 - 27 March 2026
Now in its fifth year, TNB XPO has established itself as the UK’s leading industry symposium for Black creatives - an unapologetic call to action for a fairer, more inclusive screen industry. Combining in-person sessions at Rich Mix in East London with a global online day, TNB XPO 2026 gathers industry leaders, commissioners, and creators to confront systemic barriers and power new opportunities.
TNB XPO will include:
- Industry keynotes & panels from leading figures across production, distribution, gaming, animation and finance.
- Pitching sessions & showcases giving Black creatives direct access to commissioners, broadcasters, streamers and investors.
- Networking & recruitment opportunities, including the Black Finance Market and careers fair.
- Global roundtables facilitated by international partners and supported by BFI’s UK Global Screen Fund.
Guest speakers will be announced in the new year. Previous editions have featured industry leaders such as Melanie Hoyes (BFI), Marcus Ryder (Film & TV Charity), and Rico Johnson-Sinclair (Warner Bros. Discovery), alongside representatives from organisations including Film London, Games London, and JAMPRO.
TNB XPO will take place at Rich Mix from 24-26 March, opening with a launch event on Monday 23 March and concluding with an international online day on Friday 27 March.
The full programme will be announced soon. Audiences can sign up to TNBFC’s newsletter for updates.
CHAMPIONING CHANGE AND CALLING OUT INACTION
At a time when progress on equality in the screen industries remains urgent, TNBFC’s dual flagship events serve as both cultural celebration and industry intervention. They create spaces for Black talent to thrive - while pushing funders, policymakers, and studios to move beyond performative allyship and invest in long-term change.
Priscilla Igwe, Founder and CEO of The New Black Film Collective, said:
“The return of PictureEast and TNB XPO in 2026 is more than a festival moment - it’s a movement for change. Black practitioners continue to face systemic barriers, and we’re here to shift that reality. PictureEast reignites local cinema culture from the ground up, and TNB XPO dismantles barriers from the top down. Together, they’re about visibility, ownership, and power - ensuring Black voices are invested in.”
Together, PictureEast and TNB XPO form part of The New Black Film Collective’s year-round commitment to systemic change.
Founded in 2013 following a Film London leadership initiative, The New Black Film Collective (TNBFC) exists to cultivate a vibrant Black ecosystem across the UK screen industries - connecting every stage of the creative pipeline from talent to exhibition. Through its flagship initiatives PictureEast and TNB XPO, alongside strategic partnerships with organisations like BFI, Film London, and Channel 4, TNBFC continues to champion Black-led production, distribution, and preservation of Black film and television.
More than a network, TNBFC is a movement - building visibility, resilience, and opportunity for Black creatives, while setting new standards for how inclusion and industry transformation can truly work hand in hand.
PictureEast Film Festival and TNB XPO are free to attend and is for anyone working in the UK screen industries, at any stage of their career. For more information and alerts when tickets are available, please visit:
https://www.tnbfc.co.uk/peff26
