Creator Grant Program

Blacktag was founded to address a gap in the creator economy: despite driving culture, Black creators often lacked access to funding, ownership, and distribution pathways.

The Creator Grant Program was developed to bring this mission to life — providing filmmakers with tangible resources, mentorship, and visibility, while positioning Blacktag as a bridge between creators and brands.

How It Worked

  • Focus groups with Black creators and filmmakers revealed two consistent needs: funding and mentorship. These insights shaped the foundation for a program designed to provide tangible resources while amplifying authentic voices.

  • A dedicated platform was built to source and review submissions. From hundreds of applicants, five filmmakers were selected to receive production funding, mentorship in both creative and marketing, and opportunities for visibility.

  • The program delivered five original short films, a showcase event, and an out-of-home campaign profiling the filmmakers — ensuring their stories reached audiences and potential brand partners without distortion.

What It Did

  • The pilot framework attracted Blacktag’s first major brand partnership with Johnnie Walker, funding and scaling the Creator Grant Program.

  • Five filmmakers received tailored guidance, including mentorship from Kenya Barris and industry professionals across production and marketing.

  • Positioned Blacktag as a leading platform for Black creative ownership, while delivering measurable value for both creators and brand partners.

The Bigger Picture

What began as a response to creators’ need for funding and mentorship grew into a scalable model for how brands can engage authentically with culture. The program delivered five original films, national recognition, and new opportunities for emerging filmmakers — showing that when stories are supported at their source, they resonate far beyond the campaign itself.