MARCH ON! FESTIVAL
Uniting storytelling, scholarship, and civic courage on screen and stage.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The March On! Festival is more than an event—it’s a movement, a platform, and a celebration of the stories that have shaped the ongoing fight for justice. Formerly known as the March on Washington Film Festival, this annual gathering harnesses the power of film, music, art, dance, literature, scholarship, and first person accounts to illuminate untold narratives and inspire a deeper understanding of civil rights history and its modern-day impact. We welcome you Mon, Sept 15 – Sun, Sept 21 to the 2025 March On! Festival.
Jonathan Capehart, journalist & political commentator.
Food from the 2024 Festival
Attendees from the 2024 Festival
Music from the 2024 Festival
GET INVOLVED
- VOLUNTEERS
Join our passionate team of volunteers and become an integral part of the March On! Festival. Gain valuable experience, connect with others who care deeply about the civil rights movement, and help create an unforgettable experience for attendees.
- Engage with acclaimed thought leaders, artists and activists
- Attend film screenings, panel discussions, and vital conversations
- Work alongside a mission-driven, creative team
- SPONSORS
Join us in shining a light on powerful stories and advancing the ongoing fight for justice. Sponsoring the festival connects your brand with a mission-driven community and offers meaningful visibility.
- Your name featured in festival materials
- VIP access to premieres and exclusive events
- Customized partnership opportunities
HONOREES
In 2025, we will kick off the festival on Tuesday, September 16th, with our Annual Awards Night Gala where we honor visionary leaders in the fight for civil rights. We are pleased to share this year’s award recipients:
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS LIFETIME LEGACY AWARD
The Lifetime Legacy Award was established to honor a lifetime of extraordinary achievement in advancing civil rights and social justice. Awarded to Congressman John Lewis himself and renamed the John Lewis Lifetime Legacy Award in his honor after his passing, this prestigious award recognizes leaders whose unwavering commitment to equity and justice reflects the core principles that guided Congressman Lewis— courage, resilience, and transformative action.
Senator Cory Booker
- US Senator
MARCH ON! AWARD
The March On! Awards were established to recognize leaders and organizations whose commitment to advancing civil rights and social justice is unparalleled. Honorees exemplify the spirit of activism, advocacy, and creative expression that drives meaningful change. Through their work—whether in the arts, public service, or community leadership—recipients of the March On!™ The lifetime achievement award has only been bestowed upon one other individual.
Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith and Firelight Media
- Director, Documentary Filmmaker
Stanley Nelson is today’s leading documentarian of the African American experience. Awards received include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, five Primetime Emmy Awards, lifetime achievement awards from the Emmys and IDA, and the National Medal in the Humanities from President Obama.
Marcia Smith is the former President of Firelight Media. Under her leadership, Firelight Media was honored with a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. She has written several films alongside Stanley Nelson including: Freedom Riders, Through the Fire: The Legacy of Barack Obama, Jonestown, and The Murder of Emmett Till.
In 2000, Mr. Nelson and his wife, Marcia Smith, co-founded Firelight Media, a non-profit organization that provides mentorship, funding, and artistic development opportunities to emerging documentary filmmakers of color.
FILMMAKER COMPETITIONS
Teaching America
- 2025
- 21 mins
Producers: Alisa Payne, Geeta Gandbhir, Sam Pollard
Teaching America is a short documentary exploring the battle around the teaching of African-American history
From Rodeo to Polo: The First HBCU Polo Team
- 2025
- 19 mins
Producer: Trysten Williams
The first Black collegiate polo team at Morehouse College chases national USPA certification, training a rag-tag team of charismatic cowboys into
