RECAP: SEVENTH ANNUAL BRONZELENS FILM FESTIVAL OF ATLANTA GEORGIA

BronzeLens Film Festival is a platform that tells the many stories of film markers of color.  The festival is a place for those in front of and behind the lens to be educated and celebrated.  It also highlights the City of Atlanta as the new Hollywood of the South.

7th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival

WEDNESDAY:

The festival kicked-off with a special screening of #DigitalLivesMatter.  The film is a comedy featuring local Atlanta social media icons DC Young Fly and Emmanuel Hudson.  The screening included a star-studded red carpet at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station.  The film was directed by Terri Vaughn who is most known from acting on The Steve Harvey Show and All of Us.  The screening was well attended and actually played on three screens that evening.   The film is available now for steaming at digitallivesmatter.com now.  Please support the movie. 

#DigitalLivesmatter - BronzeLens

THURSDAY:

Thursday featured 'All Shorts, All Day' sponsored by BET Networks at the host location - Atlanta Marriott Marquis.  I got a chance to see Gurl Talk and B Love.  Gurl Talk is about two best friends who are challenged by their husbands not to say a word at a very unusual time and place.  R&B singer Monifah is in the film and attended the screening as well.  B Love stars Brely Evans from BET's Being Mary Jane, Cory Hendricks, and includes some beautiful voiceover work by Eamonn Walker.  I thought the film was sweet and funny at the same time.  The film director Shahari Moore shared details about making the film including technical aspects and working with a small budget.   Thursday ended with a screening of Ringside at the Georgia Pacific Auditorium.  Ringside premieres Sunday, September 4th on TVONE at 7PM. 

FRIDAY:

The Women Superstars Luncheon was held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Ballroom and honored five superstar women of film.  The honorees were Cheryl Boone Isaacs (President - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), Julie Dash (Filmmaker - Daughters of the Dust), Margaret Avery (Actress - The Color Purple), Nina Yang, Bongiovi (Producer - Fruitvale Station), and Dawn Gilliam (Filmmaker - Boyz in the Hood).  

Friday also included several workshops and masterclasses.  Filmmaker Roger Bobb and Julie Dash discussed the 25th anniversary of Daughter of the Dust; the first American feature film by an African American woman to receive a general theatrical release.  Aspire TV sponsored a session with David Banner where attendees got a chance to preview his science fiction series Walking with Gods.  David also shared why sci-fi is important to the black community and how we should support each other especially in the industry.  

The day concluded with BronzeLens founder Kathleen Bertrand hosting the First Glance Friday screenings at the Georgia Pacific Auditorium.  The night begin with a viewing of Issa Rae's Insecure followed by a discussion with the creator.  The second screening was Queen Sugar followed by a talkback session with director Neema Barnett and actor Omar Dorsey.  

SATURDAY:

No film festival is complete without awards.  The winner for each category is listed below:

  • Best Web Series - Coffee x Cream
  • Best Documentary - Olympic Pride - American Prejudice 
  • Best Short - Ugly
  • Best International Legends of Ska
  • Best Feature - Destined
  • Best Student - Deus ex Machina
  • Best Actress - Constance Ejuma - Ben and Ara
  • Best Actor - Dorian Missick - 9 Rides
  • Best of Festival - Destined

Visit Bronzelens.com for the complete list of nominees and winners.

2016 BronzeLens Award Winners

Sunday:

The final day included screenings for Olympic Pride - American Prejudice at the Center for Civil and Human Rights and The Products of the American Ghetto.  Olympic Pride documents the lives of the 18 African American athletes who participated in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.  The film can currently be seen on Xfinity OnDemand and pre-ordered on Amazon.  The Products of the American Ghetto closed the festival out at the Georgia Pacific Auditorium.  Director Henderson Maddox and writer Tierra Ford attended the screening with several cast and crew members.  

Look out for more detailed recaps soon.  Did you attend the festival?  What were some of your highlights?