Five Must See Events at the 2016 AJC Decatur Book Festival

The AJC Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the United States.  Since 2006, the festival was hosted well over a 1000 authors.  The event includes book signings, author readings, live music and more.

2016 AJC Book Festival

1.  Challenges of Motherhood - Saturday 10AM

Join author Desiree Cooper and Carolyn Parkhurts as they discuss the many sides of motherhood.  Cooper is the author of Know the Mother which explores the many the roles of mothers.  It is a collection of short stories.  Parkhurts is the author of Harmony which details a powerful story about love and family bonds.

2.  Emerging Writers Stage - All Day

The Emerging Writers Stage will host dozens of authors both days.  The authors will cover various genres of books.  Presenters will include some of the best authors coming out and many are from the local greater Atlanta area.

3.  Confronting Ugly Truths - Saturday 11:15 AM

Authors Karen Branan and Ross Howell will discuss the impact of lynching on history.  Branan books gives a personal account of her family's role in a 1912 lyching of three black men a woman.  Howell novel tell the story of a black girl who was tried for killing her white employer and killed one day after her seventeenth birthday.

4.  Jacqueline Woodson - Saturday 11:15 PM

Bestselling author Jacqueline Woodson will discuss her new book Another Brooklyn.  The novel covers the formative time when childhood gives way to adulthood for four girls.  Woodson will be interviewed by author Valerie Boyd who is most known for her book Wrapped in Rainbows.

5.  'A Race of Artists':  Examining Art and Social Activism - Saturday - 3:00 PM

A panel of multi-disciplinary artist will discuss their own artistic practices and the role of art in social activism.  The presenters include:  Isabella Alexander (writer/filmmaker), Morgan Carlisle (choreographer), Theaster Gates (artist/professor), and Clinnesha Sibley (playwright).  The event will be moderated by Christeene Alcosiba, a poet and librarian. 

For more information and the complete schedule please visit decaturbookfestival.com.

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?

Atlanta Host Advance Screening of #KEANU

Atlanta Advance Screening of KEANU

This week Atlanta hosted an advance screening of Warner Bros and New Line Cinema new film KEANU.  Cast Members Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Method Man and Jason Mitchell were in attendance.  The private event was hosted by Atlanta rapper T.I at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station.  

The action comedy tells the tale of two cousins (Clarence and Rell) who must put movie learned street-smarts to the test when Rell's cute kitty is stolen by the local gang.  The two are on a quest to survive a weekend full of shenanigans.  Actors Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are most known as Key & Peele from their Comedy Central series.  Hollywood favorites Nia Long, Will Forte, and Luis Guzman make appearances in the film. 

The movie is definitely laugh out loud funny.  Visit keanumovie.com to see a trailer of the film and go see it on April 29.

Top 5 Ways to Support Your Local Library

5 Ways to Support Local Library

This week is National Library Week.  The theme is Libraries Transform and graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang serves as the honorary chair.  National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries and librarians nationwide and to promote library use and support.  Themed celebration days include National Library Workers Day (April 12) and National Bookmobile Day (April 13).  National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association.  In light of the observance, I've listed five easy ways for you to support your local library.

  1. Visit - Plain and simple right.  Go to your local library and see everything that they have to offer.  Today libraries are more that just places to check out old books.  Most libraries offer a list of services such as computer classes, testing centers, and language services.
  2. Volunteer - Did you promise to get more involved and serve the community this year?  Well you can definitely volunteer your time at the library.  Become a children's aide or computer lab specialist.   A few years ago I had the opportunity to be a Literacy Tutor.  It was really fulfilling to help another adult expand their skills and develop a love of books like myself.
  3. Donate - Another super easy one.  Write a check to help maintain the services that your local library provides.  Most libraries accept online giving as well.
  4. Use Resources - Let your local library know they are still needed.  Check out the latest books and use the e-resources.  Some libraries offer continuing education classes and continuing education certificate programs.  One of my favorite resources is the ebook downloads.  Its a easy way to fill your e-reader or tablet with new reads without spending a lot of money.
  5. Buy Books - See if your local library has monthly book sales.  

Please share how you can support your library this week and the rest of the year.