BronzeLens Film Festival
Celebrating 16 Years of Atlanta at the Center of Black Cinema
Last Updated July 29, 2025
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Atlanta has long been known as a cradle of Black excellence in music, media and the arts, and when it comes to film, the city continues to lead the charge. Enter the BronzeLens Film Festival, a powerhouse celebration of multicultural storytelling that’s been amplifying voices of color for 16 years and counting. Founded right here in the heart of the South, BronzeLens showcases Atlanta’s role as a global hub for film and a vibrant home for the next generation of Black filmmakers.
The idea for BronzeLens sparked inside the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB), where President William Pate asked a bold question: Why didn’t Atlanta have a film festival that celebrated its multicultural community? That question landed in the hands of Kathleen Bertrand, then ACVB’s senior vice president, and it lit a fire.
By 2008, Bertrand was in full research mode, assessing the national film festival landscape and envisioning something even better for Atlanta. “We studied what the film festival world looked like outside of Atlanta. There were a few smaller festivals but nothing that really pushed the needle,” she said.
Bertrand reached into her extensive network, connecting with industry voices like Sheryl Riley Gripper, founder of the Black Women Film Network. With support and vision, BronzeLens was officially incorporated as a nonprofit in 2009. A year later, the first festival launched — and it’s only grown since.
Today, BronzeLens is far more than a festival. It’s a movement.
Over the years, BronzeLens has evolved into year-round programming, featuring curated screenings of independent films, workshops, filmmaker panels and special events tailored for children. Throughout it all, the mission remains the same: to position Atlanta as a film mecca for people of color and to elevate the next generation of storytellers.
One of Bertrand’s favorite signature programs is the Women Superstars Honors, a tribute to powerful women in film that began in 2010. “We honor women for their amazing contributions that have not been really talked about,” said Bertrand. “We were doing this before people started coming around and doing these great things for women in the industry.”
The March segment of the festival also includes Sunday Brunch with the Brothers, creating space for community connection, reflection and celebration. Then, in August, the spotlight turns fully to the filmmakers with screenings, panels, workshops and the prestigious BronzeLens Awards.
Along the way, BronzeLens has built bridges with other film communities, collaborating with organizations like the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the Atlanta Film Festival, Women In Film & Television Atlanta and the Black Women Film Network. It’s this spirit of unity, innovation and storytelling that keeps BronzeLens thriving.
“Surviving is our priority because it’s a difficult fundraising climate right now,” Bertrand said. Still, the vision is expansive. She dreams of creating a BronzeLens Institute, a dedicated space to support, train and empower filmmakers.
BronzeLens matters right now more than ever.
“The digital image is a way to document our stories . . . to share things and ideas that may be unknown or to share our commonalities,” said Bertrand. In a time when funding for the arts is at risk and narratives are under threat, “There seems to be a blatant attempt to erase the history of who we are,” she said.
But BronzeLens is holding the line. “We’re going to continue to platform all these very important stories and narratives that give us insight into each other. The films we show, because we’re an international festival, prove that we have more in common than not,” Bertrand said.
For Bertrand and Atlanta, it’s about something deeper than movies: “Whether it’s music or live theater or painting, expression is how the human spirit says, ‘I gotta let it out.’ And certainly, art gives us that opportunity.”
Don’t miss your chance to experience it.
The 16th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival will take place Aug. 20–24 with in-person events in Atlanta, followed by virtual programming the week after. Expect screenings of fresh, powerful independent films from across the globe, conversations with creatives, awards and plenty of unforgettable moments.
2025 Signature Events
Pre-Festival
On Aug. 7, BronzeLens will present a Thompson Talks panel discussion titled “The State of Film and Television Production in Georgia” at the Thompson Hotel.
Second Annual BronzeLens Filmmakers Ball
The Second Annual BronzeLens Filmmakers Ball and Sweet 16 Celebration will take place Aug. 23. Festival producers will activate three levels of Atlanta’s City Hall to create an immersive experience where attendees can socially engage, dance, eat, drink and network.
Cinema and Social Justice Sunday
Set for Aug. 24, Cinema and Social Justice Sunday at Tara Theatre pays homage to Atlanta’s history by featuring films and conversations that address issues of social justice, and human and civil rights.
Annual BronzeLens Awards
On Aug. 24. at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College, the Annual BronzeLens Awards honor the “Best of Festival” films. Awards are presented for best Narrative Features, Documentaries, Short Narratives, Short Documentaries, Dance, Webisodes, Students and Music Videos, as well as Best Actress and Best Actor.
Atlanta supports a bold expression of Black heritage and contemporary aspirations that spark Black excellence and pride. Check out more stories on ATLUnguided.
Daniela Cintrón is an award-winning journalist, editor, and producer passionate about storytelling at the intersection of food, art, and culture. She is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta and contributes to publications like the Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Magazine and Eater.
Originally Published July 24, 2025
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