See films such as “100 Years From Mississippi” at the BronzeLens Festival — For the complete list of the 2021 Official Film Selections go to: https://bronzelens.com/.
The 2021 BronzeLens Film Festival (BronzeLens) will present over 180 official film selections representing the work of some the world’s brightest and most innovative creators. This year BronzeLens received an unprecedented amount of film submissions from 55 countries. Of the 2021 official film selections, 63 are world premieres, 15 are returning filmmakers, and 31 are from the state of Georgia.
The 2021 official selections categories include Features, Documentaries, Shorts, Short Documentaries, Reel South Southern Documentaries, Webisodes, Students, Music Videos, and Dance Videos. The 2021 festival will showcase a diverse film line-up from Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Ireland, India, Israel, Ghana, the Netherland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Americas. BronzeLens is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards category. The short film that receives the BronzeLens Best Short Award is eligible to enter the Academy’s Short Subject competition for the concurrent season.
In 2020 BronzeLens was presented as a virtual event that exceed all expectations related to the film screening experience, number of attendees, and the multiple program offerings for filmmakers and audience engagement. This year BronzeLens returns as a “Virtual Experience”, and the 2021 juried film collection represents the highest number of films screened during the festival since its inception. Film screenings will be available daily at 10:00 A.M. EDT beginning Tuesday, August 17 and will conclude August 22 with the BronzeLens Cinema & Social Justice Sunday screening at 2:00 P.M. EDT.
For the complete list of the 2021 Official Film Selections go to: https://bronzelens.com/.
2021 BronzeLens Film Screening Schedule is as follows:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17
All Shorts Day and Night.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18
Documentaries
-5 pm (EST) Learn: Packaging and Pitching for TV/Film/Streaming Presented in Collaboration with DeKalb Entertainment Commission. Ty Johnston-Chavis, producer of film, television, and founder of Atlanta Pitch Summit will present an interactive creative content pitching workshop. Producer and CEO of Monami Entertainment Mona Scott Young will share with attendees how she built a successful content empire through pitching and branding.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19
Short Documentaries
Reel South Southern Documentaries
-5pm EST Microsoft Presents Product Placement and Brand Partnership Strategies
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
Students
Webisodes
Music & Dance Videos
-4 pm EST Pitch Ready Part II – From Reel to Deal Presented in Collaboration with the Atlanta Pitch Summit
Cela Sutton of Paramount Plus, Sheoyki Jones, Creative Program Manager of Invest Atlanta, Precious Williams, CEO of Perfect Pitches by Precious, and Actress, Writer, Producer Kiana Dancie will discuss next level pitching execution. Panel topics include acquiring funding, audience targeting, and negotiating. Moderator: Ty Johnston-Chavis, producer of film, television, and founder of Atlanta Pitch Summit.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 21
—Virtual Women Superstars Honors Program Takes Place Saturday, August 21, 2021 – Five distinguished women of color who perform with excellence in front of and behind the lens will be recipients of the 2021 BronzeLens Women SuperStars Awards. These legendary and emerging stars in their own right have significantly influenced the film and television industry. The 2021 BronzeLens Women SuperStars are: Producer and Founder of Autumn Bailey Entertainment Autumn Bailey-Ford (Maynard, Mine 9, Trading Paint); President of CBS/NAACP Production Venture Sheila Ducksworth; Actress Priah Ferguson (“Stranger Things,” “Atlanta”);Veteran writer and television Executive Producer Sara Finney-Johnson (“Queen Sugar,” “Family
Matters,” “The Parkers”); and President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Media Family Networks Wonya Lucas (Hallmark).
––Who’s Looking for Content? – Distribution Opportunities
Representatives for Cable, Subscription Video on Demand, Over the Top, and Streaming Platforms reveal multiple types of content they are seeking, licensing opportunities, and the correct way to submit work for consideration on their network, channel, or platform.
Panelists Include:
DeShuna Spencer, CEO and Founder of kweliTV
Tina Rodriguez, Sr. Director, Programming and Acquisition for aspire TV
Brett Dismuke, General Manager of ALLBLK
Loretta Edwards Wilson, Director of Scheduling and Acquisitions Programming at TV One & CLEO TV
Marvin Neil, VP, Content Programming and Strategy for BET+
Joyce Coleman-Sampson, Executive Producer for Fox Soul
Dawn Douglass, VP, Programming Bounce TV & Brown Sugar
SUNDAY, AUGUST 22
—1:30 pm EST – Cinema and Social Justice Sunday was conceived at the inception of the BronzeLens and created to commemorate the rich history of Atlanta known as one the most important homes to the civil rights movement for people of color. Cinema and Social Justice Sunday continues to be a critical and unique component of BronzeLens where we feature socially relevant films from around the world and provide space for timely conversations with activists, scholars, students, and members of the community.
–The 12th Annual BronzeLens Awards Show will culminate the festival. Awards will be given to the ‘Best of Festival’ Feature, Documentary, International Film, Short, Short Documentary, Reel South Southern Documentary, Student, Webisode, Music Video, Dance Video, Best Actress, and Best Actor.
—BronzeLens Presents Sunday Brunch with the Brothers
WSB-TV Atlanta Journalist Tom Jones will moderate BronzeLens Sunday Brunch with the Brothers and lead an in depth conversation focusing on the impact of the pandemic and the magnification of the great social and racial divides in America.
Panelists will give perspectives on their future as African American men in this country. They will discuss the types of roles they believe should be created to foster social justice healing, while also sharing joys they experience in their chosen profession.
Special Guests Include: Terayle Hill (The Quad) and Cast Members from Bounce TV’s New Series Johnson:
Derrex Brady, Thomas Q. Jones, Deji LaRay, and Philip Smithey.This event is FREE and takes place virtually
Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 12:00 P.M. EST
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About the BronzeLens Film Festival
BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta, Georgia, is a non-profit organization, founded in 2009, that is dedicated to bringing national and worldwide attention to Atlanta as a center for film and film production for people of color. Its mission is two-fold: to promote Atlanta as the film mecca for people of color; and to showcase films and provide networking opportunities that will develop the next generation of filmmakers. Since its inception, BronzeLens producers have brought national and worldwide attention to Atlanta, helping to showcase the city as a leader in the thriving film industry.
For more information regarding the BronzeLens Film Festival, please visit https://bronzelens.com/.
Support for BronzeLens was made possible by:
2021 BronzeLens Film Festival Supporters
SPONSORS
WarnerMedia, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Aids Healthcare Foundation/BLACC, DeKalb Entertainment Commission, Black Public Media, and SAGindie
MEDIA PARTNERS
Fulton County Films, WCLK/91.9 FM, and City of South Fulton Tourism Office
POWERHOUSE PARTNERS
Microsoft, Scriptation, Seed&Spark, and Atlanta Pitch Summit
For the complete list of the 2021 Official Film Selections go to: https://bronzelens.com/.
