Atlanta’s premier competition for creators of colour showcases international cinema from 14 nations
Forward of the competition’s official begin, BronzeLens hosted an unique non-public reception on July 31, 2025, at Spelman School. This invitation-only gathering introduced collectively filmmakers, business executives, sponsors, and alumni to have a good time the legacy of BronzeLens and preview the joy of the upcoming competition. The night blended Atlanta’s wealthy cultural historical past with forward-thinking conversations about the way forward for movie, setting the tone for the week forward. Spelman’s position as host mirrored the competition’s deep connection to traditionally Black schools and universities, additional cementing BronzeLens as a cultural cornerstone.
Because the unmistakable cadence of Atlanta warms to summer season’s full blaze, the highlight shines firmly on the town as soon as once more. From August 20 to 24, 2025, Atlanta will host the sixteenth version of the BronzeLens Movie Pageant, a celebrated and visionary gathering deliberately crafted by and for creators of colour. Throughout 5 electrifying days, the competition will showcase 105 official movie choices from international locations across the globe, from Angola and Pakistan to France and Jamaica, all unified by tales that middle folks of colour. Remarkably, 33 of these titles will make their world premieres through the competition.
What makes BronzeLens so important
BronzeLens has lengthy established itself as Creators Wonderland, the place cinema, group, and tradition converge. The competition insists that each one official choices are both produced by creators of colour or are about folks of colour, providing wealthy, genuine views. As BronzeLens Movie Pageant Creative Director Deidre McDonald emphasizes, these movies signify “storytelling in a novel method” throughout narrative, dance, music, and documentary—every providing significant perception into the lives of Black People and different communities of colour. The competition is intentional about offering elevated programming, together with professional panels and discussions that foster viewers and creator engagement.
The guts of the competition: the Tara Atlanta
All day by day screenings and panels will unfold on the historic Tara Atlanta, remodeling the venue right into a hub of inspiration. Positioned within the beating coronary heart of Atlanta, Tara offers the cultural backbone for BronzeLens’s programming from Wednesday, August 20 by means of Sunday, August 24.
The synergy between elevated inventive voices and business entry creates a dynamic alternative for attendees. Whether or not you’re a competition veteran or a first-time attendee, the expertise guarantees curated publicity to movies that resonate past leisure—works that talk to identification, problem assumptions, and have a good time intersectional excellence.
Prelude: Thompson talks
The dialog kicks off early. On August 7, BronzeLens will host a Thompson Talks panel titled “The State of Movie and Tv Manufacturing in Georgia” on the Thompson Resort. It’s a strategic dialog about Georgia’s booming position in movie and TV, pertaining to coverage, manufacturing alternatives, and the state’s significance as a inventive epicenter.
Signature competition experiences
The filmmakers ball & candy 16 celebration
On Saturday, August 23, the competition will activate three ranges of Atlanta’s Metropolis Corridor, producing an immersive soirée brimming with music, dance, networking, delicacies, and celebration. This Second Annual Filmmakers Ball is greater than glam, it’s a declaration of cultural pleasure, creativity, and connection.
Cinema and social justice Sunday & awards
The competition concludes on Sunday, August 24, with two cornerstone occasions:
Cinema and Social Justice Sunday: Held on the Tara Theater, this closing day program honors Atlanta’s historical past by pairing movies with conversations that handle social justice and civil rights themes.
BronzeLens Awards: Hosted on the Ray Charles Performing Arts Middle at Morehouse School, the Awards ceremony acknowledges excellence throughout genres: Narrative Options, Documentaries, Shorts (Narrative and Documentary), Dance, Webisodes, College students, Music Movies—plus Finest Actor and Finest Actress honors.
These ultimate occasions underscore BronzeLens’s dedication to each artwork and activism—highlighting the place cinematic storytelling and cultural consciousness intersect.
Why this issues
BronzeLens alumni have gone on to redefine the media ecosystem. As Roger Bobb, co-creator of BronzeLens, mirrored, alongside BronzeLens founder Kathleen Bertrand, this competition has develop into a nexus for rising expertise and seasoned business leaders alike. BronzeLens continues to champion and gas Atlanta’s evolution as a world middle for Black inventive manufacturing.
Now, in its sixteenth yr, BronzeLens has advanced into some of the vibrant, globally acknowledged platforms devoted to creators of colour. With 105 movies from 14 nations, dozens of talks, and occasions that bridge cinema and activism, this yr’s competition guarantees each reflection and projection, trying again on struggles and triumphs, whereas spotlighting the subsequent era of visionary storytellers.
Whether or not you’re a movie buff, artist, activist, or networker, BronzeLens delivers depth, inspiration, and breakthroughs. Be part of the conversations. Be a part of a gathering that’s greater than a competition, it’s an affirmation of Black excellence in each body.
