Atlanta, take your seats. The 17th annual BronzeLens Film Festival is set to transform the city into a global cinema capital this month, bringing more than 150 official film selections from twelve countries to screens across town.
Running in two segments — August 21–23 and August 24–30, 2026 — the festival has cemented itself as one of the premier showcases anywhere in the world for films produced by or about people of color. This year's official selections originate from Australia, Canada, Guadeloupe, France, Germany, Ghana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Peru, South Africa, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, and the United States.
"We believe the true magic of film happens both on the screen and in the conversations it inspires," said Kathleen Bertrand, Founder and Executive Producer of the BronzeLens Film Festival. "Our mission is to champion outstanding filmmaking while creating dynamic opportunities for filmmakers, creators, talent, and audiences to engage, connect, and help shape the future of storytelling."
A Lineup Built for the Culture
The 2026 selections showcase an extraordinary roster of projects featuring some of the entertainment industry's most celebrated artists. The names alone tell the story of how far this festival — and Black cinema — have come:
- Academy Award® winner Viola Davis narrates director Emmai Alequiva's The Ebony Canal: A Story of Black Maternal & Infant Health
- Academy Award® winner Jordan Peele produces director Jared Leaf's Spilled Milk
- Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Devine co-stars in director Laura Colbert's Black Seeds Continue to Grow
- Golden Globe-nominated actor Blair Underwood produces and co-stars in director Joslyn Rose's The Listeners
- Grammy Award-winning recording artist, actor, and entrepreneur T.I. is featured in The Birth of Trap Music and directs Da'Partments 2
- Actress and Daytime Emmy Nominee Ambyr Michelle co-stars in director Kinnik Sky's Escape Room
- The late, acclaimed Erica Ash stars in director Stephen J. Robinson's The Making of a Classic
- Critically acclaimed Lauren E. Banks co-stars in director Shannon Wallace's Channels
Festival Highlights: Mark Your Calendar
Opening Night — Friday, August 21 at 6:45 PM
The festival opens with Love Patrick: Nothing is Impossible, directed by the Horne Brothers — 3x Emmy winners, Pulitzer Prize finalists, and Edward R. Murrow award winners. The documentary uncovers the extraordinary rise of Patrick Kelly, the first American admitted to the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter, examining how a joyful, southern, Black designer reshaped fashion while confronting race, identity, and mortality.
Saturday Night Feature — August 22 at 6:45 PM
Yesterday Today Forever, directed by Ty Manns and Domingo Guyton, follows Pete (Curtis Nelson, II) and Veronica (Jasmine Burke — BronzeLens 2026 Women SuperStar Honoree and Daytime Emmy Nominee) as they struggle with their marriage in the shadow of Jesus' crucifixion.
Cinema and Social Justice Sunday — August 23, 11:45 AM – 7:00 PM
This annual signature screening event is unique to BronzeLens — free and open to the public — featuring a cadre of films and conversations that address issues of social justice and human and civil rights.
Sunday Night Tribute to Trap Music — August 23 at 6:45 PM
A double feature celebrating Atlanta's own musical legacy: The Birth of Trap Music, directed by Christopher Scholar, and Da'Partments 2, directed by Tip "T.I." Harris.
Jump at the Sun Screenwriting Intensive — August 24–26, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Three days of intensive screenwriting at the Louise Watley Library at Southeast Atlanta (1463 Pryor Road, SW), featuring Karen Ceasay (Actress and President of SAG-AFTRA Atlanta), Filmmaker Monique Younger, Author and Filmmaker Tamika Jamison, and Actress and Filmmaker Karan Kendrick.
PowerHouse Craft Day: The Art of Storytelling — Thursday, August 28, 12:00 PM – 7:30 PM
A full day of panels and workshops for filmmakers at every level:
- 1:00 PM — Young and Hungry: The New Filmmakers | Moderator: Astin Rocks | Panelists: Kiah Clingman, Ivan Rome, Kyle Scott
- 2:15 PM — Crafting the Story: Writers & Crew Building Black Cinema | Moderator: Tamika Newhouse | Panelists: Dr. Ty Johnston-Chavis, Tressa Smallwood, Shannan E. Johnson
- 3:30 PM — Below the Line: The Careers That Build Black Cinema | Moderator: Ronda Penrice | Panelists: EmmoLei, Karen Ceesay, Kyerra Weldon, Jamie Williams, Charles Robinson
- 3:30 PM — Get Funded: Producing, Financing, Crowdfunding and Protecting Your Film | Moderator: Monique Younger | Panelists: Amer Marie Woods (Seed&Spark), James Walker (Entertainment Attorney)
- 4:45 PM — From Creation to Monetization | Moderator: Dr. Ty Johnston-Chavis | Featured Panelist: Valerie Meraz (Sr. VP, FOX Entertainment Global)
- 5:00 PM — Jasmine Guy Acting Workshop | Instructor: Jasmine Guy
- 6:00 PM — The ATL Effect: The Black Mecca for Movies, Music and More | Panelists: Courtney Glaude (Producer, Tyler Perry Studios) and Karen Ceesay (SAG-AFTRA President)
The BronzeLens Awards — Sunday, August 30 at 7:00 PM
The festival's culminating event honors the "Best of Festival" filmmakers across categories. Location: Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Morehouse College, 900 West End Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA.
The Venue
The Tara Atlanta, located at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, serves as headquarters for BronzeLens 2026 Official Film Selections, daily screenings, and Craft Day.
Why It Matters
BronzeLens isn't just a film festival — it's an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards category. The short film that receives the BronzeLens Best Short Award may be eligible to enter the Academy's Short Subject competition for the concurrent season. That means the next Oscar-nominated short could be discovered right here in Atlanta.
Founded in 2009, the non-profit organization has spent nearly two decades bringing national and worldwide attention to Atlanta as a film mecca for people of color — showcasing films and creating networking opportunities that develop the next generation of filmmakers. In a city that has become Hollywood's southern outpost, BronzeLens remains the definitive platform for Black cinematic storytelling.
For the full list of 2026 BronzeLens Official Film Selections and tickets, visit bronzelens.com.
