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BronzeLens Film Festival 2025: A Week of Film and Discourse

From August 20 to 24, 2025, the BronzeLens Film Festival will celebrate its 16th anniversary in Atlanta, offering a rich program designed to enlighten, entertain, and educate attendees. Taking place at the historic Tara Theater, the festival will showcase a range of curated film screenings, engaging power panels, and signature events that highlight the importance of cinema across cultures.

Nightly Features

The event kicks off with the Atlanta premiere of Daryl Pitts' feature film The Rhythm & The Blues starring the acclaimed actor Leon on August 20. Following the screening, there will be a talkback session with Leon and the director, enhancing the cinematic experience with direct insights from the creatives behind the film.

On August 21, the festival will host the world premiere of A Mess of Memories, a film by Ebony Blanding, who is recognized as the Trilith Institute's inaugural Emerging Creative in Residence. The audience can look forward to an interactive session with Blanding, Jeffery Stepakoff, and Mandy McCowan, the executive producers, who will share their thoughts on the creative process and the motivations that shaped the film.

August 22 will mark the Atlanta premiere of Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story, directed by Alison Duke, with a talkback session following the screening, thanks to the support from the Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta. Providing further opportunities for dialogue, this event aims to deepen the understanding of cultural representations in film.

The festival’s final feature on August 23 is Old Gray Mare, followed by a discussion with actor DeVale Ellis and director Courtney Glaude, focusing on the craftsmanship involved in bringing stories to life.

Power House Panels

In addition to film screenings, BronzeLens 2025 features a series of power panels that bring together prominent figures in the film industry. These discussions will take place from August 21 to 23, covering a variety of essential topics relevant to modern cinema:

August 21

• - Building Your Crowdfunding Community with Seed & Spark: Exploring new avenues for funding creative projects.
• - Streaming Ahead: The New Wave of Film Acquisition: A deep dive into acquisition models and streaming platforms.
• - Film Fortune: Protecting Your Creative IP: Insights into safeguarding intellectual property in an evolving industry.

August 22

• - Layers of Meaning: Infusing Culture into Your Films: A discussion led by Dr. Fahamu Pecou on cultural narratives in cinema.
• - Casting 360: From Reps to Roles Onscreen: Insights on the casting process from industry insiders.
• - Stage, Screen, or Stream? Blurring the Lines of Storytelling: Examining the convergence of different storytelling mediums.

August 23

• - Global Lens: Bridging Africa and the Diaspora Through Cinema: Engaging discussions about representation in film.
• - From Sketch to Screen: Insights into the role of costume design in visual storytelling.
• - AI & The Auteur: How Tech is Shaping Tomorrow's Cinema: Exploring how technology influences filmmaking.
• - Everywhere, All at Once: Creating Content Across Platforms: Strategies for content production in a multi-platform landscape.

Signature Events

Signature events will also play a vital role in this year’s festival. On August 23, the second annual BronzeLens Filmmakers' Sneaker Ball will take place at Atlanta City Hall, blending glamour with casual style. On August 24, the festival will conclude with a focus on social justice during Cinema and Social Justice Sunday, featuring films and discussions centered around social rights at the Tara Theater. The festival will culminate in the Annual BronzeLens Awards, which honor the best films showcased during the week at Morehouse College’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center.

The BronzeLens Film Festival not only showcases films but serves as a platform for dialogue about critical issues facing our society today, solidifying its status as a vital cultural event.

For more details about the festival and to see the complete list of films, visit BronzeLens official website.