The acclaimed festival continues through August 30 with more than 150 films, industry conversations, networking opportunities and signature events honoring Black storytelling.
ATLANTA — The BronzeLens Film Festival has returned to Atlanta for its 17th year, once again creating a national platform for filmmakers of color and the stories too often overlooked by the mainstream film industry.
The 2026 festival runs August 21 through August 30 as a hybrid experience, with in-person programming taking place August 21–23 and August 27–30. Screenings, workshops and industry conversations are being held primarily at Tara Atlanta, located at 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE.
Founded in 2009, BronzeLens was created to promote Atlanta as a leading destination for film production by people of color while developing the next generation of filmmakers. The nonprofit festival brings together emerging storytellers, established industry professionals, actors, producers, directors, distributors and audiences from across the country.
This year’s program includes more than 150 narrative films, documentaries, short films and international projects.
Opening Night Honors the Legacy of Patrick Kelly
The festival opened August 21 with the world premiere of “Love, Patrick: Nothing Is Impossible,” a 90-minute documentary exploring the life and career of groundbreaking Black fashion designer Patrick Kelly.
Born in Mississippi, Kelly moved from the American South to Paris and became the first American admitted into the prestigious Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode. His bold designs were worn by cultural icons including Grace Jones, Madonna, Beyoncé, Zendaya and Bette Davis.
Produced and directed by Atlanta’s Horne Brothers—Ryon, Byron and Tyson Horne—the documentary examines Kelly’s creativity, ambition and rise within an industry where Black designers were rarely given access to its most influential rooms.
The opening-night selection represented exactly what BronzeLens was established to do: preserve Black cultural history while giving filmmakers of color a respected platform from which to tell it.
Films, Workshops and Industry Access
The second weekend of BronzeLens continues August 27–30 at Tara Atlanta with feature films, documentaries, curated shorts and professional-development sessions.
Scheduled programming includes documentary features such as “CYCLE,” “Skylark,” “Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story” and “Lexington: Resilience in the Redline,” along with numerous short-film collections highlighting emerging voices.
The festival’s PowerHouse Craft Day provides filmmakers with practical information about the business of entertainment. Sessions address subjects including producing, film financing, crowdfunding, distribution and the process of turning an idea into a viable production.
For independent filmmakers—particularly Black filmmakers and other creators of color—access to this type of information can determine whether a project remains an idea or reaches an audience.
BronzeLens also creates space for the relationships that move careers forward. Filmmakers have opportunities to meet potential collaborators, investors, producers and industry decision-makers while learning directly from professionals already working in film and television.
The Filmmakers’ Ball Returns to Atlanta City Hall
One of the festival’s signature events, the third annual BronzeLens Filmmakers’ Ball, will take place Saturday, August 29, at 6 p.m. at Atlanta City Hall.
The formal celebration brings filmmakers, actors, executives and supporters together for an evening of networking and recognition. The event also reflects the festival’s larger commitment to treating independent filmmakers of color as central contributors to the entertainment industry—not as an afterthought.
The festival will conclude with the BronzeLens Awards Show, honoring outstanding filmmakers and announcing winners across multiple categories. The awards presentation begins with a red carpet at 5:30 p.m.
Celebrating Black Women in Entertainment
BronzeLens extends its mission beyond its annual film screenings through year-round programming, including the Women SuperStars Honors.
The 2026 honorees are actress and director Tamara Tunie, entertainment executive Jeresa Featherstone-Winfield and actress and filmmaker Jasmine Burke. The annual recognition celebrates women whose work in film, television and digital media has influenced culture both in front of and behind the camera.
Since the program began, BronzeLens has honored more than 60 women, including Anika Noni Rose, Vanessa Bell Calloway, KJ Smith and other industry trailblazers.
Why BronzeLens Still Matters
Atlanta has become one of the country’s most important production centers, but the presence of film studios does not automatically guarantee access, ownership or opportunity for Black creators.
BronzeLens works within that gap.
The festival provides a place where filmmakers of color can screen their work before live audiences, receive professional feedback, build relationships and learn how to navigate the financial and business sides of filmmaking.
It also gives audiences the opportunity to experience stories that may never receive a wide theatrical release but still deserve to be seen, discussed and preserved.
For 17 years, BronzeLens has made a clear statement: Black filmmakers do not need permission to tell important stories, but they do need platforms willing to recognize their value.
In a city where Black culture continues to shape music, television, fashion and film, BronzeLens remains an essential part of Atlanta’s creative community.
Festival Details
17th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival
Dates: August 21–30, 2026
Remaining in-person programming: August 27–30
Primary location: Tara Atlanta, 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia
Filmmakers’ Ball: August 29 at 6 p.m., Atlanta City Hall
Tickets and schedule: BronzeLens Film Festival
Sources: BronzeLens Film Festival, Official festival schedule, ArtsATL, Discover Atlanta
