Bronze Lens Film Festival celebrates 15th anniversary with 140 films from 59 countries

The first year of the Bronze Lens Film Festival had a modest start of presenting 23 films. Now a decade and a half later, the Atlanta-based festival will present over 140 films from 59 countries including the USA, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Spain, Canada, Tobago, Trinidad, and the Netherlands. 

For the first time the festival will showcase at the Tara Atlanta Theater, 2345 Cheshire Bridge RD NE in Atlanta, August 21 – 25.  

Among that diverse array of films will be 48 world premieres. Twenty-eight of the films were produced in Georgia. From modest beginnings to Bronze Lens has become one of the premiere showcases for independent filmmakers of colors. Along the way, the festival has become a qualifying festival for Oscar nominated shorts. 

Founder and Executive Producer Kathleen Bertrand said each year it’s becoming more and more difficult for the Bronze Lens staff and judges to reduce down the large entries of films. 

“You want those films that have scored highest with the judges, but when everybody is scoring the highest it becomes a very difficult process, “ Bertrand said during the festival’s kick-off reception. “ I take my hat to Deidre McDonald (Creative Director) and her team for selecting the most excellent films you will get to see over five days”. 

The films are produced or directed by well known members of the legal, film and entertainment industries, Bertrand said. Among those of note: Jamie Foxx is a producer for the film “Unhappy Things;” Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump is a producer of the documentary “How To Sue The Klan” and “The Waterboys”; Jamie Lee Curtis is a producer of “Burnout”; Debra Riley Draper is co-director of RATIFY; Three films will be screened by The Horne Brothers including insightful documentary done in cooperation with The Atlanta Journal Constitution “ The South Got Something To Say”; and Morris Chestnut is a producer of the film “Origin”.

“We love seeing those that made it come back and invest in those that are trying to make it,” Bertrand said.  

In addition to the informative panels which will be held during the day, two new components will be held. On Friday night, Bronze Lens After Dark will debut at the UpTown Comedy Club hosted by comedian/actor Jonathan Slocumb. The next night, Atlanta City Hall will be the site of the Inaugural Filmmakers Sneakers Ball. Bertrand said all of the filmmakers who have ever presented at Bronze Lens are invited. 

The panels are once again designed to aid the filmmaker navigate the many obstacles that hinder many independent films from getting made. Some of those include: “iPhone Magic: Turn Your Phone Into a Storyteller’s Toolkit”; “Crowdfunding to Build Independence”; “Seal the Deal: The Greenlight Blueprint”; “Beyond the Screen: How Tech is Transforming Storytelling”; “Made in Georgia: Cultivating a Thriving Film Community”; “Acting: Respect Tha’ D*#n Craft”; “Podcast Power: How to Engage and Grow Your Audience” and “Preventing Legal Nightmares in Indie Filmmaking.” 

The festival will wrap on Sunday with the usual Cinema and Social Justice Sunday screening at the Tara. The festival will end Sunday evening with the awards program at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College. 

(For a more detailed schedule go to: www.bronzelens.com)

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