BronzeLens Hosts Iconic Filmmakers Abderrahmane Sissako, Suzanne de Passe and a Cadre of Legends to Emerging Stars In Front and Behind the Lens
Expert Workshops, Master Classes, Film Screenings and Women Superstars Awards Luncheon
Highly Anticipated Event Sets the Bar for Excellence in Film for People of Color
he sixth annual BronzeLens Film Festival is set to be an interactive experience designed to empower, entertain and educate attendees from various film industry disciplines, students and the general public. Headlining the festival are legendary filmmakers Abderrahmane Sissako and Suzanne de Passe who will share their creative journey. Festival producers have put together a stellar slate of BronzeLens expert master classes, workshops, domestic and international film screenings and signature events. Selected films include the work of filmmakers representing the United States, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. More than 49 films will be screened which includes a collection of features, shorts, narratives, webisodes and documentaries. BronzeLens will take place November 5 – 8, 2015 at various venues throughout Atlanta including the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Festival Headquarters), The High Museum Hill Auditorium, Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College, SCAD Show, Georgia Pacific Auditorium, South Fulton Arts Center and 444 Theatre.
On Friday, November 6, industry insiders, corporations and the local community will come together and celebrate during the star studded BronzeLens Women SuperStars Awards Luncheon. Film, music and television industry icon, Suzanne de Passe, will receive the coveted BronzeLens Women Superstars 2015 Legendary Behind the Lens Award. Ms. de Passe will also participate in an intimate, thought provoking In Conversation, sponsored by Macy’s, highlighting the awards program. Other 2015 honorees include producer Shelby Stone, actress and producer Terri J. Vaughn and actress, singer comedienne Bre’ly Evans. This festival favorite has become a coveted signature event for inspiring and informing women from all walks of life while serving as a platform for interactive networking that anchors BronzeLens Film Festival Friday events.
France Atlanta in collaboration with BronzeLens will present one of the few contemporary filmmakers from Sub-Saharan Africa to have reached international recognition. Abderrahmane Sissako has received worldwide acclaim for his portrayal of life under the threat of Islamic radicalism in TIMBUKTU. The highest-grossing African film to open in France and in the US, the 2014 drama has received a multitude of awards including a Nomination at the 2015 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and 7 Césars Awards from the French Film Academy. The screening of TIMBUKTU will take place Saturday November 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the Hill Auditorium at the High Museum of Art followed by a talkback conversation moderated by Shadow and Act’s founding creator, writer and film critic Tambay A. Obenson. This event is organized in partnership with the High Museum of Art and Alliance Française d ‘Atlanta.
BronzeLens will present four nightly Atlanta premieres which kicks-off with a pre-festival screening of writer, director Nefertite Nguvu‘s award winning film IN THE MORNING featuring Jacky Ido and Emayatzy Corinealdi at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Morehouse College, Wednesday, November 4; Chapter & Verse directed by Jamal Joseph featuring Omari Hardwick and Loretta Divine, Thursday, November 5 at 444 Theatre; Director Trey Haley’s The Man In 3B featuring Lamman Rucker, Christian Keyes and Bre’ly Evans, Friday, November 6, location to be announced; and the world premiere of A Christmas Baby Sunday, November 8 at 444 Theatre which marks the directorial debut of Rhonda Freeman-Baraka featuring Malinda Williams, Victoria Rowell and Karon Riley.
All Shorts all day sponsored by BET Networks will screen 16 shorts and takes place Thursday, November 5 at festival headquarters in the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Learning Center.
New BronzeLens workshops on Friday November 6, include: Costume Confidential: A Foray in Fashion and Film, an intimate, talk show style gathering that explores what really goes on behind the scenes when curating a character’s wardrobe for television and film. Special guests will be costume designer Shilla Benning who has worked on features and sitcoms including Ride Along, Million Dollar Arm, Footloose, Zombieland, Single Ladies, Drop Dead Diva and Survivors Remorse; assistant costume designer, buyer, stylist Raiyonda Vereen; costume designer, supervisor Provi Fulp Ramlp; and costume designer, style director Queen Sylvia Akuchie. Costume Confidential will be moderated by Fashion industry veteran Theo Tyson.
Real Talk with Bre’ly Evans hosted by Café Mocha and A Conversation with Karyn Parsons, actor, producer and founder, Sweet Blackberry, Inc. Parsons will discusses her transition from an actress to a producer of animations. She will share the process that her company, Sweet Blackberry, uses to create features that are for children and focus on African American history. Deatra L. Harris, Filmmaker, Global Strategist and founder of Deatra L. Harris Productions will moderate.
Once again BronzeLens will present the exclusive Reuben Cannon’s Producers Roundtable. Legendary casting director and producer Reuben Cannon returns as host of this groundbreaking session that brings together high-level entertainment executives to share their strategies for producing successful film and television projects. Participating producers include Shelby Stone, Jacob York, Tommy Oliver and Brett Dismuke. In addition, Bobbcat Films producer Roger Bobb will engage one on one with director, producer and screen writer Rob Hardy. Hardy’s film and television credits include The Originals, Empire, Being Mary Jane, Grey’s Anatomy, Power and How to Get Away with Murder.
On Saturday November 7, BronzeLens will present Family Film Festival, a free screening of Karyn Parsons’ three animated short films: Garrett’s Gift, the true story of African American inventor Garrett Morgan, narrated by Queen Latifah; The Journey of Henry Box Car Brown, based on an enslaved man who mailed himself to freedom, narrated by Alfre Woodard and Atlanta premiere of The Janet Collins Story, animation featuring the first African American ballet soloist to perform.
Also on Saturday November 7, the Sixth Annual BronzeLens Awards Show will salute The ‘Best of Festival‘ filmmakers in their perspective categories, other noteworthy industry leaders and festival supporters will be honored November 7 at SCAD Show. Ambassador Andrew Young will receive the Chairman’s Award and Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau president and chief executive officer William Pate will receive the Founders Award.
Cinema and Social Justice Sunday will feature the documentary about racial bias 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets, written and directed by Marc Silver and features Lelan Brunson, Angela B. Corey and Ron Davis, Sunday, November 8 at 444 Theatre.
About the BronzeLens Film Festival
Founded in 2009, The BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta, Georgia is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing national and worldwide attention to Atlanta as a center for film and film production for people of color. Its mission is twofold: to promote Atlanta as the new film Mecca for people of color; and to showcase films and provide networking opportunities that will develop the next generation of filmmakers. Since its inception the BronzeLens Film Festival has evolved as one of the most comprehensive film festivals for filmmakers of color in the United States. Visit www.bronzelens.com for more information regarding the BronzeLens Film Festival and for registration information.
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SOURCE BronzeLens Film Festival
