BronzeLens Film Festival returns for its 15th year

The film "Happy Songs About Unhappy People" will be shown at the Bronzelens Film Festival (Courtesy of Bronzelens Film Fest)

This year, the BronzeLens Film Festival will celebrate its 15th consecutive season of showcasing films made by and for people of color.

The festival brings over 140 films from various categories and filmmakers around the world to the big screen in Atlanta once a year and has done so since 2010.

According to BronzeLens executive producer Kathleen Bertrand, the festival started right as the film industry in Atlanta began to take off, hoping to become a platform for people of color to get connected with the world of film and television. She recently sat down with “City Lights” producer Summer Evans to discuss the fest.



“When BronzeLens started, we knew that our task was to show Atlanta as a destination for film and television production, but also to grow this next generation of great filmmakers,” says Bertrand.

The festival aims to bring resources, panels, and experts into the fold for participants to elevate their craft or dip their toes into the growing film community in the Atlanta area.

Resources include a heavy focus on mental health this year, providing a platform for professionals to disrupt the harmful narratives surrounding mental health in the industry. The week’s festivities have also grown to include panel discussions about topics like starting and growing your own podcast, or creating films on just an iPhone.

The BronzeLens Film Festival opens today, Aug. 21, at the Tara Theatre and runs through Aug. 25.