Written by | Ray Cornelius
My radio show #UPFRONT had the pleasure of attending and covering this week’s Media and VIP Reception for the 2017 BronzeLens Film Festival (BLFF). The mixer was held at Davidoff of Geneva (The Shops Buckhead Atlanta) and was hosted by BLFF’s Executive Producer Kathleen Bertrand, Artistic Director Deidre McDonald and Chairman of the Board Tirrell Whitley of Liquid Soul.
The 8th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival will take place in Atlanta beginning August 23-27 at the iconic Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. This year’s activities will feature over 60 films including a collection of features, shorts, narratives, webisodes and documentaries. The Festival will also host its highly anticipated “Women Superstars Luncheon” that will recognized the work and talents of “Queen Sugar” director Neema Barnette, stage, TV and film actress Crystal Fox and rising filmmaker Nefertite Nguvu.
“Greenleaf” actor Lamman Rucker will lead a masterclass on the “Art of Auditioning” and will also moderate this year’s “Brunch with the Brothers” featuring his “Greenleaf” co-star Keith David along with “Queen Sugar” stars Omar J. Dorsey and Timon Kyle Durrett and “The Quad” actor E. Roger Mitchell.
Also new this year is a multi-faceted recruitment program with Turner. The media giant will collaborate with BLFF to find the next generation of filmmakers, actors, producers and directors. It is a partnership that will go into the next decade.
“BronzeLens is an incredible platform to showcase talented filmmakers,” said Angela Santone, executive vice president and global chief human resources officer for Turner. “Turner is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion on and off the camera. In partnership with BLFF, we will promote the next generation of leaders who can bring a wide range of experience, ideas and perspectives to the industry.”
Other highlights will include workshops led by industry vets Rueben Cannon, Roger M. Bobb and Dianne Ashford. There is also a “Sisters in Song/Music in Movies Concert” featuring the vocal talents of Bertrand along with other top Atlanta performers – Rhonda Thomas, Brenda Moorer, Theresa Hightower and Julie Dexter.
Click here to see the full #BLFF17 schedule and check out more photos below from the Media and VIP Reception. The event was attended by a number of ATL influencers including Women on the Move‘s Kim McNair, celebrated visual artist K. Joy Peters, media mavens Chelsye Burrows and LaRonda Sutton and producer extraordinaire Valerie Benning.
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com
