BronzeLens Film Festival 2026

Atlanta's Home for Black Film

Founded in 2009 to promote Black filmmakers and diverse storytelling, BronzeLens has grown into one of Atlanta's premier film festivals — fitting for a city that has itself become a genuine hub of the Black film and television industry. In 2026, the 17th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival runs across two separate weekends: opening weekend August 21-23, and closing weekend August 27-30, with the awards ceremony capping things off on August 30. A single festival pass covers programming across both weekends.

Event at a Glance

• Event: 17th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• When: Opening weekend Aug 21-23; Closing weekend Aug 27-30, 2026 (Awards Aug 30)
• Main Audience: Film industry professionals, Black filmmakers, cinephiles
• Travel Vibe: Artistic, industry-connected, celebratory

What to Expect

Screenings spanning feature films, documentaries, and shorts from Black filmmakers, industry panels and networking built around Atlanta's booming film and television production scene, and an awards ceremony recognizing standout work from the festival's slate. The two-weekend, one-pass structure gives attendees real flexibility — catch opening weekend, closing weekend, or build a longer Atlanta trip around both.

Why Atlanta

Atlanta has become one of the busiest film and television production hubs in the country, and BronzeLens sits at the intersection of that industry growth and Atlanta's deep Black cultural identity — giving the festival real industry access that a similarly-sized festival in a smaller production market simply couldn't offer.

Where to Stay

Midtown and Downtown Atlanta put you closest to most festival venues, with easy access to the city's broader film-industry scene and nightlife between screenings.

Who This Festival Is For

Film industry professionals and aspiring filmmakers looking for real Atlanta industry access, cinephiles wanting a deep, curated slate of Black storytelling, and anyone building a film-festival circuit trip around the country's Black creative hubs.

BTN Insider Tips

Buy the full festival pass if you can make both weekends — it's the better value given the two-weekend structure.

Attend the awards ceremony on August 30 if your schedule allows — it's the festival's marquee closing event.

Network deliberately. With Atlanta's production industry this active, BronzeLens is a genuinely useful place to make real industry connections, not just watch films.

Plan Your Trip

Seventeen years of championing Black filmmakers, in one of the country's biggest production cities — get your pass, book your Atlanta stay, and catch both weekends if you can.

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