By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 21, 2025

A near-capacity crowd filled the historic Tara Theatre Wednesday night for the opening of the 16th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival, a celebration of filmmakers of color that has become a cornerstone of Atlanta’s cultural calendar.

The festival launched with the premiere of The Rhythm & The Blues, a feature directed and written by Darryl Pitts. “We started this project back in 2014,” Pitts said. “Through a series of twists and turns, the film came to fruition.” The film shines a long-overdue spotlight on blues guitarist Eddie Taylor, a key but often overlooked figure in American music. Actor Leon Robinson delivered a moving portrayal of Taylor, whose career was marked by artistic brilliance and exploitation by a music industry that too often erased or commodified Black artists.

When asked how he approaches his varied roles, Robinson explained, “In order to be someone real, you have to be them. With that, I do not feel like I am acting.”

Preserving a Musical Legacy

Founded in 2009, BronzeLens has dedicated itself to showcasing stories by and about people of color while positioning Atlanta as a global hub for filmmaking. This year’s hybrid edition runs August 20–24, with online screenings extending beyond the festival dates.

At precisely 7:45 p.m., the curtain rose on The Rhythm & The Blues, a narrative infused with recollections from Taylor’s son, Chicago bluesman Larry Taylor, and journalist Bonni McKeown. The cast includes Guy Davis as Jimmy Reed and Toni Belafonte as Vera Taylor, Eddie’s wife, whose presence added emotional depth to the story. The soundtrack, featuring contributions from Larry Taylor and the late Eddie Taylor Jr., gave the film an authenticity that resonated deeply with the audience.

The film previously sold out its New York debut at Lincoln Center during May’s African Film Festival. Its Atlanta premiere further cemented its reputation as a work that blends cultural history with personal struggle.

Shorts Highlight Diverse Narratives

Opening day also featured a series of shorts that reflected the variety and spirit of BronzeLens:

• The Off-Brands, directed by Shayla Racquel, followed Constance McKinney, a quirky Black teenager with sickle cell disease, navigating small-town high school life. The story drew on Y2K nostalgia while addressing disability, culture, and belonging.
• Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace, directed by Brittney Brackett, explored how Black and Brown communities confront trauma and mental health struggles, emphasizing healing through art and safe spaces for youth.
• Curtain Call, a poignant drama, chronicled a teenager’s choice between the streets and possible incarceration and freedom, ultimately finding redemption through resilience.

A Passing of the Torch

The evening closed with a bittersweet announcement. Deidre McDonald, BronzeLens’s founding artistic director, shared that 2025 will be her final year leading the festival. Since its inception, McDonald has been the festival’s guiding force, cultivating an event that attracts filmmakers from Angola, Canada, Jamaica, and Georgia alike.

“The mission of BronzeLens has always been to elevate diverse voices and to celebrate stories that inform and inspire,” McDonald said. “That mission will continue.”

Looking Ahead

With opening night behind it, BronzeLens now turns to a week of programming that includes documentaries, panel discussions on AI’s role in film and representation, and screenings from filmmakers around the globe.

For many, The Rhythm & The Blues set the perfect tone for the days ahead—a reminder that music and film are both powerful acts of protest, legacy, and cultural preservation.

The festival continues through Sunday, promising to showcase stories that challenge, uplift, and reflect the richness of communities often left out of mainstream narratives.

Please consider supporting open, independent journalism – no contribution is too small!