By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | September 2, 2025

The 16th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival wrapped with triumph and tenderness, spotlighting bold new works while also marking a transition in leadership. Nearly 100 films were submitted and screened at the historic Tara Theatre, with the festival’s grand awards ceremony staged at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on Morehouse College’s campus.

A bittersweet note came when Deidre McDonald, the founding Artistic Director, announced her retirement. For 16 years, McDonald has been the guiding force behind BronzeLens, helping the festival grow into an Academy Award®-qualifying event in the Short Film category and a key cultural institution celebrating stories by creators of color.

Winners and Honors

This year’s winners showcased the wide-ranging creativity of filmmakers across genres:

• Dance Videos: Cut Me Summa Dat Noise
• Best Music Video: FREEDOM
• Best Documentary: Mount Mutombo
• Best Short Documentary: Exodus
• Best Feature: Color Book
• Best Student Film: Jean & I
• Best Web Series: Hogtown / Ainsi Va Manu
• Short Films: ADO
• Best of Festival: Color Book
• Best Actor: Will Catlette (Color Book)
• Best Actress: Jennifer Lewis (Color Book)
• The Andrew Young Cinema and Social Justice Award: Following Harry

The feature Color Book emerged as the night’s biggest winner, sweeping top honors including Best Feature, Best of Festival, and both acting awards.

Two Standout Screenings

Of the many films presented, two stood out to me personally: The Rhythm & The Blues and Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball.

The Rhythm & The Blues, directed by Darryl Pitts, tells the story of guitarist Eddie Taylor, a blues genius whose career was strained by exploitation, family tensions, and cultural appropriation. Leon Robinson’s portrayal of Taylor was both riveting and tender, anchoring a story that has been described as “powerful” and “necessary.” Pitts, who independently financed the project, praised Robinson’s ability to make difficult characters lovable, adding a layer of humanity to a tale about legacy and artistic ownership.

Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball shed light on one of the Negro Leagues’ greatest yet least remembered outfielders. Dixon’s career from 1922 to 1937 was marked by brilliance, but racism and segregation obscured his legacy. The film’s archival depth and expert commentary from historians like Leslie Heaphy and Lawrence D. Hogan gave Dixon’s story long-overdue recognition. SABR’s Ted Knorr called Dixon “a true five-tool player,” advocating for his Hall of Fame inclusion. Viewers described the documentary as moving and a correction to baseball’s historical record.

Looking Ahead

As the festival closed, anticipation already began for the next edition. Submissions for the 2026 BronzeLens Film Festival open October 15, 2025, promising another year of powerful storytelling, cinematic excellence, and cultural celebration.

From the Tara Theatre screenings to the Morehouse awards stage, this Sweet Sixteen edition re-confirmed BronzeLens’ place as one of the nation’s premier showcases for films by and about people of color—an event where artistry, history, and community converge.