Uplift: She created a festival to connect filmmakers of color for networking and showcasing their talents.

Strawberry Letter

iHeartPodcasts

Relationships, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 June 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kathleen Bertrand.

Founder and Executive Producer of the BronzeLens Film Festival, about the festival’s mission, its impact on filmmakers of color, and the importance of storytelling in social justice.

🔑 Key Themes & Highlights

The Mission of BronzeLens Film Festival

The festival was created to connect and uplift filmmakers of color, providing a platform for networking and showcasing talent.
Atlanta was chosen as the festival’s home due to its growing influence in film production, competing with Hollywood and New York.

Social Justice & Film

Bertrand emphasized that film is a powerful tool for social justice, helping to educate and inspire change.
The festival hosts Cinema and Social Justice Sunday, featuring films that highlight civil rights, activism, and human rights issues.

Celebrity Involvement & Industry Recognition

The festival has attracted major industry figures, including Jamie Foxx, Jamie Lee Curtis, Morris Chestnut, and Ben Crump, who have backed films showcased at BronzeLens.
BronzeLens is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, meaning winners in the Best Short Film category can submit their work for Oscar consideration.

Filmmaker Support & Community Engagement

The festival provides workshops, panels, and mentorship opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
Bertrand highlighted the importance of relationships and hospitality, ensuring filmmakers feel welcomed and supported.

📘 About Kathleen Bertrand & BronzeLens Film Festival
Kathleen Bertrand is a visionary leader in film and entertainment, dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in cinema. The BronzeLens Film Festival, founded in 2010, has become a premier event for filmmakers of color, offering screenings, awards, and industry networking.

#BEST

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#SHMS

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