TIP “T.I.” HARRIS RECEIVES 2026 BRONZELENS CULTURAL ICON AWARD
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BronzeLens 2026 Closing Weekend Highlights
Friday, August 28
PowerHouse Craft Day: The Art of Storytelling
Noon–7:30 p.m. | Tara Atlanta
PowerHouse Craft Day brings filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, crew members and entertainment executives together for insightful conversations, career-building opportunities and an acting workshop led by celebrated performer Jasmine Guy.
1–2 p.m. | Young and Hungry: The New Filmmakers
Moderator: Astin Rocks
Panelists: Kiah Clingman, Ivan Rome and Kyle Scott
2:15–3 p.m. | Crafting the Story: Writers & Crew Building Black Cinema
Moderator: Tamika Newhouse
Panelists: Dr. Ty Johnston-Chavis, Tressa Smallwood and Shannan E. Johnson
3:30–4:30 p.m. | Below the Line: The Careers That Build Black Cinema
Moderator: Ronda Penrice
Panelists: EmmoLei, Karen Ceesay, Kyerra Weldon, Jamie Williams and Charles Robinson
3:30–4:30 p.m. | Get Funded: Producing, Financing, Crowdfunding and Protecting Your Film
Moderator: Monique Younger
Panelists: Amer Marie Woods of Seed&Spark and entertainment attorney James Walker
4:45–5:45 p.m. | From Creation to Monetization
Moderator: Dr. Ty Johnston-Chavis
Featured panelist: Valerie Meraz, senior vice president of FOX Entertainment Global
5–6 p.m. | Jasmine Guy Acting Workshop
Instructor: Jasmine Guy
6–7 p.m. | The ATL Effect: The Black Mecca for Movies, Music and More
Panelists: Courtney Glaude, producer at Tyler Perry Studios, and Karen Ceesay, SAG-AFTRA president
Saturday, August 29
All-Day Film Screenings | Tara Atlanta
BronzeLens continues its celebration of independent cinema with an expansive lineup of documentaries, narrative features, short films and student productions.
Sunday, August 30
17th Annual BronzeLens Awards
7 p.m. | Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College
900 West End Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA
The festival will conclude with a dazzling salute to its “Best of Festival” filmmakers. Awards will recognize excellence in feature films, documentaries, short films, short documentaries, web series, international films, Georgia productions, student films, music videos and dance films, along with outstanding performances by an actor and actress.
The BronzeLens Film Festival honored Atlanta entertainment trailblazer Tip “T.I.” Harris with the 2026 BronzeLens Cultural Icon Award during Grand Hustle Night, Sunday, August 23, at Tara Atlanta.
The special evening paid homage to T.I.’s far-reaching contributions to African American culture and celebrate Atlanta as the birthplace of Trap Music. The program featured screenings of Christopher Scholar’s documentary The Birth of Trap Music and Da’Partments 2, directed by T.I., along with filmmaker talkbacks and the award presentation.
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Grand Hustle Night at the 2026 BronzeLens Film Festival
The evening included:
- Presentation of the 2026 BronzeLens Cultural Icon Award to Tip “T.I.” Harris
- Screening of Christopher Scholar’s The Birth of Trap Music
- Talkback with Christopher Scholar
- Screening of T.I.’s Da’Partments 2
- Award presentation and talkback with T.I.
Tip “T.I.” Harris
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BronzeLens Craft Day • PowerHouse Panels is a dedicated programming block focused on the technical and artistic “below-the-line” skills of filmmaking — cinematography, editing, and production design — bringing together industry leaders, educators, and rising talent for candid conversations about craft, business, and opportunity. It has become a signature event on the BronzeLens calendar, offering practical insight and direct access rarely found at traditional festival panels.
For tickets visit: https://bronzelens.eventive.org/schedule/opening-night-premiere-love-patrick-6a716aa24a877b106ead59d5
The 17th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival will take place August 21–30, 2026, bringing filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts together for ten days of inspiring storytelling, meaningful conversations, and unforgettable experiences.
For the first time in festival history, BronzeLens will be presented across two exciting weekends, creating even more opportunities to showcase outstanding independent films and engage audiences throughout the festival. The lineup will feature screenings of new works by filmmakers from across the country and around the world, along with workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, the BronzeLens Awards, and much more.
To register for passes and tickets visit: https://bronzelens.eventive.org/welcome
