*Atlanta – The Bronze Lens SuperStars Luncheon, an annual fete in Atlanta, is known for announcing firsts. Friday (08-24-18) was no exception when Connie Orlando, EVP Head of Programming at BET Networks promoted the rebranding of Centrix to BETher, the first 24/7 channel devoted to programming made for and by women of color. The announcement was fitting for the venue as the SuperStars Luncheon, a highlight of the Bronze Lens Film Festival, celebrates achievements of Black women in front of and behind the camera lens.
This was BET Networks first year as a sponsor of the Bronze Lens Film Festival signature luncheon event where three awards were presented. Tina Lifford, Aunt Vi on the hit series “Queen Sugar” airing on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, accepted the Visionary Superstar award to a standing ovation. Ms. Lifford’s work as a motivational speaker, gifted playwright, and killer scenes from “Queen Sugar” were showcased to the packed house.
Ayoka Chenzira, Ph.D., accepted the Catalyst SuperStar award for her pioneering work in independent cinema. Her work in interactive digital media production, in which she was the first Black woman to earn at Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology, mesmerized the room. Ms. Chenzira is now Chair of the Department of Art & Visual culture at Spelman College. To her delight, she noted that many of her former students had films entered in the festival.
Samantha Vincent rounded out this trio of visionary women as the recipient of the Vanguard SuperStar award. The producer of the eight films of the “Fast and Furious” franchise and younger sister of Vin Diesel, Ms. Vincent is the first woman of color whose book of films have grossed more than $5 billion. Ms. Vincent’s acceptance speech highlighted the fallacy purported by traditional Hollywood that black films do not sell in overseas markets and urged young filmmakers to forge ahead because outside of the United States “more people look like us than the people who run Hollywood.”
As BETher prepares for their rebranding kickoff in October, it can rest assured that there will be many more films coming from the sisters of the 9th Annual SuperStar Luncheon.
Subrina Wood is a movie critic and film festival blogger, specializing in promotion of independent films of the diaspora. She can be found at www.cinnamoncinephile.com
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