We Speak Filmmakers

BLACK WOMEN FILM NETWORK ANNOUNCES HONOREES FOR THE 2023 BWFN SUMMIT

Published

4 years ago

February 28, 2023

Gina Prince-Bythewood, Danielle Deadwyler, Tabitha Brown are among this year’s roster of industry leaders to be celebrated.

Register today at blackwomenfilm.org

Black Women Film Network (BWFN), celebrating 26 years of preserving the voices of Black women in film and television, is announcing its 2023 class of honorees who will be recognized during an in-person awards luncheon at the annual BWFN Summit – powered by Cvent – on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 8AM – 5PM at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta, GA. Registration is now open at blackwomenfilm.org.

This year’s honorees are:

Gina Prince-Bythewood (Award-Winning Director/Writer/Producer – “The Woman King,” “Love & Basketball”) – RainmakHER Award * who will be accepting the award virtually

Danielle Deadwyler (Actress – “Till,” “From Scratch”) – Black Woman Rising Award

Tabitha Brown (Actress, Author, Social Media Personality) – InfluenceHER Award

Cas Sigers-Beedles (Writer, Director, Producer – “Scheme Queens,” “Unthinkably Good Things”) – StorytellHER Award

Tammy Williams (Owner, Cinema South Studios and CS145 LED Production Facility) – TrailblazHER Award

Latasha Gillespie (Executive Head of Global Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility for Amazon Studios, Prime Video and IMDb) – Beacon Award

The Summit’s theme is “Her Mic is On: Black Women Owning the Moment,” a tribute to the many high-profile moments of powerful speeches and words of wisdom that Black women have given to the world in recent years.

Launched during Women’s History Month, the BWFN Summit, now in its 8th year, returns to Atlanta as an in-person experience and will feature a full day of expert speakers, panels, master classes, fireside chats, and the awards luncheon where, in addition to highlighting our honorees, we will announce the recipients of our BWFN Scholarship.

“We are thrilled to have yet another opportunity to produce the BWFN Summit, thanks to the support of Cvent,” says BWFN Board Chair Saptosa Foster. “In recent years, we’ve witnessed iconic remarks from women like Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lizzo, Viola Davis, Michelle Obama and countless others. Those moments are part of a rich tradition of wisdom that is the magic of Black women, and we wanted to honor that uniqueness with this year’s Summit theme. Furthermore, there aren’t many places you can go in the film and television industry to network, gain knowledge, and access resources all in one space that is created specifically for Black women. The Summit is that space, and we are fortunate to be able to bring it back to Atlanta in person.”

“Twenty-six years ago, my Georgia State University film teacher told me the world needed to hear stories told by Black women,” says Sheryl Gripper, who founded BWFN in 1997 in Atlanta. “He asked what I was going to do about it. With the help of a visionary group of women, I formed the Black Women Film Network. That vision continues today with the leadership of our Board Chair Saptosa Foster.”

To register for the BWFN Summit, visit blackwomenfilm.org. [Early bird registration discount lasts until March 20!]

About Black Women Film Network

Established in 1997, the Black Women Film Network (BWFN) was founded to prepare black women to enter the film and television industries. The organization seeks to preserve the voice of these women through film and educational programs that empower and inform. A 501(c)3 non-profit, BWFN provides student scholarships, hosts screenings and workshops, and honors individuals who have excelled in this difficult industry. Visit BWFN online at blackwomenfilm.org. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We Speak Entertainment

Beth de Araújo Wins Breakthrough Director Award at Montclair for ‘Josephine’

Published

1 week ago

October 23, 2026

Royal Jones

The Montclair Film Festival has named Beth de Araújo its 2026 Breakthrough Director, honoring the filmmaker on Sunday, October 18 at The Bellevue Theatre following a screening of her new film, Josephine.

In presenting the award, the festival praised de Araújo’s “compassionate and deeply felt exploration of trauma, humanity, and the responsibilities that bind us to one another” — the qualities that have marked her rise as one of the most closely watched American directors of her generation.

De Araújo first drew major attention as the writer and director of Soft & Quiet, her blistering debut feature, which premiered at SXSW and earned her a place on year-end lists and awards ballots for breakthrough filmmaking. Josephine is her second feature, and the Montclair honor — part of the festival’s annual Honors program, which this year also salutes Ava DuVernay and Tony Gilroy — confirms her standing as a director whose work travels.

The 14th Montclair Film Festival runs October 16–25 in Montclair, New Jersey.