*The Black Women Film Network (BWFN) has announced the honorees and programming for its 2026 Annual Summit, taking place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Atlanta’s Loudermilk Center. This year’s theme, “Unbreakable Lens: The Power of Community,” will celebrate collaboration, shared vision, and the collective strength of Black women in film, television, and digital media.
Per the news release, among the six honorees, S. Epatha Merkerson will receive the On Her Shoulders Preservation Award. The acclaimed actress currently stars as Sharon Goodwin on NBC’s “Chicago Med” and is best known for her nearly 20-year run as Lt. Anita Van Buren on NBC’s “Law & Order.” Merkerson has earned a Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG Award, along with four NAACP Image Awards and two Tony nominations, marking a career that parallels NBCUniversal’s 100th anniversary.
Danielle Brooks is set to receive the AcceleratHER Award for her dynamic contributions across stage and screen. She gained widespread recognition as Taystee in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and most recently earned Academy Award, BAFTA, and SAG nominations for her performance as Sofia in Warner Bros.’ “THE COLOR PURPLE.” Brooks has also been nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway portrayal of Celie, cementing her reputation as a transformative performer.
Other 2026 honorees include Sheila Ducksworth (ProducHER Award), Angela Cannon (PowerbrokHER Award), Felicia Pride (StorytellHER Award), and Vanzil Burke (AmpliphiHER Award).
Scroll to continue reading
Beyond the awards, the summit will feature panels on creative and business topics, including “Where Creativity Meets Capital: Monetizing Content Through Brands,” “The Documentary Playbook: The Art and Business of Documentary Filmmaking,” and “Breaking the Silence: Media, Mental Health, and Cultural Change.” Sessions on emerging technology and formats, such as AI tools for creators and short-form storytelling, will also be featured.
“Our summit is about strategy as much as celebration,” said Chiquita Lockely, Board Chair of Black Women Film Network. “Honoring Black women who have sustained excellence across decades while equipping the next generation with practical tools is central to our mission.”
Tickets for the 2026 BWFN Annual Summit, supported by NBCUniversal, AspireTV+, Amazon, and Fulton Films, are available HERE, and open to the public.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Kirk Franklin Proposes ‘Gospel Avengers’ Super Bowl Halftime Show: ‘I’d Be Too Scared to Do it Alone’ | WATCH
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
