The tenth Annual Black Girls Movie Community (BWFN) Summit turned Atlanta’s Loudermilk Heart right into a haven for celebration, collaboration, and profession reflection on Saturday, March 22, and BOSSIP has unique deets.

From purple carpet radiance to actual discuss, the occasion introduced collectively a number of the most impactful Black ladies in media to discover this yr’s theme: “Plot Twist: The Artwork of the Pivot.”

 Summit highlights included hearth chats that includes Kat Graham and Meagan Tandy, stars of the Amazon MGM Studios movie, Tyler Perry’s Duplicity, now streaming on Prime Video, and Sonay Hoffman, co-showrunner of the NBC hit Discovered, created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, at present airing Thursday nights.

Programming included panels on funding, advertising and PR, hair, make-up, and costume, in addition to illustration, amongst different subjects.

This yr’s BWFN Awards Luncheon honored an elite lineup of Black ladies whose careers characterize reinvention, management, and storytelling energy:

• Cathy Hughes – Sheryl Gripper On Her Shoulders Preservation Award

Founder & Chairwoman of City One, Inc.

• Aja Naomi King – AcceleratHER Award

Actress, NBC’s “Grosse Pointe Backyard Society” & “Classes in Chemistry”

• Katori Corridor – StoryTellHER Award

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and showrunner of “P-Valley”

• Angi Bones – ProducHER Award

President of Unique Programming, Tyler Perry Studios

• Denise Williams Watts – Beacon Award

International Editorial Director of Unique Content material, Apple Music

• Felicia Joseph – RainmakHER Award

SVP of Casting, Disney Leisure Tv

A Residing Legend Will get Her Flowers

Among the many highly effective moments was the presentation of the Sheryl Gripper On Her Shoulders Preservation Award to media icon Cathy Hughes, founding father of City One.

The primary Black American lady to chair a publicly held company, Hughes was honored for many years of groundbreaking work that redefined radio, TV, and digital media for Black audiences.

“She is a dwelling legend and a shero who’s a strolling blueprint of what’s potential for Black ladies in media,” mentioned BWFN Chair Chiquita Lockley.

A presentation was made from her best moments in media, sharing the tales of her buying her first radio station and having to sleep in a sleeping bag to make the purpose occur. She continues to make historical past and open doorways.

Mint Inexperienced Magic: Aja Naomi King Serves A Look & A Lesson

On the purple carpet, the theme of transformation carried via interviews with each rising creatives and award recipients. Aja Naomi King, who was offered with the AcceleratHER Award, arrived in a whimsical mint inexperienced two-piece tulle look with a mermaid tail end.

“I simply beloved the colour—it’s a daytime occasion, and I simply wished to be as cute as all people else right here,” she informed BOSSIP’s, Lauryn Bass.

King opened up about her profession journey, together with an adolescence pivot many wouldn’t anticipate.

“I actually thought I used to be going to be a health care provider,” she revealed. “But it surely was a breakthrough second after I realized that dream wasn’t mine—it was protected. Performing was the danger. And I made a decision I wished to stroll the trail towards what I beloved.”

She additionally highlighted her philanthropic work with Opening Act, a nonprofit that gives arts programming and theater training for underserved college students in New York.

 “It’s about giving youngsters the boldness to inform their tales and know their voices matter,” she mentioned. “Whether or not or not they go into performing, it’s a present that lasts a lifetime.”

Because the saying goes, confidence actually is essential.

From Panels to the On a regular basis Grind

Many viewers members might straight relate to the summit’s theme.

Attendee Kayla Anthony, a contract journalist and marketer, echoed related sentiments about discovering alignment via change.

 “Truthfully, Aja’s panel felt like a remedy session,” she mentioned. “It was therapeutic to listen to her talk about selecting ardour over stress.”

Anthony shared her personal pivot from journalism to advertising and PR, resulting in gigs with Warner Bros., AMC Networks, and BET.

“You by no means know what you’re good at till you leap. This summit jogged my memory I’ve a spot on the desk—and if not, I could make one.”

One other attendee shared related sentiments. Nyesha Stone, representing her personal media outlet, Carvd N Stone, highlights how necessary the theme of neighborhood is from the BWFN Summit that resonates with her. 

“There are such a lot of issues put towards us. Whether or not it’s a fast interview or a follow-back, we have to assist one another,” she mentioned.

 Her Milwaukee-based platform is devoted to authentic reporting of constructive Black tales, reinforcing that there’s extra than simply trauma in our timelines.

“We’re really going out, interviewing, doing the info sourcing,” she added. “There’s greater than damaging information on the market. And there are folks like us telling these tales.”

There have been loads of uplifting testimonies shared from the panels, luncheons, and general networking.

Black Girls, Daring Pivots, and Constructing New Tables

The BWFN Summit proved that pivoting isn’t nearly surviving—it’s about thriving. 

Within the phrases of Aja Naomi King, “There’s no assured final result—nevertheless it’s definitely worth the threat when it’s what you’re keen on.”

From purple carpet moments to profession milestones, Black ladies in leisure proceed to create area, inform daring tales, and remind us all: if there’s no seat on the desk, they’ll construct their very own.