S. Epatha Merkerson, Danielle Brooks to Be Honored at Black Women Film Network Summit (EXCLUSIVE)

S. Epatha Merkerson and Danielle Brooks are among the honorees at the annual Black Women Film Network summit in Atlanta.

Founded in 1997, BWFN has served as a platform for mentorship, advocacy and industry access for Black women working in entertainment. The award presentation will take place during BWFN’s annual summit on Saturday, March 21, at Atlanta’s Loudermilk Center. This year’s theme, “Unbreakable Lens: The Power of Community,” is intended to highlight the “collective strength, collaboration, and shared vision that continue to drive Black women forward both in front of and behind the camera.”

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Merkerson will receive the On Her Shoulders Preservation award. She is best known for her long-running portrayal of Lt. Anita Van Buren of NBC’s “Law & Order,” as well as her Golden Globe, SAG and Emmy-winning performance in “Lackawanna Blues.” Also a two-time Tony nominee, Merkerson currently stars on NBC’s “Chicago Med,” part of the network’s hit “One Chicago” franchise alongside “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.”

Brooks will receive the AcceleratHER Award, recognizing her dynamic range and transformative impact across television, film and Broadway. Brooks’ resume ranges from her SAG-winning work as Taystee in “Orange is the New Black” to her Tony-nominated portrayal of Sofia in the Broadway revival of “The Color Purple,” a role she reprised for the 2023 film version and earned a best supporting actress Oscar nomination.

The Black Women Film Network will also honor Sheila Ducksworth, “Beyond the Gates” executive producer and CBS Studios/NAACP Venture president (with the ProducHER Award); Felicia Pride, “A Different World” showrunner and executive producer (StorytellHER Award); Angela Cannon, executive VP networks & content strategy at UP Entertainment and AspireTV+ general manager (PowerbrokHER Award); and Burke Entertainment Partners founder Vanzil Burke, Founder (AmpliphiHER Award). Beyond the awards presentation, the summit will also feature programming about the evolving entertainment landscape, including panels about branded content as a financing strategy, utilizing AI tools for film and digital production, the ins and outs of documentary distribution, the monetization of short-form content and the writer’s path from pitch to greenlight.

“Our summit is about strategy as much as celebration,” said Chiquita Lockely, board chair of Black Women Film Network. “We are creating a space where established powerhouses and emerging voices converge to exchange knowledge, build access and shape the future of storytelling. Honoring Black women who have sustained excellence across decades while equipping the next generation with practical tools is central to our mission.”

More information can be found on the BWFN website.