BFWN - 2009 Honorees

Black Women Film Network 2009 Honorees

Leadership Award Winner: Dr. Felicia Suttle - Dr. Felicia Suttle is our 2009 Leadership Award Winner. Known as "The Oprah Winfrey"of South Africa, she is carving a niche on The Africa Channel. What you may not know about this accomplished journalist is that she worked at MARTA during its formative years

Rising Star Award Winner: Demetria McKinney - Singer, actress, model and dancer, Demetria McKinney is multi-talented. Whether she's acting on stage to a sold out audience or a featured soloist at a major event, she receives standing ovations for her performances. Her list of accomplishments includes the role of "Janine" on TBS's #1 TV sitcom, "House of Payne." She also embraced a vital role in the nationally renowned stage play, "Meet the Browns.

Pioneer Award Winner: Alexis Scott - M. Alexis Scott is our 2009 Pioneer Award winner. This talented writer, publisher and journalist is Publisher of the Atlanta Daily World, the nation's oldest weekly newspaper. In her former role at the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Scott broke new ground as one of the nation's few African American writers at a major daily newspaper.

Creative Award Winner: Tina McElroy Ansa - Tina McElroy Ansa is a prolific author. Ansa's fifth novel, "Taking After Mudear" is the superbly crafted sequel to her award-winning best-seller "Ugly Ways." Ansa recently launched a new publishing company. She will also headline "The Black Women Book Festival" March 6 at 6 p.m., Barnes/Noble Camp Creek. AndrewAndrew Young is one of the world’s foremost Civil Rights Leaders. He is also one of the world’s foremost filmmakers. His documentary on guns featuring rapper T. I., highlights the signs and hopes to combat violence all over our world. The film talks about the tragedy of gun violence and the hope for redemption.

Andrew Young -AndrewAndrew Young is one of the world’s foremost Civil Rights Leaders. He is also one of the world’s foremost filmmakers. His documentary on guns featuring rapper T. I., highlights the signs and hopes to combat violence all over our world. The film talks about the tragedy of gun violence and the hope for redemption.

Keny Leon - Kenny is Founding Artistic Director of True Colors Theatre Company. A graduate and honorary Ph.D. of Clark Atlanta University, Kenny is also very active in the communities in which he lives and works. He directed Snapshots: From a Decade of Directing American Theatre for the Dekalb County, GA, school system, a retrospective of his directorial work performed by students from across the county; he sits on the Board of the New Globe Theatre, New York, NY; and is a mentor for the Theatre Development Fund’s Open Doors program, also in New York.