Jamaican-born pilot and filmmaker Beth Powell’s Discovering Bessie Coleman, a documentary chronicling the life and legacy of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, recently won Diversity in Cannes-Best Documentary and Director’s Choice Award.
The documentary, released in 2024, was directed by Powell and produced by Lorna Chin. It celebrates the impact and legacy of Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s licence.
In a post on Instagram celebrating the victory, Chin revealed that Powell first approached her in 2023 with the idea of producing a documentary about the pioneering aviator.
“We developed the story over the course of a year, eventually deciding to lean into a Jamaican storytelling style,” she said.
Powell was also presented with the Better World Fund-Commitment Award, in recognition of her community work and documentary efforts.
SOURCE: jamaicaobserver.com