S. Epatha Merkerson Among Honorees at Black Women In Film Network’s 2026 Summit

The Black Women In Film Network celebrated six trailblazing women at its annual summit in downtown Atlanta, with veteran actress S. Epatha Merkerson receiving the top preservation honor.

Also known as BWFN, the Black Women In Film Network brought together some of entertainment’s most recognizable names for its 2026 annual summit last Saturday at the Loudermilk Conference Center in downtown Atlanta. This year’s theme, “Unbreakable Lens: The Power of Community,” set the tone for a day of celebration, conversation, and solidarity.

Veteran actress S. Epatha Merkerson was the centerpiece of the summit. She received the On Her Shoulders Preservation Award. This was a tribute to nearly four decades of her incredible work in TV, film, and the theater.

S. Epatha Merkerson’s journey

The formidable actress is one of the most decorated actresses in American television history. She is a native of Michigan and has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University. In 1978, she moved to New York City to apply her craft on stage. She is best known for her 20+ year run as Lt Anita Van Buren on NBC’s Law and Order. She currently stars as Sharon Goodwin on Chicago Med, part of the network’s hit One Chicago Franchise. “I wish I could tell you some of the struggles that I’ve had to stand here today,” Merkerson told the crowd. “That you acknowledge those struggles, just thank you. Thank you so much.”

On top of Law and Order, she has a long list of Broadway and off-Broadway credits and honors, including Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress for her performance in the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson (1995). There is also a 1992 Obie Award for her performance in “I’m Not Stupid” and a 1998 Helen Hayes Award for her starring role in the Studio Theater production in Washington, DC, of John Henry Redwood’s play “The Old Settler.” Her first television appearance was a guest-starring role in an episode of The Cosby Show (1984). Her earliest regular role in television, however, was that of Reba the Mail Woman on Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1986).

Danielle Brooks Celebrated with AcceleratHER Award 

Oscar-nominated actress Danielle Brooks was also honored at the summit. She received the AcceleratHER Award. This was recognizing her transformative impact across TV, film, and Broadway.

Brooks first gained widespread recognition as Taystee in Netflix’s Orange Is the new black. She earned the Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for her role as Sofia in the Warner Bros’ The Color Purple. She also earned a Tony Award nomination for reprising that role in the Broadway revival. 

Brooks, who grew up in the South, spoke openly about what the recognition meant to her.

“We made it,” Brooks said. “I grew up in the South, so to be recognized by other people from this town, it means a lot, because it takes a lot to get to this point. To not come from the industry and Hollywood, you really being self-made, and not only being made, but the community or the people that lifted me up, this community lifted me up from my early beginning. So it means a lot.”

Six Honorees On the Day

Merkerson and Brooks were also joined by four other honorees. Angela Cannon,  Executive Vice President at UP Entertainment and General Manager of AspireTV+. She received a PowerbrokHER Award. Felicia Pride, the showrunner of the upcoming A Different World sequel, also took home the StoryTelHer Award.

Sheila Ducksworth, the executive producer of Beyond the Gates and president of the NAACP and CBS studios joint venture, was presented the ProducHer Award. Whilst Vanzil Burke, founder of Burke Entertainment Partners, received the AmplifHer Award.

The rest of the summit 

Beyond the ceremony, the summit offered a full slate of panel discussions. Topics included branded content as a funding strategy, documentary distribution, and strategies for short-form content, as the format is gaining popularity amongst Black independent creators. 

The gathering arrives at a difficult time for the industry. This is because, according to a 2025 report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, women of color directed only 5.4% of the top 100-grossing films of the year. For the women in that room, those numbers are reality. The BWFN, founded in 1997, has long served as a platform for mentorship, advocacy, and industry access for Black women in entertainment.