Our Bessie Coleman Aviation Film Festival is open for 2027!
The First Aviation Film Festival in the World.
Welcome aviation filmmakers! We would love to see your films.
We welcome bold, inspiring aviation films that honor the spirit of Bessie Coleman—stories of courage, innovation, and breaking barriers. From powerful documentaries and narratives to experimental works, we seek films that celebrate legacy, diversity, and the thrill of flight. Whether exploring early pioneers, the Tuskegee Airmen, or the future of electric aviation, your story should ignite imagination and connection. We champion voices that expand access, elevate untold histories, and reveal the human side of aviation. Bring us films that soar beyond the expected and invite audiences to step into the story—and the future of flight.
Awards & Prizes
Bessie Coleman Legacy Filmmaker Award
Best Aviation Feature Film Award
Best Aviation Short Film Award
Best Aviation Military Film Award
Best International Aviation Film Award
Best Drone Film Award
Audience Choice Award
Bessie Coleman Aviation Film Awards
Film Festival Judges
Captain Beth Powell
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Webster Polk - Judge
At the heart of Queen B Production LLC is our founder, Captain Beth Powell, a trailblazer in the aviation industry and a beacon of inspiration. As a Captain for the largest Airline in the world, and an Aviation Industry Thought Leader, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, Beth's journey from a small parish in St. Mary, Jamaica, to making his
At the heart of Queen B Production LLC is our founder, Captain Beth Powell, a trailblazer in the aviation industry and a beacon of inspiration. As a Captain for the largest Airline in the world, and an Aviation Industry Thought Leader, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, Beth's journey from a small parish in St. Mary, Jamaica, to making history as is a testament to the power of dreams and perseverance.
Beth's mother dreamed of a brighter future for her daughters, instilling in them the value of education and the importance of a positive outlook. Following this ethos, Beth soared beyond traditional boundaries, obtaining her pilot licenses and a degree in Professional Aeronautics by her late teens, and later achieving the milestone of leading an' historic all-Black female flight crew in 2022.
Webster Polk - Judge
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Webster Polk - Judge
Webster Polk is a museum professional and event producer at The Museum of Flight, where he supports public programs and events that connect audiences with aviation history, innovation, and storytelling. His background spans community and public programming, venue and event management, and arts-focused production, with experience supportin
Webster Polk is a museum professional and event producer at The Museum of Flight, where he supports public programs and events that connect audiences with aviation history, innovation, and storytelling. His background spans community and public programming, venue and event management, and arts-focused production, with experience supporting film screenings, festivals, talks, and live performances. Webster values film as a powerful tool for education and community connection and is honored to serve as a judge for the Queen Bess Centennial Aviation Film Festival.
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Susan Roe Musacchio is an award-winning filmmaker, aviation historian, and third-generation aviator. She is the founder of the Bessie Coleman Centennial Aviation Film Festival and the Little Fort Environmental Film Festival. Her documentary work connects aviation heritage with the future of flight, including Pulitzer Trophy: The Third Age
Susan Roe Musacchio is an award-winning filmmaker, aviation historian, and third-generation aviator. She is the founder of the Bessie Coleman Centennial Aviation Film Festival and the Little Fort Environmental Film Festival. Her documentary work connects aviation heritage with the future of flight, including Pulitzer Trophy: The Third Age of Aviation, For the Love of Flying, The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell, Ouilmette, Mark McMahon: A Generation of Artists, and Uncovering History and the Great Lakes Trail. As a festival judge and advocate for women in aviation, Musacchio champions electric aviation, AAM, and stories that bridge legacy and future.
Jered Everson
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Susan Roe Musacchio - Judge
Jered is a Minneapolis-based filmmaker focused on social impact and opportunity, inspired by his mother, a civil rights attorney. He recently produced “Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner”, directed by Brad Bailey. This work has screened at AmDocs, Indy Shorts, Cannes, LACMA, American Cinematheque, and the American
Jered is a Minneapolis-based filmmaker focused on social impact and opportunity, inspired by his mother, a civil rights attorney. He recently produced “Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner”, directed by Brad Bailey. This work has screened at AmDocs, Indy Shorts, Cannes, LACMA, American Cinematheque, and the American Academy in Rome.
Highlights of his work include:
• Awarded Best Doc Short by Oscar-winning Breakwater Studios and received a special U.S. Congressional Commendation
• Produced a New England Emmy nominee, produces for Oscar-winner Nani Walker, and secured international multi-channel distribution for “Her Fight, His Name” (recently won 3 New York Emmy® Awards) and “Hale”, BAFTA-nominated and Student Oscar Documentary winner
• 2026 How We Heal Film Lab Fellow, announced on the Jennifer Hudson Show and in Essence Magazine
• Additional recognition includes Honorable Mention at Woodstock Film Festival and Best Short Documentary nomination at BronzeLens Film Festival, Atlanta