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 best documentary in the Short Film Showcase at the Diversity in Cannes Film Festival Showcase 2026.

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.

The film is also featured through the American Black Film Festival showcase on American Airlines’ in-flight entertainment platform, bringing Coleman’s story to audiences around the world.

Powell was also presented with the prestigious Better World Award in Cannes, France, in recognition of her contributions to storytelling and social impact through film.