The 2019 Atlanta Film Festival Recap
An entire month’s passed since the 43rd annual Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) brought together nearly 30,000 passionate filmmakers and cinephiles for 11 days of cultural discovery, artistic growth and opportunity.
An entire month’s passed since the 43rd annual Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) brought together nearly 30,000 passionate filmmakers and cinephiles for 11 days of cultural discovery, artistic growth and opportunity. We gathered everywhere from the beautiful, sunlit fields of the BeltLine to the familiar comfort of the historic Plaza Theatre and enjoyed everything from creative films and shorts to groundbreaking experimental media, music videos and insightful discussions led by filmmakers from all over the world. The sheer number of things happening at any given moment forced attendees to pick and choose which events to attend at the cost of missing others.
For those who want to relive the festival or simply missed out, here are some ATLFF ‘19 highlights.
It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
The Plaza Theatre celebrates Georgian filmmakers.
Georgia’s tax incentive may bring big-name, big-budget productions to our burgeoning Peach State, but our indigenous filmmaking community continues to create films worthy of acclaim. Of the record-setting 8,000+ films and screenplays submitted to this year’s festival, works created by Georgia filmmakers ranked among the finest. We were thrilled to showcase them during ‘It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,’ a block comprised entirely of short films created by Georgian filmmakers.
Filled with narrative, documentary, and animated films that left the entire Plaza Theatre enraptured, engaged, and inspired, the shorts were so great we watched them twice!
Opening Night Presentation: THE FAREWELL
Lulu Wang (left) and Nora “Awkafina“ Lum (right) walk the red carpet.
If local filmmakers kicked off the festival, then writer/director Lulu Wang shifted the event into high gear. Anticipation for the opening night screening of THE FAREWELL built steadily as both Wang and lead actress Awkwafina made red carpet appearances.
Wang and Awkwafina introduce The Farewell.
Lulu Wang and Awkwafina jump onstage afterwards for a Q&A.
After the iconic duo excitingly introduced the movie, THE FAREWELL immediately grasped the entire audience with its beautiful cinematography. However, the narrative was what truly kept us engrossed in the film throughout its 98 minute runtime. By juggling relatable themes of identity and cultural heritage with humor and wit, the film provided an authentic glimpse into a Chinese family's unique struggle to cope with the impending loss of a beloved family member.
Wang and Awkwafina returned to the stage after the film’s conclusion for an insightful Q&A; Wang divulged how her family inspired the film, and Awkwafina shared her on set experience with the crowd.
Georgia Film Award Winning Film: RECKONING
It was only the third day of the festival and the streets of Ponce and Highland came to halt when filmmakers Ruckus and Lane Skye graced the Plaza Theatre with their feature film, RECKONING. The line wrapped around the building with audience members lining up for the film hours before the start of the film. Ruckus and Lane along with the cast of the film arrived smoothly, just in time for some red carpet photos and interviews. Georgia is definitely proud to be the home of such talented and humble filmmakers.
Lane and Ruckus Skye bring the cast of RECKONING to ATLFF.
Joe Berlinger Wins Inaugural Originator Award
Joe Berlinger visits the red carpet.
Following up immediately after RECKONING, Joe Berlinger dropped in for an appearance. Before screening his new film, EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE, ATLFF presented its first ever Originator Award to director Joe Berlinger. With an illustrious filmography including the lauded and catalytic PARADISE LOST, the award celebrates Berlinger’s career in the spirit of originators like Burt Reynolds, Jermaine Dupri, and Tyler Perry--those who set out to do things unlike anything anyone’s ever done before. Humbly accepting the award, Berlinger unveiled his love for Atlanta and eventually dedicated the award to the late Bruce Sinofsky, with whom he managed to change the face of documentary filmmaking.
You can stream EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL, AND VILE on Netflix here.
Creative Conference
Jen West (left most) talks directing with documentarians (left to right) Tim O’Donnell, Kristian Melom, Giovanna Giovanini, and James Martin.
Because there are so many factors and moving parts within the filmmaking process, there is always something new to learn. Creative Conference kicked off bright and early, Monday morning. Individuals looking to hone their craft at ATLFF ‘19 looked no further than the Creative Conference. Comprised of 40 educational events designed to disperse knowledge from the industry’s professionals to the aspiring filmmaker throughout the week, the conference covered nearly every stage of the process.
Linda Burns (left) and Tom Luse (right) share a conversation.
Through free-flowing conversations with actors, directors, and producers who’ve found success and panels supplying professional insight, we improved everything from our projects’ initial stories and pitches to their eventual licensing and distribution. The week was filled with gems from local filmmakers to Oscar and Emmy award winning producers.
The Satanic Temple Visits ATLFF
It’s not everyday you’re presented the opportunity to learn about the Satanic Temple from Satanists themselves, but this Wednesday was the day! HAIL SATAN?!, a delightfully off-kilter documentary feature by acclaimed documentarian Penny Lane, explores one of, if not the most controversial religious movements in American history. In chronicling the rise of the widely misunderstood Satanic Temple, the film sheds light on the religion’s true cause and noble intentions. Lane characterizes the Temple by characterizing its members, specifically Lucien Greaves. Greaves’ made-for-camera personality and Lane’s emphasis of irony inject the film with a humor that left the entire audience with split sides. However, the night didn’t end when the film did; once the credits rolled, members of the front row introduced themselves as part of the Atlanta Chapter of The Satanic Temple! Three stepped onto the Dad’s Garage stage to take questions from the audience, revealing a deeper, self-reflexive view of the Temple.
SOUND+VISION
WHOAA treat SOUND+VISION to an unforgettable performance.
Jacob Velcoff leaves his mark on ATLFF’ 19.
Having missed it during ATLFF ‘18, this year’s festival saw the mid-week event return with something for everyone. Complete with live performances from WHOAA and Jacob Velcoff, SOUND+VISION brought together virtual reality films, music videos, and food providing a near sensory overload. ATLFF took over! Free and open to the public along the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta BeltLine and the Historic Fourth Ward Park, the event provided an opportunity for families and friends to celebrate a wonderful evening with beautiful art and delicious food.
Awards Brunch Recap
Filmmakers from all over the globe gathered to receive awards and recognition for their tremendous films.
Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe snatch Best Narrative Feature.
Tomer Heymann takes home Special Jury Award.
Best Narrative Feature – GREENER GRASS
Best Documentary Feature – THE FOURTH KINGDOM (EL CUARTO REINO)
Best Narrative Short - SIRENE
Best Documentary Short – KAMALI
Best Animated Short – HENRIETTA BULKOWSKI
Georgia Film Award – RECKONING
*For full list of awards click here.
Closing Night Presentation: THEM THAT FOLLOW
All good things must come to an end, and when they do, it’s usually depressing. Yet, the end of ATLFF ‘19 was more joyous than sad, because it brought with it the festival’s trademark closing night festivities. The 43rd annual Atlanta Film Festival concluded with a showing of THEM THAT FOLLOW. As the first feature film from writer/directors Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage, the star-studded film memorably closed out the already unforgettable festival.
Apply to Become an ATLFF '19 Screenplay Reader
With nearly 1,000 submissions already received for consideration into ATLFF '19, we are excepting applications to join our Screening Committee and to become a Screenplay Reader.
More than 7,000 works were submitted for consideration into the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival—another huge increase from the year before. From these hopeful filmmakers, we have only the capacity to program around 200 features, short films, pilot episodes and music videos combined. How do we decide which films to play? How do we go through those thousands of entries to sort the ones that will please our local audience the best?
We get help. A lot of help.
Most of that help comes from our volunteer Screening Committee and Screenplay Readers. Members of this team watch, or read dozens (sometimes hundreds) of short or feature films, or screenplays each, evaluating them along the way. This helps the programming team sort out the worthy from the not-so-worthy so they can make the final decisions.
With nearly 1,000 submissions already received for consideration into ATLFF '19, we are excepting applications to become a Screenplay Reader. Volunteer readers can earn a variety of perks (free tickets and passes to the festival) based on how many screenplays they read.
Space is limited, so not all applicants will be chosen. If you have an interest in reading submitted screenplays for the ATLFF '19 Screenplay Competition, apply to be a reader! Please apply by July 2, 2018. Applications may be re-opened at a later date.
Questions? Email screening@atlantafilmfestival.com.
The 2018 Atlanta Film Festival Recap
With it being four weeks since the close of one of the most star-studded, mystical, and down right fun festivals since inception, we wanted to share some of the highlights that we thought were truly amazing! The 2018 Atlanta Film Festival welcomed over 27,000 attendees with open arms, southern charm, and hospitality
With it being four weeks since the close of one of the most star-studded, mystical, and down right fun festivals since our inception, we wanted to share some of the highlights that we thought were truly amazing! The 2018 Atlanta Film Festival welcomed over 28,000 attendees with open arms, southern charm, and hospitality. We made it our top priority to ensure that all of our attendees felt at home. Speaking of home, on April 12, we showcased what we thought best represented our hometown with two phenomenal shorts blocks, SPRING IN MY HOMETOWN and WALKING DISTANCE.
Welcome to ATLFF '18
April 13, things kicked off with our Opening Night Presentation: BLINDSPOTTING with the writer/actor duo Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. To open the film, Diggs was presented with the inaugural ATLFF Innovator Award for the boisterous and bold choices he made, pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and social commentary.
While here in Atlanta, both Casal and Diggs exclaimed their appreciation for the city and highlighted how they loved the audience's response to the film's overarching theme of identity and gentrification. With Atlanta being one of the countless cities currently undergoing gentrification, this film hit home for many of those in attendance making it the perfect fit for opening night.
Atlanta Film Society Presents ScreenCraft Writers Summit
To kick off the first weekend of ATLFF, we were home to the ScreenCraft Writers Summit! This featured guests such as Mika Pryce (Creative Executive, Universal Pictures), JJ Klein (Vice President, Current Programming for FX Networks), Wendy Calhoun (TV Writer/Showrunner, NASHVILLE, EMPIRE, STATION 19), and many more. Events/panels included Mentor Sit-Downs, the Pitch Competition, tips on writer's rooms, and anything writer-esque. Pictured above is a panel titled "Georgia Development or Bust." Panelists discussed how Atlanta can become a self-sustainable entertainment industry from pre- to post-production. This think-tank session was what Atlanta needed to see the light at the end of the tunnel being shed by LA and New York. Atlanta is already a well-oiled machine in terms of production, but we still need a little extra coal (tax credits/investors) to push us through to the other side.
MAYNARD
MAYNARD dropped in for it's Georgia Premiere featuring Maynard III & Wendy Jackson, director Sam Pollard, and the production team. A flood of emotions ran through the crowd as the audience rose for a standing ovation! Maynard Jackson's legacy still lives through the city of Atlanta. There wouldn't have been a(n) Andrew Young, Bill Campbell, Shirley Franklin, Kasim Reed, or Kiesha Lance Bottoms without Maynard Jackson, thank you. The film later was announced as the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival Audience Award winning feature!
Jason Reitman
This one is for our Rebel, Jason Reitman, for his daring and off kilter approach to his feature film TULLY. Reitman couldn't shed the smile from his face as he accepted the first ever Rebel Award and went on to mention the how much this film means to him.
Two flights cancelled, a Canadian ice storm, and scheduling conflicts were not enough to stop this Masterclass. We finally got the chance to sit down and catch up with Jason Reitman and let us say, he's in love with Atlanta. The intimate conversation was filled with personal stories of Reitman's past with his father, Ivan Reitman, his struggles as a director, and how he approaches each project. The Masterclass felt no longer than a ten minute conversation with an old friend. The Masterclass came to an end with the audience longing for more from Reitman.
Romany Malco Masterclass
Atlanta didn't welcome Romany Malco, Romany Malco welcomed Atlanta. Romany's gregarious and warm nature filled the Plaza on this Monday afternoon. As he took the stage, the comedian within couldn't be suppressed. His personality is unmatched as he fluidly bounced from his career lull to a conversation about confusing effort with achievement. Malco had many gems of wisdom and life lessons hidden behind his pungent jokes, which kept the audience in tears, but members soon circled back around to the realization of the truth in his words.
Creative Conference
Creative Conference is a way to connect with panelists, other festival attendees, while obtaining information to either further a(n) filmmaker's/actor's career or delve into what makes a film, a film. On April 17, Auditions and Casting Calls (SAGIndie) was one of 40 panels of CC (Creative Conference) featuring George Pierre, Jessica Fox, Joy Pervis, and Mystie Buice. Each panelist had their dos and don'ts for actors looking for representation and work in the Atlanta market.
The Psychology of the Lens, the Actor/Director Relationship, Speed Dating Meets Career Day, and a myriad of other panels at CC brought in attendees from all across the globe to share their ideas and engage with panelist working in the industry.
Amber Nash Masterclass
Amber Nash was the perfect close to the 2018 Masterclass series. From a degree in psychology to voicing Pam Poovey on FX’s Emmy Award-winner Archer, Nash was thrilled to share her transition as well as keeping the audience engaged with her whit and charm. Interestingly enough Nash took improv classes at the same venue (Dad's Garage) where her Masterclass took place—cue nostalgia.
HEARTS BEAT LOUD
On April 20, after a quick stop at Majestic Diner for a peach milkshake, Bret Haley and Kiersey Clemons came just in time to premiere HEARTS BEAT LOUD to an eager Atlanta audience. Before the screening, Kiersey Clemons was presented with the Phoenix Award as a symbol of her burgeoning career as she rises up from the ashes into stardom. While on stage Clemons's and Haley's relationship showcased the importance of a relationship between a director and an actor, reminiscent of big brother, little sister. Clemons' performance in the film exhibited an untapped side of the actress that we're glad we were able to experience. We only have one question for you Kiersey, when's the album coming?
Awards Brunch Recap
Best Narrative Feature — WIND TRACES
Narrative Feature - Special Jury Prize — DISAPPEARANCE
Best Documentary Feature — MAN MADE
Documentary Feature — THEY CALL US WARRIORS
Best Narrative Short — FOR NONNA ANNA
Best Documentary Short — ZION
Best Animated Short — FUNDAMENTAL
Filmmaker-to-Watch — Connor Simpson for KUDZU
Georgia Film — STILL
WonderFilm Award presented by WonderRoot — WALLS OF HOPE
Audience Awards
Audience Award Feature — MAYNARD
Audience Award Short — COLOR BLIND
Closing Night Presentation: EIGHTH GRADE
Our Closing Night Presentation: EIGHTH GRADE, needless to say was everything we could ask for from a film. Bo Burnham and Elsie Fisher kept everything... Gucci. EIGHTH GRADE is Bo Burnham's directorial debut and it is a stark contrast from his previous works, harping on Burnham's refreshing ability to tell a phenomenal story as a filmmaker. The film encompasses Burnham as a whole featuring comedy grounded in reality through the lens of an adolescent girl. Burnham's respect and trust in Elsie Fisher was shown throughout the film as well as on stage as the two shared moments with audience about the origin of the term "Gucci." The two worked as a team to bring EIGHTH GRADE to life.
Day 10
Day 10, the final day of the Atlanta Film Festival came with victories and a range of heart and emotions. Pictured above are the conclusion to a couple of films; here's director Jimena Montemayor Loyo shortly after receiving her award for Best Narrative Feature for WIND TRACES (left) and the subjects of MAN MADE sharing a moment on stage after being awarded Best Documentary Feature (right).
Apply to Join the ATLFF '18 Screening Committee!
With nearly 2,000 submissions already received for consideration into ATLFF '18, we are excepting applications to join our Screening Committee.
More than 6,000 works were submitted for consideration into the 2017 Atlanta Film Festival—another huge increase from the year before. From these hopeful filmmakers, we have only the capacity to program around 200 features, short films, pilot episodes and music videos combined. How do we decide which films to play? How do we go through those thousands of entries to sort the ones that will please our local audience the best?
We get help. A lot of help.
Most of that help comes from our volunteer Screening Committee. Members of this team watch dozens (sometimes hundreds) of short or feature films each, evaluating them along the way. This helps the programming team sort out the worthy from the not-so-worthy so they can make the final decisions.
With nearly 2,000 submissions already received for consideration into ATLFF '18, we are excepting applications to join our Screening Committee. Volunteer screeners can earn a variety of perks (free tickets and passes to the festival) based on how many films they watch, and films can be watched most anywhere you have an internet connection.
If you have the time, the interest and the fortitude to help us screen thousands of submissions, please apply to join our Screening Committee! Space is limited, so not all applicants will be chosen. Additionally, if you have an interest in reading submitted screenplays for the ATLFF '17 Screenplay Competition, apply to be a reader! Please apply by June 28, 2017. Applications may be re-opened at a later date.
Questions? Email screening@atlantafilmfestival.com.
DAVE MADE A MAZE Set to Open Up the 41st Atlanta Film Festival!
Get your tickets now for ATLFF's most exclusive screening and party—Opening Night! Sponsored by Moonshine Post-Production.
directed by Bill Watterson
USA, 2017, English, 81 minutes
Friday, March 24, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Downstairs
In a struggling attempt to create something of significance, Dave builds a fort in his living room where he falls victim to his own creation. Now trapped in a world filled with booby traps and fantastical pitfalls, Dave advises his girlfriend against entering the ever-changing mythical world to save him. —Kevon Pryce
Director Bill Watterson and select cast and crew members scheduled to attend.
#Narrative #Animation #Marquee #Puppetry
The Opening Night Party (sponsored by Moonshine Post-Production) will be held from 9 PM - 12 AM at Paris on Ponce—open to all Opening Night ticket-holders, as well as FILMMAKER, PRODUCER and ALL-ACCESS badge-holders (includes INDUSTRY, PRESS and WEEKEND 1). Wristbands for the afterparty will be distributed at the screening.
DAVE MADE A MAZE and the Opening Night Party sponsored by:
Atlanta Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup of Features and Short Films
We are excited to reveal the lineup of feature film and short film programming for the 41st annual ATLFF... and there's even more to come!
ATLANTA, GA (February 24, 2017) — The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is pleased to announce the lineup of feature length and short film programming for the 41st annual celebration that will take place March 24 – April 2, 2017. In addition to the announced lineup of 163 films, the ten-day event will be highlighted with Opening and Closing Night Presentations, 40 Creative Conference events and 12 unique Special Presentations.
Of the record-breaking 6,000+ film submissions for the 2017 festival, the final selections include 47 feature length films, 116 short films and 28 creative media presentations, which consist of music videos, virtual reality and episodic pilots. The diverse slate represents 40 countries, with 53% of selected submissions directed by a female and 40% from filmmaker(s) of color.
Christopher Escobar, ATLFF Executive Director said, "Coming off a record-setting 40th Anniversary event in 2016, we are entering our fifth decade with programming that represents our long-term commitment to celebrate filmmakers and audiences of all backgrounds. We are especially proud to be a festival that highlights diverse voices, while also emphasizing the important role that our city plays in the film and television community by holding our events at places unique to Atlanta.”
In addition to the film lineup announced today, information on Opening Night, Closing Night, additional Marquee screenings and Special Presentations, which include annual fest favorites like Food on Film and SOUND + VISION, as well as the Creative Conference educational programming, is forthcoming.
The Atlanta Film Festival is the annual centerpiece of educational and enriching film programing that is provided year-round by parent organization, the Atlanta Film Society.
2017 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP
If a selected film will be included in a specialty track or falls into a distinctive category, it is noted with brief designation following the synopsis. Films identified as New Mavericks feature a strong, female lead seen through the lens of a female filmmaker. The Pink Peach track shines a spotlight on LGBTQ narrative features, documentary features and short films. The CineMás track highlights Latin American films and filmmakers. Productions with an Atlanta and/or Georgia connection are noted as well.
NARRATIVE FEATURES
Ann
Directed by Carla Forte
USA, 2016, Spanish/English, 79 minutes
Friday, March 30, 2017, 9:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Ruben, a visual artist, is tormented by his reality. He copes by retreating into his vivid imagination; creating a parallel world unlike his own. As his alternate world becomes more attractive, Ruben becomes more disconnected from the material world, societal norms, and emotional attachments. He must come to terms with reality after this disconnect and subsequent loss of ego.
#CineMás, #Competition, #PinkPeach
Born River Bye
Directed by Tim Hall
USA, 2017, English 84 minutes
Friday, March 31, 2017, 9:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Two childhood friends reunite in their sleepy hometown as they each face a crossroads in their lives. Scott is drifting through town (and life) after a long departure, much like a ghost to haunt his estranged family and friends. Laura, still stuck in their hometown, is living in a stagnant reality of mediocrity out of fear of following her dreams. Both feel superior to those around them, and yet experience an overwhelming unhappiness with their choices. As the days unfold, Scott and Laura begin to turn a new leaf, forgiving themselves for their past, making amends, and looking to their futures with renewed optimism.
#Georgia, #WorldPremiere
The Boss Baby
Directed by Tom McGrath
USA, 2017, English
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 2:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
DreamWorks Animation and the director of Madagascar invite you to meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby. The Boss Baby is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, DreamWorks’ The Boss Baby is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for all ages.
#FamilyFriendly, #Marquee
Chee and T
Directed by Tanuj Chopra
USA, 2017, English, 80 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Two friends working as collectors for a family crime ring are assigned what proves to be their most challenging task yet—delivering the indifferent, drug-induced nephew of their boss to an event across town. As the three men cruise to their various destinations in a pale blue hot rod, they encounter more than they bargained for and find themselves caught in a web of politics, drugs, love, and their own moral values.
Cherry Pop
Directed by Assaad Yacoub
USA, 2016, English, 77 minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 9:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Drag Queens encounter an outsider and must face their own baggage during a wild night at a failing drag club. The quirky group of patrons, family, friends, and lovers experience heartache, betrayal, and acceptance through a bizarre series of events. The night begins like any other and ends with celebration of both beginnings and endings as the queens and those in attendance learn to set aside their differences and embrace what unites them.
#PinkPeach
Children of the Mountain
Directed by Priscilla Anany
Ghana/USA, 2016, Ewe/Akan, 101 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 7:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Caught between love for her child and respect for her culture, a mother confronts the social stigma of special needs. When her child is born with a cleft lip, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, Essuman’s future becomes bleak. As her community disowns her and her baby, she is faced with a decision—abandon her child or defy society. She turns to the rural mountains of Ghana as she searches for answers and salvation.
#NewMavericks
دم سرد (Cold Breath)
Directed by Abbas Raziji
Iran, 2017, Persian, 83 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 9:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Born a woman and living as a man, 30-year-old Maryam struggles in conforming to societal gender norms. She is living paycheck to paycheck when her daughter succumbs to cancer and she must find a way to pay for treatment. Trusting in love for survival, Maryam faces her greatest fears head on when her secret is revealed.
#PinkPeach, #WorldPremiere
Cortez
Directed by Cheryl Nichols
USA, 2016, English, 99 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 5:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Jesse—a misguided musician—finds his way to the town of Cortez where he will face old love and new relationships. Anne—a woman from his past—will teach him a little something about what happens when a rockstar lifestyle meets responsibility and how re-creating oneself doesn't always mean saying goodbye to adventure.
#Competition
Dean
Directed by Demetri Martin
USA, 2016, English, 87 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 9:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Dean (Demetri Martin) is an illustrator whose unwillingness to deal with the recent death of his mother means escaping his hometown of New York for an interview with an ad agency in Los Angeles. His retired engineer dad Robert (Kevin Kline) takes a more regimented approach to grief, including putting the family home up for sale. Both father and son set out on their own paths to find a new normal as unexpected circumstances and potential new love interests threaten to thwart all plans.
#Marquee
Everything But a Man
Directed by Nnegest Likké
USA, 2016, English, 110 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 2:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Vanessa is a self-made career woman who seems to have everything going for her, but there is one element of a happy life that continues to elude her: Love. Could Max, a mysterious, French-speaking foreigner be the one to change her luck? His lifestyle is so different from hers, yet these differences could be just what Vanessa needs: a challenge to her fixed notions of love, relationships and what being a strong woman really means. This 3rd feature from writer-director Nnegest Likké explores romance and self-discovery from a bold, intelligent, female perspective—and it might just provoke the rest of us to question our idea of personal success.
#NewMavericks
Holden On
Directed by Tamlin Hall
USA, 2017, English, 102 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 11:45 AM — Plaza Theatre, Main
No longer your average boy-next-door, Holden Layfield weaves audiences through his harrowing tale in this film set in the early 1990s. After succumbing to a secret battle with mental illness, Holden evolves from a beloved, small town Georgia football player to a lost, self-medicating prophet.
#Georgia, #WorldPremiere
In the Radiant City
Directed by Rachel Lambert
USA, 2016, English, 95 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 12:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
After 20 years away, Andrew Yurley returns to his hometown in Kentucky to play key-witness in his brother's resentencing. Having lived with the remorse of his statement—which put his brother away for life—Andrew must now face an angry sister, a doped-up mother, and countless degrading town folk, thanks to his niece, Beth. In the midst of dealing with lawyers and the case, Andrew must now answer the question—can what is broken ever be put back together again?
#Competition
La Soledad
Directed by Jorge Thielen Armand
Venezuela/Italy/Canada, 2016, Spanish, 89 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 2:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Capturing the life of real people amidst the Venezuelan crisis, “La Soledad” is the story of José, a young father who discovers that the dilapidated mansion he inhabits will soon be demolished. Desperate to save his family, José begins a search for a cursed treasure that is said to be buried in the house.
#CineMás, #Competition
The Lost City of Z
Directed by James Gray
USA, 2016, English, 140 minutes
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Based on author David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller, “The Lost City of Z” tells the incredible true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam), who journeys into the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century and discovers evidence of a previously unknown, advanced civilization that may have once inhabited the region. Despite being ridiculed by the scientific establishment who regard indigenous populations as ‘savages,’ the determined Fawcett — supported by his devoted wife (Sienna Miller), son (Tom Holland) and aide-de-camp (Robert Pattinson) — returns time and again to his beloved jungle in an attempt to prove his case, culminating in his mysterious disappearance in 1925.
#Marquee
No Light and No Land Anywhere
Directed by Amber Sealey
USA, 2016, English, 75 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 4:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Grieving her mother’s death and her own failing marriage, Lexi boards a plane from London to Los Angeles in search of the estranged father. Based out of a seedy Hollywood motel, she follows a tenuous trail of breadcrumbs, beginning with his aging former in-laws, collecting numbers and addresses in the hopes that one will lead to her father. Along the way, she establishes other unexpected connections: her father's ailing former second wife, her bitter half-sister Tanya and her caregiver girlfriend, and two local barflies.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer
Directed by Joseph Cedar
USA/Israel, 2016, English, 117 minutes
Sunday, April 2, 2017, 2:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere) only wants to matter. Living a lonely life in the shadow of power and money, he uses any angle or connection to put himself in a position of significance. He is an opportunist, just not a very good one. Until he finally bets on the right horse by buying a pair of expensive shoes for Micha Eshel (Lior Ashkenazi), a lowly Israeli politician. When Micha becomes Prime Minister, Norman finds himself in the center of a geopolitical drama beyond anything he could have imagined.
#Marquee
San Fu Tian (Dog Days)
Directed by Jordan Schiele
China, 2016, Mandarin Chinese (Changsha dialect), 95 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 4:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Struggling to support her family as a dancer, Lulu comes home one night to an empty apartment. Desperate to find her missing husband and child, Lulu tracks down drag queen, Sunny, to aid her on her quest. After a night of high-running tensions, Sunny only agrees to help on the journey around China if Lulu promises not to turn her husband, Bailong, over to the police. Despite the agreement, Lulu decides to take matters into her own hands and some secrets come to light.
#Competition, #PinkPeach
The Scent of Rain & Lightning
Directed by Blake Robbins
USA, 2017, English, 103 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
After learning her parents' killer has been released from prison, Jody Linder must revisit old wounds, face suppressed memories, expose family secrets, and learn what happens in a life of hate.
#WorldPremiere
Sylvio
Directed by Albert Birney & Kentucker Audley
USA, 2017, English, 80 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 8:00 PM — Dad's Garage
It's the story of a small town gorilla, Sylvio, who is stuck in his job at a debt collection agency. Deep down he just wants to express himself with his hand puppet, Herbert Herpels, and his experimental puppet show that highlights the quiet moments of life.
#Marquee
Teenage Love Bomb
Directed by Mads Erichsen
Denmark, 2016, Danish, 84 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 5:30p - Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Thomas is working his way through the seventh grade, lives in Denmark with his mom and brother, and occasionally maintains a relationship with his cop father. A unique set of skills allows him to team up with his crush, school bad-girl Vikki, and her band of misfit friends (and Vikki's boyfriend) to blow up their teacher's bike. All's fair in love and war.
The 12 Lives of Sissy Carlyle
Directed by Fran Burst-Terranella
USA, 2017, English, 87 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Sissy writes in her journals about the life she wants as she finds her reality less than interesting. With the help of her brother and some newly-found friends, Sissy starts creating a life worth living.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks, #WorldPremiere
Wexford Plaza
Directed by Joyce Wong
Canada, 2017, English, 82 minutes
Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
The daily occurrences within Wexford Plaza uncover what it means for 20-year-old Betty to explore love whilst maintaining her job as a security guard. A cohabiter of the Wexford Plaza, Danny, weaves his way into Betty's life, and both parties need to decide where their priorities lie and at what cost they come.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
A Woman, A Part
Directed by Elisabeth Surbin
USA, 2016, English, 98 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 7:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
At the peak of her acting career, Anna decides she no longer wants to continue the profession despite facing a potential lawsuit. She impulsively flies to New York to revisit the past life she left behind. Upon reconnecting with former friends, she learns that they have used her as the inspiration for a character in a stage play.
#NewMavericks, #PinkPeach
Wonder Valley
Directed by Heidi Hartwig
USA, 2017, English, 72 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 9:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
When Karian plans a weekend getaway with her new best friend Cloudy, she is upset to find out that Cloudy has invited her childhood friend, Sasha, a has-been actress, to join them. Tensions escalate quickly after the girls decide to take daturas, a dangerous psychotropic drug that blurs the line between real and imaginary. When Karian makes a chilling discovery during a hike, no one believes her, leading to a final show down between her and Sasha.
#NewMavericks, #WorldPremiere
Your Ride Is Here
Directed by Fraser Jones
USA, 2017, English, 58 minutes
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 8:00 PM — Dad's Garage
An Uber veteran and a talkative rookie take on a night of driving each other mad through the streets of Nashville. Throughout the night, passengers find solace within the confines of the vehicle, and break down walls only approached in late hours amongst the comfort of strangers.
#Georgia, #WorldPremiere
The Zookeeper’s Wife
Directed by Niki Caro
UK/USA/Czech Republic/New Zealand, 2017, English, 126 minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
In 1939 Poland, Antonina Zabinska (Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Zabinski (Johan Heldenbergh), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Germans, Jan and Antonina are stunned and forced to report to the Reich's newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, the Zabinskis covertly begin working with the Resistance and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.
#NewMavericks, #Marquee
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Atlan
Directed by Moein Karimoddini
Iran, 2015, Farsi, 62 minutes
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 9:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
A Turkman horse trainer, Ali, plans to spend his life-long prize winnings on his wedding. When some life events head south, Ali must take the reigns and participate in this revered Iranian sport through the northern Sahara in order to guarantee a successful marriage.
City of Joy
Directed by Madeleine Gavin
Democratic Republic of Congo, 2016, Swahili/French/English, 76 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 2:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
A tale of hope and restoration unfolds in “City of Joy,” a film that follows students at a leadership center in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the horrific abuse they have endured, this first class of women comes together as a community of leaders to positively revolutionize a place long deemed by many as hopeless.
#NewMavericks
Death by a Thousand Cuts
Directed by Juan Mejia Botero & Jake Kheel
USA/Dominican Republic, 2016, Spanish/Haitian Kreyòl, 73 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 9:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Showcasing the tension between Haitians and Dominicans over charcoal, “Death by a Thousand Cuts” focuses on the investigation into the death of a Dominican Park Ranger, Melaneo. Melaneo was found brutally murdered by a machete in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, after he was investigating the illegal charcoal production. The film sheds light on the deforestation in the Dominican Republic, and the relationship between the murder weapon and Dominican trees being chopped.
#CineMás
Dwa światy (Two Worlds)
Directed by Maciej Adamek
Poland, 2016, Polish, 51 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 12:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
As the only member of her family with the ability to hear, 12-year-old Laura guides viewers in this inspiring family portrait. The challenges she faces are surprising and unusual. As their story unfolds, the strength of their love in light of the challenges they face allows the viewers to confront a reality otherwise unknown to them.
#FamilyFriendly, #NewMavericks
Farewell Ferris Wheel
Directed by Jamie Sisley & Miguel "M.i.G." Martinez
USA/Mexico, 2016, English/ Spanish, 71 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 2:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
In the United States, tens of thousands of migrant workers are displaced from their once-reliable sources of income due to adjusted labor laws and as a result of H-2B labor abuse. “Farewell Ferris Wheel” spends six years uncovering the experiences of various legal Mexican migrant workers from one small town that predominantly works with carnivals. The adjustment of these laws could mean the end of carnival festivities nation-wide, despite the 200-year history in America.
#CineMás
The House on Coco Road
Directed by Damani Baker
USA/Grenada, 2016, English, 79 minutes
Sunday, April 2, 2017, 12:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
“The House on Coco Road” depicts the times and trials of Fannie Haughton, an activist and teacher who moves her children from Oakland, California to participate in the Grenada Revolution, unknowingly amidst a US military invasion. Her son's search for truth to confirm Fannie's place in American history is this beautifully painted homage to family, nationalism, freedom, and the dream of a better world.
#Competition
Jackson
Directed by Maisie Crow
USA, 2016, English, 92 minutes
Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Forty-five percent of all pregnancies in the USA are unplanned, and one in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. And yet, the battle for women's access to reproductive healthcare is far from over. Inside the last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, “Jackson” is an intimate, first-of-its-kind look at the issues, through the voices of women in the Deep South who stand on both sides of the debate.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
La Selva Negra (The Modern Jungle)
Directed by Charles Fairbanks & Saul Kak
Mexico/USA, 2016, Spanish/Zoque, 72 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 12:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
An intimate portrait of Zoque culture is painted through the fever dream of a Mexican shaman. The film highlights their challenges in the midst of increasing globalization and fetishization of commodities, while addressing the predicament of documentary. The shaman's financial hardship and hopes of a better future emotionally engage viewers as the film unapologetically explores its subject.
#CineMás, #Competition
League of Exotique Dancers
Directed by Rama Rau
Canada, 2016, English, 91 minutes
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 9:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
With a blast of brassy jazz and a spin through the glitz of modern Las Vegas, League of Exotique Dancers sets the stage for a provocative and eye-opening “backstage tour†of the golden age of Burlesque through the colourful lives of unforgettable women who made it glitter.
#NewMavericks
Mele Murals
Directed by Tadashi Nakamura
USA, 2016, English, 66 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 5:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
“Mele Murals” follows the stories of two renowned street artists, Estria Miyashiro (AKA Estria) and John Hina (AKA Prime), as they attempt to express their knowledge of the last 20 years in Hawaii and discover cultural identities through street art. This documentary emphasizes the artists' desires to unite their communities and educate the public on modern mural-making and traditional Hawaiian culture.
Milwaukee 53206
Directed by Keith McQuirter
USA, 2016, English, 55 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Milwaukee 53206: America's most incarcerated ZIP code. Three powerful characters relate their experiences of incarceration and how prison shaped their lives, families, and community. This film exposes the challenges a community faces when fighting to move forward despite a history of poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity, and how these factors sustain the crisis of mass incarceration in this region and across the nation.
Mr. Chibbs
Directed by Jill Campbell
USA, 2017, English, 90 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 4:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
A retired professional athlete faces unexpected challenges in his post-athletic world. As life continues, Kenny Anderson discovers basketball did not prepare him for all facets of reality. The former New York City high-school prodigy and NBA All-Star confronts loss in its many forms and subsequently finds himself lost. Facing his personal demons head-on, the charismatic Anderson must come to terms with his past in order to find a way forward.
#FamilyFriendly, #Georgia
Não Deixe a Peteca Cair (Bad’ & the Birdieman)
Directed by Lili Fialho & Kátia Lund
Brazil/USA, 2016, Portuguese, 50 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Sebastião’s goal is to use badminton as a tool of escape for the kids in his community of Chacrinha, Rio de Janeiro. The kids enjoy playing the sport but lose at every competition, despite Sebastião’s vision for the kids to become champions. With love, hard work and dedication, the badminton team became qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games.
#CineMás, #FamilyFriendly
The Nine
Directed by Katy Grannan
USA, 2016, English, 98 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 2:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
The Nine is a no-man’s land where rules of polite society do not apply; a resting place for those who have relinquished the American dream. This emotional documentary unearths the stories of those living along the Nine in Modesto, an area in California's Central Valley devastated by the Great Depression. In a city with no hope, Kiki, exploited by personal trauma, is a rare bright light whose magnetic optimism is a means of self-preservation. Her childlike enthusiasm belies the stark reality of her Darwinian existence, emphasizing the beauty of those who fall by the wayside.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
Preso
Directed by Ana Tipa
Uruguay, 2016, Spanish/Portuguese, 92 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 7:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Miguel, a hard working family man, must come to terms with his double life. He frequently crosses the border of Uruguay and Brazil to ensure both of his families are taken care of. As his internal struggle thrives, he must find enough courage to tell them the truth.
#CineMás
Raising Bertie
Directed by Margaret Byrne
USA, 2016, English, 102 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 5:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
“Raising Bertie” follows three young African American boys over the course of six years as they grow into adulthood in Bertie County, a rural African American-led community in Eastern North Carolina. Through the intimate portrayal of these boys, this powerful vérité film offers a rare in-depth look at the issues facing America's rural youth and the complex relationships between generational poverty, educational equity, and race. The evocative result is an experience that encourages us to recognize the value and complexity in lives all too often ignored.
#Competition
Rat Film
Directed by Theo Anthony
USA, 2016, English, 82 minutes
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 7:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Across walls, fences, and alleys, rats not only expose our boundaries of separation but make homes in them. "Rat Film" uses the rats—as well as the humans that love them, live with them, and kill them—to explore the history of Baltimore. ‘There's never been a rat problem in Baltimore, it's always been a people problem.’
#Competition
Waiting for B.
Directed by Paulo Cesar Toledo & Abigail Spindel
Brazil, 2016, Portuguese, 72 minutes
Friday, March 31, 2017, 9:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Documented in Brazil, “Waiting for B.” exposes the journey young Beyoncé super-fans undergo in an attempt to be closer to the front of the stage. Lacking the money to buy their way to the front, they camp out in the streets for two months waiting for a chance to be closer to their idol. As their lives intertwine, commonality is found between victims of hype, a community of hope forms, and the contradictions of humility and vanity at the heart of diva worship are explored.
#CineMás, #Competition
Whose Streets?
Directed by Sabaah Folayan & Damon Davis
USA, 2017, English, 103 minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 9:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, “Whose Streets?” is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance.
#Marquee
Woman on Fire
Directed by Julie Sokolow
USA, 2016, English, 84 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 8:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Truly one of New York’s bravest, Brooke Guinan breaks barriers when she becomes the city's first and only transgender firefighter. Guinan reveals her experience of facing adversity while remaining steadfast in her goals. The documentary waxes inspirational as she reflects upon her upbringing, 9/11, and her experiences as a transgender firefighter.
#NewMavericks, #PinkPeach
SHORT FILMS BY BLOCK
AH, MY HOMETOWN
Deeply homegrown documents of Georgia.
Documentary, 77 minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 7:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Presented in partnership with Homespun
Digital Edition | directed by James Kicklighter, USA, 26:02
In the midst of a print revolution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution experiments with new storytelling tools in the digital era.
#Georgia
Nadia | directed by Erin S Murray, USA, 3:04
A ballerina discusses her relationship with ‘perfection’ and how she finds individuality within the rigorous standards of ballet.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks
7 Days | directed by Rashel Stephenson, USA, 25:12
“7 Days” goes behind the scenes with three organ transplantation surgeons as they turn death into life and desperation into hope.
#Georgia
We the Creators: Daniel Lamb | directed by Babacar Ndiaye, USA, 2:08
“We The Creators” is a documentary series that examines the inner thoughts and processes of a select group of artists.
#Georgia
American Moderate | directed by Jared Callahan, USA, 16:34
A first-time voter from the South struggles to find herself, and a candidate that best represents her, in the 2016 presidential primaries.
#Georgia
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Unexpected predicaments and the choices that follow.
Narrative, 98 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 2:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Mother | directed by Simón Mesa Soto, Colombia/Sweden, 14:00
16-year-old Andrea comes down from her poor neighborhood in the hills of Medellín to attend a downtown casting call for a porno film.
#CineMás
Babysitter | directed by Aurit Zamir, Israel, 26:17
One night at Eilat’s babysitting job, during which motherhood and childhood manifest themselves in confusing ways.
#NewMavericks
Retaliation | directed by Ange-Régis Hounkpatin, Benin/France, 25:39
Awa, 18-years-old, goes to class in the military high school of Natitingou. One day, she learns that her father has just been murdered. She has just joined her family in Cotonou when a popular prosecution is put together in order to avenge the memory of the deceased. Facing the helplessness of the police, Awa decides to take part in it.
#Competition
Your Day | directed by Ginger Gonzaga, USA, 31:49
A young couple, Jack and Jane, spend the day at a hotel, seemingly to celebrate Jane's birthday, until we realize they are there for a VERY different reason.
#NewMavericks
A CHAPTER IN HER LIFE
A collection of vignettes by and about women.
Narrative, 91 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Fract | directed by Georgina Bloomfield, New Zealand, 13:49
A teenage outcast discovers her cast is a friend magnet.
#NewMavericks
Birthday Cake | directed by Brantly Jackson Watts, USA, 17:16
A woman who fled a violent relationship must choose between love and survival on the first anniversary of leaving her abuser.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks
Solatium | directed by Christina Tynkevych, Ukraine/United Kingdom, 10:43
Anna, an ambulance doctor, arrives at a night call which brings back her painful past and challenges her moral compass.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
One Up | directed by Eimi Imanishi, USA, 14:41
Hadley jumps into an uncomfortable sexual encounter after she's brutally rejected by her teammate crush Christine.
#NewMavericks, #PinkPeach
How Far She Went | directed by Ugla Hauksdottir, USA/Iceland, 13:06
An unflinching look at family, personal sacrifice, and the lengths we'll go for those we love.
#NewMavericks
Submarine | directed by Lebanon 0:20:51Mounia Akl NS Under the imminent threat of Lebanon’s garbage crisis, Hala, a wild child inside of a woman is the only one to refuse evacuation.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
AN EARTHY PARADISE FOR THE EYES
Sublime imagery creates transcendent experiences.
Narrative & Documentary, 99 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 4:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Limbo | directed by Konstantina Kotzamani, France/Greece, 29:50
The leopard shall lie down with the goat. The wolves shall live with the lambs. And the young boy will lead them. 12+1 kids and the carcass of a whale washed ashore…
The Offering | directed by Billy Silva & Guille Isa, Peru, 6:42
Two musicians and a dancer make an ancient and sacred offering to the earth.
#CineMás
Wald der Echos (Forest of Echoes) | directed by Luz Olivares Capelle, Austria, 30:00
A teenager, Christina, loses her friends in the forest. Looking for them she finds the bodies of three drowned kids on the shore of a lagoon.
#NewMavericks
The Sleeping Saint | directed by Laura Samani, Italy, 19:40
In order to grow up, Giacomina has to learn the art of letting go.
#NewMavericks
To Be Free | directed by Adepero Oduye, USA, 12:18
In a tiny after-hours club, Nina Simone finds a way, for one moment, to be free.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
FISH TANK
Fleeting glimpses through the glass.
Documentary, 92 minutes
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 7:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
More Is More | directed by Alexis Boling, USA, 6:24
Unearthly creatures from another dimension climb out of the mind of a transformational artist and onto the streets of NYC.
#Georgia
Gut Hack | directed by Kate McLean & Mario Furloni, USA, 14:00
A former NASA scientist turned bio-hacker attempts an experiment that makes him confront the multitudes inside.
Powder Fresh | directed by Lyntoria Newton, USA, 7:37
“Powder Fresh” is an experimental look into the racial and gender implications of hygienic practices through targeted advertising.
The Sandman | directed by Lauren Knapp, USA, 18:56
A doctor walks the line of his own morality as he participates in executions, while personally opposing capital punishment.
#Competition, #Georgia
Distribution | directed by Sam Ellison, Nicaragua/USA, 11:10
The pirate movie industry of Nicaragua, seen in kaleidoscopic detail.
#CineMás, #Competition
Raised by Krump | directed by Maceo Frost, USA/Germany/Sweden, 22:00
“Raised by Krump” explores the LA-born dance movement ‘krumping,’ and the lives of some of the area’s most influential and prolific dancers.
#Competition
Matthew's Gift | directed by Jon Watts, USA, 11:54
We follow photographer Oana Hogrefe as she dedicates her one day a year taking remembrance photos of a child nearing the end of life.
#Georgia
IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL
Otherworldly tales.
Narrative (Sci-Fi/Horror), 97 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 2:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Waste | directed by Justine Raczkiewicz, USA, 15:50
Roger gets to know his roommate Olive over a series of meals, which become increasingly strange and push the limits of his curiousity.
The Last Journey of the Enigmatic Paul WR | directed by Romain Quirot, France, 17:07
The red moon threatens our existence on earth. Our only hope is the enigmatic Paul WR, the most talented astronaut of his generation. However, few hours before the start of the mission, Paul disappears.
Creswick | directed by Natalie Erika James, Australia, 9:30
While a young woman helps her father pack up his house, they are both increasingly aware of the presence that they always knew was there.
#NewMavericks
The Purple Plain | directed by Kim Albright, United Kingdom, 12:41
The true story of the Mercury 13, the first American women who tested for space flight.
#NewMavericks
Home Education | directed by Andrea Niada, United Kingdom, 24:50
A girl is convinced by her mother that her dead dad will be resurrected if they show how much they miss him. That is, until he begins to rot...
They Charge For the Sun | directed by Terence Nance, USA, 16:52
In a future where people live nocturnally, a young black girl unravels the lie that has kept her and her sister in the dark.
#Competition
LOL (Laughing Out Loud)
Amusing moments and familiar faces.
Narrative (Comedy), 114 minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 8:00 PM — Dad’s Garage
The Accomplice | directed by Jon Hoeg & John F. Beach, USA, 7:56
Jerry arrives home to a full answering machine and realizes he might be in trouble.
Hit | directed by Katie Trew Cheline, USA, 15:51
“Hit” follows Brandon, who thinks he's met the girl of his dreams in the mysterious Izzy… until they go on the first date of his nightmares.
Seeking: Jack Tripper | directed by Quinlan Orear, USA, 14:30
A married gay couple who try to have a threesome in an attempt to reignite the spark in their relationship.
#PinkPeach
Chicken / Egg | directed by James D'Arcy, United Kingdom, 15:00
Mark's a good guy. Kenneth not so much. Mark's gonna help Kenneth out. Maybe.
The Session | directed by Morgane Becceril, France/USA, 13:08
A novice dominatrix fights to free a tortured client.
Pregnant | directed by Joseph Sackett, USA, 9:30
A pregnant man communicates psychically with his unborn fetus.
#Competition, #PinkPeach
Perfect Roast Potatoes | directed by Nick Frew, USA, 18:00
A bittersweet comedy about cooking and grief. Dysfunctional British siblings have an awkward Christmas with the corpse of their dead mum.
Lightningface | directed by Brian Petsos, USA, 19:57
After an inexplicable incident, Basil Stitt sequesters himself inside his apartment and begins a profound transformation.
THE NEW LOVE AND THE OLD
The malleability of modern romance.
Narrative & Documentary, 95 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 5:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Modern Love | directed by Francesca Mirabella, USA, 10:03
Romance in the era of Snapchat.
Victor & Isolina | directed by William D. Caballero, USA, 5:45
Victor and Isolina (now in their 80s) answer questions about their life-long, complex and arduous relationship.
#Competition
Gema | directed by Kenrick Prince, USA, 13:24
When Gema gets roped into meeting her fiancé’s parents for the first time, she grapples with facing the truth he’s been keeping from them.
All Good Things | directed by Chloe Domont, USA, 26:00
In a portrait of a modern marriage, a filmmaker follows her mother's relationship with two men, each whom satisfy her different needs.
#Competition
Call Your Father | directed by Jordan Firstman, USA, 19:04
On Josh and Greg's first date, they quickly realize that the generational divide between them is the least of their worries.
#PinkPeach
In the Hills | directed by Hamid Reza Ahmadi Rahmatabadi, United Kingdom, 21:00
In the idyllic English Cotswolds, Sharam, a young immigrant man, takes a rather radical approach towards integrating with British society.
#Competition
PLANET OF THE CHILDREN
Kids shows and shorts. (Recommended ages 8+)
Animation, Narrative & Pilot, 69 minutes
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:15 PM — Towne Cinema
The Discovery of Dit Dodson | directed by Kelley Kali, USA, 10:35
In the Bayous of Louisiana, 14-year-old Dit discovers that she inherited magical healing powers, but they get her into a world of trouble.
#NewMavericks
Egér (Little Mouse) | directed by Ervin B. Nagy, Hungary, 7:12
1986, Budapest. The later olympic champion swimmer Krisztina Egerszegi is only 12. Her opponents are stronger and bigger.
Wishful Whiskers | directed by Pulkit Datta, USA, 9:55
Stuck in her dad’s boring lunch meeting, little Ella suddenly discovers the curious case of all the mustaches.
Nobody | directed by Elham Toroghi, Iran, 10:16
The story is about a white cat who lives in a city of black dwellers.
#Competition
Rum | directed by Russell Haigh, UK, 4:26
A quarrel between two pirates gets completely out of hand.
#Competition
The Wishing Jar | directed by Denver Jackson, Canada, 13:48
A girl, a flying goldfish, and a wishing star.
#Competition
Frolic 'n Mae | directed by Danny Madden, USA, 12:40
Frustrated, Mae creates Frolic, and Frolic creates mayhem.
REASSEMBLAGE
Rendering illusions of motion and change.
Animation, 84 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 7:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Presented in partnership with ASIFA-South
Ceci n'est pas une animation | directed by Federico Kempke, Canada/Mexico. 5:14
A group of pretentious animators are followed through the process of creating the ‘ultimate animated film.’ But do they really have the skills to back up their claims?
#CineMás, #Competition
Related | directed by Ida Andreasen, Denmark, 15:00
Related is a drama about love and genetics. A daughter and her father strive to learn to live with their uncontrollable tempers.
#Competition
Once a Hero | directed by Xia Li, USA, 8:13
Wanting to be a superhero, a boy befriends with a girl who is bullied by all her classmates. One day, he is forced to make a choice, betray the girl or not.
#Competition
Confessions of A Breastimator | directed by Jisu Kim, USA, 3:24
The story of a breast aficionado who reflects back on her life as an animator, confessing her longtime passion for cartoons and animating double Ds.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
Thank You For Visiting | directed by Dinesh Ram, India, 10:54
The story of habitat loss told through the life of a bear in a regular city zoo.
#Competition
The Laughing Spider | directed by Keiichi Tanaami, Japan, 7:24
A psychedelic phantasmagoria from Japan’s greatest veteran animator, based on childhood memories of air-raids.
#Competition
"The Talk" True Stories About The Birds & The Bees | directed by Alain Delannoy, Canada, 8:50
There are things in life you never forget. One of them, like it or not, is ‘the talk.’
#Competition
Summer's Puke is Winter's Delight | directed by Sawako Kabuki, Japan, 2:59
Painful events become memories over time. Still, we vomit and eat again. Life is Eco.
#Competition
Fox and the Whale | directed by Robin Joseph, Canada, 12:03
The story of a curious fox who goes in search of an elusive whale. A journey of longing and discovery.
#Competition
The Wrong End of the Stick | directed by Terri Matthews, United Kingdom, 9:40
Malcolm Fetcher faces an all-consuming identity crisis. His marriage disintegrates and he is forced to express a deep, hidden desire.
#Competition
SEASON OF STRANGERS
Avant-garde selections that redefine form and function.
Experimental, 74 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 7:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Auto | directed by Conner Griffith, USA, 6:19
A choreographed dance of pedestrians and automobiles, presented on their routinized stages.
Fault Lines | directed by Mandy Bea, USA, 3:12
I only see in neon.
A Hard World for Little Things | directed by Sonja Bertucci, USA, 2:00
“A Hard World for Little Things” is a film about toys insofar as they channel the violence of the adult world into the space of childhood.
Forged From the Love of Liberty | directed by Vashti Harrison, Trinidad and Tobago/USA, 4:45
A visual poem about a family's curse, and two superstitions surrounding it.
Clandestine | directed by Atoosa Pour Hosseini, Ireland/Estonia, 14:23
“Clandestine” Layers both space and time, superimposing imagery and creating entrancing patterns of repetition and startling interruption.
Back Track | directed by Virgil Widrich, Austria, 7:00
A 3D remix of flat feature films.
Skin in the Game | directed by Ariana Gerstein, USA, 5:02
From many pieces, marked by light, by pressure, sliced.
More Dangerous Than a Thousand Rioters | directed by Kelly Gallagher, USA, 6:19
An experimental animated documentary exploring the powerful and inspiring life of revolutionary Lucy Parsons.
#NewMavericks
Underbelly Up | directed by Josh Yates, USA, 3:57
A disembodied entity meditates on the trauma caused by a devastating flood that occurred during October, their favorite month.
Colombi | directed by Luca Ferri, Italy, 20:46
A reflection on the last century and two people's precise unwillingness to accept the changes imposed by society.
SOUTHERN COMFORT
Films (and makers) crafted in the Peach State.
Narrative, 85 minutes
Monday, March 27, 2017, 9:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
The Ebbing Tree | directed by DaManuel Richardson, USA, 12:58
A young teen gains the courage to leave his home for the mainland after a chance encounter with an old friend.
#Georgia
Leaving Charlie | directed by Amanda Brooke Avery & Diane Calhoun, USA, 15:38
A young, queer, stripper is forced to reevaluate her boundaries when a customer gets too close.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks, #PinkPeach
Northfield | directed by Cameron Schwartz, USA, 18:40
After kidnapping his son's murderer, a distraught father takes up a dangerous journey and faces a harrowing dilemma.
#Georgia
My Indian Rhapsody | directed by Abijeet Achar, India/France/USA, 15:31
A once famous author works on a new book about a life with a brother he never knew, but is distracted by dreams of a lover he left behind.
#Georgia
It's Just Skin | directed by Haley Wetherington, USA, 7:02
After a misconstrued moment between Stella and her neighbor Matt, Stella is left to contend with the blame she puts on herself.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks
Cul-De-Sac | directed by Damon Russell, USA, 14:30
Two parents, living in a quiet cul-de-sac, discover a wiretap hidden inside their son's teddy bear.
#Georgia
STORIES WE TELL
Memoirs of uprooted lives.
Documentary, 83 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 2:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Notes From Buena Vista | directed by Elizabeth Lo, USA, 9:38
A working-class mobile home park in Silicon Valley faces imminent closure. Notes From Buena Vista glimpses into the lives of low-income families in one of the wealthiest places in the world.
The Move | directed by Maija Hirvonen, Finland, 18:51
“The Move” is a short documentary of a poet Mirkka Rekola who reflects on her life that is soon coming to an end.
#NewMavericks
El Hara | directed by Margaux Fitoussi & Mo Scarpelli, Tunisia/France, 16:00
“El Hara” poetically explores how the places we grow up in haunt who we become, forever.
#Competition
Se Shin Sa | directed by Eunhye Hong Kim, USA, 10:52
“Se Shin Sa” is a hybrid of fiction and documentary portraying an undocumented woman living and working as a masseuse in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
Refugee | directed by Joyce Chen & Emily Moore, USA/Senegal, 27:14
“Refugee” tells the story of a West African woman who left her five children in 2003 to come to the USA and provide them with a better future.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
TIES THAT BIND
Family matters of life and death.
Narrative, 103 minutes
Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Benny Got Shot | directed by Malcolm Washington, USA, 20:01
Naomi, an autopsy assistant, realizes her brother is missing the night of a police shooting and fears that his body may be in her morgue.
Let the Past Go By | directed by Maryam Naraghi, Iran, 21:00
Unlike her father, Bahar hasn’t yet overcome the tragedy of her younger brother’s death. When his killer is released from jail, she tries to make him suffer emotionally. Her endeavors result in a change in her perspective.
#Competition, #NewMavericks
Death in a Day | directed by Lin Wang, USA/China, 14:05
After visiting his comatose father, a young Chinese boy must come to grips with the impending death falling upon his family.
Fox | directed by Jacqueline Lentzou, Greece, 28:02
Stephanos, a reactive teenager and the oldest of a family with no father, has a fight with his mother. Left home-alone with his siblings and sick dog, Lucy, he has no idea that this would be the last, most carefree day of his life.
Vìré | directed by Hugo Rousselin, France/Guadeloupe, 19:50
A young Guadeloupean named Isaac has troubles to mourn over the death of his brother Legba.
#Competition
UNSTRUNG HEROES
Invisible hands awaken the inanimate.
Puppetry, 85 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 11:30 AM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
Ropes in Life | directed by Gerardo González, Mexico, 13:00
Caro is a thoughtful puppet who wanders through streets, meeting other puppets will make him conscious of the impositions he lives.
#CineMás
Loren The Robot Butler: Teach Me How To Dougie! | directed by Paul McGinnis, USA, 3:18
Decommissioned and stored in the basement, Loren the Robot Butler begrudgingly teaches the kids of the household how to dance the Dougie.
Belle and Bamber | directed by Alex Forbes, United Kingdom, 15:00
Belle and Bamber is a dark comedy about a child afraid of growing up and the dangers of psychotic imaginary friends.
Hot Air Balloon Animals | directed by Ben Johnson, Serene Bacigalupi & Jacques Duffourc, USA, 7:51
A lovable monster becomes inspired to embark on a hot air adventure filled with flying unicorns and cloud animals.
Lucky Chicken | directed by Gulliver Moore, United Kingdom, 12:15
A quirky silent romantic comedy about a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker... and a magic chicken.
B-Bot | directed by Bryan McAdams, USA, 5:55
After the tragic loss of his best friend, a robot must find happiness in a world destroyed by a catastrophe.
Rain | directed by Matt Glass, USA, 14:27
One town, sixty years without sunlight or rain, a tyrant who controls the people and a mysterious wanderer offering a bright side to it all.
The Owl and the Lemming | directed by Roselynn Akulukjuk, Canada, 3:33
In this fable in which a young owl catches a lemming to eat, children learn the value of being humble, and why pride is to be avoided.
Gute Nacht (Good Night) | directed by Henning Backhaus, Austria, 6:37
Music clip for the first song from Franz Schubert's song cycle “Winter Journey.”
The Pits | directed by Mike Hayhurst, USA, 3:11
In a world full of pears, what can you find to fill your pit? A story about longing, love, and finding your other half.
SHORTS SCREENING BEFORE FEATURES
Narrative & Documentary
Better Known As Peaches Christ | directed by Jeff Dragomanovich & Nate Visconti, USA, 3:40
Screens with CHERRY POP (Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 9:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main)
Drag icon Peaches Christ offers a rare glimpse into her transformation process, and describes the path from stifled teen to brazen cult hero.
#PinkPeach
Game | directed by Jeannie Donohoe, USA, 15:54
Screens with MR. CHIBBS (Saturday, March 25, 2017, 4:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main)
A new kid shows up for the varsity boys' basketball tryouts and instantly makes an impression.
#NewMavericks
Get the Life | directed by Ozzy Villazòn, USA, 11:55
Screens with JACKSON (Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main)
A transgender teenager faces an unwanted pregnancy and risks losing everything he loves in order to live courageously.
#PinkPeach
Megan's Shift | directed by Zeke Farrow, USA, 10:52
Screens with YOUR RIDE IS HERE (Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 8:00 PM — Dad's Garage)
It's never too late to give up.
Search Party | directed by Tesia Walker, USA, 8:48
Screens with MILWAUKEE 53206 (Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs)
Donna Greene is a mother living in a NYC housing project, who is throwing a party for her son, when a surprise visitor shows up her door.
#NewMavericks
Shauna is a Liar | directed by Chell Stephen, Canada/USA, 10:53
Screens with WEXFORD PLAZA (Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs)
An isolated perfectionist exacts ill-conceived revenge on all liars of the world via one nearby target: a classmate sharing her name.
#NewMavericks
Il Silenzio (The Silence) | directed by Ali Asgari & Farnoosh Samadi, Italy/France, 14:35
Screens with TWO WORLDS (Sunday, March 26, 2017, 12:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs)
Fatma and her mother are Kurdish refugees in Italy. On their visit to the doctor, Fatma has to translate what the doctor tells to her mother but she keeps silent.
#Competition
About the Atlanta Film Festival and Atlanta Film Society
The Atlanta Film Festival, now in its fifth decade, is an Academy Award-qualifying festival and one of the region’s largest and longest-running preeminent celebrations of cinema in the Southeast United States. More than 27,000 festival attendees enjoy independent, animated, documentary and short films each year, selected from more than 6,000 submissions from 120 countries. The Atlanta Film Festival is the chief annual operation of the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS), one of the oldest and largest organizations dedicated to the promotion and education of film in the United States, which enriches the community through screenings, classes, workshops and other events year-round. The Atlanta Film Festival was recently named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and one of “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine. Major funding for the Atlanta Film Society is provided by Turner, XFINITY, MailChimp and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners through the Fulton County Arts & Culture Department and the National Endowment for the Arts through the Art Works category. www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com
Stay Close To The Festival!
Affinity Travel Benefits offers great rates and terms to film festival attendees. Book your accommodations for ATLFF 2017 now!
Where do you put 27,000 Film Festival Attendees?
Our newest sponsors, Affinity Travel Benefits, (see press release here) offer great rates and terms to film festival attendees. Book a hotel with guaranteed lodging, while rooms last, so you can stay close to the action and immerse yourself in the cinema culture.
Did you know the average person visits more than 5 travel websites to research their hotel, and up to 6 hours sifting through information! You could have watched, and discussed, 3 films from our lineup with that time instead!
BOOK YOUR HOTEL NOW
Now you can go back to your hotel and do a quick change before all of the after parties - worry free. After all, the Atlanta Film Festival was called ‘Top 25 coolest festivals in the world’ by Moviemaker Magazine, so you’re not going to want to miss a thing!
A few extra notes:
- Hotel room blocks are guaranteed until a couple of weeks before the event, so be sure to reserve your accommodations soon
- There are Trip Advisor reviews are right on the site to help you decide where to stay
BADGE HOLDER ONLY PRICING
Let's all get a great nights sleep, at a great price, so we can have the energy to keep going all 10 days of the festival.
Happy Booking!
Ask an Alum: Jiyoung Lee Yeah!
We chat with ATLFF mainstay Jiyoung Lee about what ATLFF accomplished for her as a filmmaker, her favorite city haunts, and what she likes to make in lieu of an artistic statement.
In anticipation of Friday's Late Deadline for 2017 ATLFF submissions, we've asked a handful of local alumni about their experience with Atlanta's film festival and creative influences. Jiyoung Lee's second feature, FEMALE PERVERT, screened as a GA-made New Mavericks selection in the 2015 festival.
Read on for more on her ATLFF history preceding 2015, what she's working on now, and why she likes making movies despite being "not a particularly artsy person." Then submit your work(s) in any of twelve categories by 10/28 in effort to join the family and #BecomeAnAlum!
Q: How did you first hear about the Atlanta Film Festival?
A: I moved to Atlanta in 2007. In 2008, I participated in a 50 hour film festival, and I heard about the Atlanta Film Festival through the event.
Q: Why did you submit your films to ATLFF?
A: It's a film festival with a long history. Many of its past participants have achieved success. And it's local. Traveling for film festivals can get pricey.
Q: What have your ATLFF screenings accomplished for you as a filmmaker and actress, if anything?
A: I first participated in the Atlanta Film Festival in 2011, as an actress in a feature called PLEASANT PEOPLE. Through the festival, I met the great Zach White (director of VACATION/WHITE REINDEER/LITTLE SISTER), and I got a small part in WHITE REINDEER through him. While hanging out in the WHITE REINDEER set, I met Alex Sablow, who would later be the DP in my second feature FEMALE PERVERT. Also, through the Atlanta Film Festival, I met Joshua Mikel, a great local actor/writer/director, who does a great job in FEMALE PERVERT.
Q: Okay, everyone's favorite question—what are you working on now?
A: I am currently in the last stages of writing a feature called DIRTY PANTIES. It may take a while to make the movie because I refuse to make it without a decent budget. I also just finished shooting a horror/comedy short. And, I'm currently hosting a streaming show called ASSEMBLY LINE YEAH! on adultswim.com.
Q: What part of Atlanta (or place in Atlanta) serves as your most reliable or impactful arts incubator?
A: I'm not particularly an artsy person. I just like making movies and noise. I make things because I think it will be fun, interesting and pretty. I'm not a person trying to make an artistic statement. That being said, I think the Fox Theatre and the Plaza Theater are cool places to watch movies. Also, I like going to Videodrome. It's just fun to peruse movies and find forgotten classics which appeal to you. It's fun to watch bands at the Earl/529/Drunken Unicorn/The Masquerade. I'm not a fan of art galleries or video installations. I get bored easily.
Q: If you were an Atlanta neighborhood. which would you be?
A: Druid Hills. I'm a recluse. I like being isolated. But I like being close to the amenities of the city. I also like pre-80s architecture.
Ask an Alum: Virtual Reality Architect Jason Drakeford
Before Virtual Reality (VR) was a Sundance submission category or upcoming Playstation edition, it was on display at the Atlanta Film Festival. The World Premiere of INTERRUPTURE, a short VR film co-directed by Thomas Nybo and Jason Drakeford, was a highlight at our biggest party of the festival week—a multimedia film and music event called Sound + Vision. Attendees waited their turn to be transported into the true story escape of two 11-year-old girls from Syria.
Since building a seasoned track record of art direction and video production for the likes of Showtime, Adult Swim, New York Times, MTV and MailChimp, Jason works freelance for the American Museum of Natural History (read on for a peek at his upcoming video!), speaks on VR filmmaking, and continues to produce his own independent work. We talked with Jason on how he fell into ATLFF, the innovation behind his other favorite genre, and what Atlanta means to him as a creative.
JASON DRAKEFORD AT THE 2016 SOUND + VISION WORLD PREMIERE OF INTERRUPTURE
Q: How did you first hear about the Atlanta Film Festival?
A: Videodrome! The best place for a filmmaker to hang out and devour great cinema in Atlanta.
Q: What did your ATLFF screening accomplish for you as a filmmaker, if anything?
A: It opened up more opportunities in meeting fellow filmmakers and established me further as a VR director. It also opened my eyes to see how people reacted to our film - one woman was crying after she took the headset off.
Q: Why did you submit your film to ATLFF?
A: I've been to previous ATLFF events, watching incredible curated films and meeting people I look up to and have established collaborations with, so it was a no-brainer.
Q: Since our community met you as a VR guy, clue us in on your other favorite genres to work with.
A: I absolutely love to create physical manifestations of my films, specifically in projection-mapping. While in New York I worked under Tony Oursler, a projection-artist and shot a music video with him and David Bowie, and ever since then I've been itching to create more in that medium. I think there is a natural connection to virtual reality and projection-mapping that no one has really explored yet.
Q: Okay, everyone's favorite question—what are you working on now?
A: Currently I'm directing a new VR film series with The American Museum of Natural History. Also continuing to create the space series "Out There" with The New York Times (we just wrapped our 17th episode) as well as independently producing a documentary on the life of Shigeko Kubota, as a followup from my previous film profiling Ken Jacobs. I'll also be at the Adobe MAX conference this fall talking about VR filmmaking, behind-the-scenes making-of and best practices while producing immersive stories.
Q: What part of Atlanta (or place in Atlanta) serves as your most reliable arts incubator?
A: Grant Park, mainly because of the combination of the Elevator Factory and Octane Coffee. Great people and random encounters for collaboration.
Q: If you were an Atlanta neighborhood. Which would you be?
A: Cabbagetown... during Chomp and Stomp.
Q: What sets Atlanta apart for you as a creative home?
A: After 5 years in New York, coming back to Atlanta (my hometown), creating work here has had a much more relaxed, meditative process than being in NYC. I think projects have the space to breathe, and other "backburner" film ideas have time to marinate into solid ideas instead of forcing them into a specific outlet. There's a great talent base that's growing with the film industry as well down here that's very exciting.
Our 2017 festival will expand our VR program, and we're always looking for compelling, boundary-pushing intergenre work. Sound familiar? Send us your stuff and join the family.
Ask an Alum: Danielle Deadwyler, a.k.a. Elevate ATL's Didi Xio
Catch up with the ever-versatile championess of Atlanta to learn more about where to find her work this weekend and what sets Atlanta apart as an arts home.
Continuing our Ask an Alum series, we talked with ATLFF-selected filmmaker and actress Danielle Deadwyler about what makes Atlanta home, what she has coming up (hint: go to Elevate ATL!) and why she submitted to the festival. Currently showcased in the International Terminal in the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport as part of the Atlanta Film Society's Airport Shorts Program version 3.0 with her short film Su:Per:He:Ro:In:Uh, Deadwyler is the first recipient of the Living Walls Laura Patricia Calle Grant with her project BUST IT OPEN—a multimedia arts installation that champions black feminism.
Q: ATLFF knows you primarily as an actress and narrative short filmmaker. What other genres do you like to work with?
A: I work in dance, experimental video/film, theatre, voiceover, poetry and hiphop (I go by didi xio too)...as well as film and TV. I'm willing and open and invested in being malleable and collaborative. I invite myself to play in all fields.
Q: What sets Atlanta apart for you as a creative home?
A: Atlanta is home first. That's what sets it apart. You know something, or a place, inside out, then it shifts as Atlanta is right now, and you have to relearn it, or learn as you go. And yet that place still holds history, memory all over you...that is a creative flux right there. It's a place still morphing...other cities are fixed...Atlanta is creatively taking shape, and can be shaped by artists who are present.Q: Why did you submit your films to ATLFF?
A: I submitted to ATLFF to gain connection. To reveal work at home. To be a part of a significant festival that could support me with access to information, education, and like minds.Q: What part of Atlanta (or place in Atlanta) serves as your most reliable or impactful arts incubator?
A: I can't say one place or one part of Atlanta has been most reliable for incubating my arts growth. There have always been multiple hoods and places serving my growth simultaneously. Whether I'm in Little five doing theatre or experimental work, or on Broad St of late performing with Dux or showing performance art work, or downtown learning at C4, or performing at the Southwest Arts Center, or being nurtured as an emerging artist at Spelman's Museum...Atlanta as a whole has invested in the present form of art that I am producing or collaborating to create.Q: Okay, everyone's favorite question—what are you working on now?
A: I'm currently preparing to present a public performance art multimedia work at ELEVATE ATLANTA Friday October 14. Come check it out! I'm traveling 3.8 miles from the old Club Nikki on Metropolitan Pkwy (old Stewart Ave) to Broad St and Mitchell St, where the ELEVATE event will be held.Q: If you were an Atlanta neighborhood. which would you be?
A: I'd have to be Capital View...its the neighborhood that birthed me.
We love our filmmakers. We love Atlanta. And there's no such thing as too much of either. Submit your work(s) in any of twelve categories before prices rise with the late deadline—October 28th. Catch Danielle and her work this weekend at Elevate ATL! You'll also find ATLFS-supported works from Josephine Figueroa and the Digital Good Times crew.