ATLFF '14 Hit LIMO RIDE is On the Road to Distribution—And You Can Help!
LIMO RIDE was a two-time sell-out world premiere huge hit at the 2014 festival. BUY THE MOVIE. FUND THE RELEASE.
Atlanta Film Festival alumni Gideon Kennedy and Marcus Rosentrater are taking the next step in distributing their film "Limo Ride!" Not only is their film amazing, but they have a kick-ass Kickstarter to promote their project. The campaign is not to produce the movie (it’s already done, crazy! Not to mention it had its world premiere at the 2014 ATLFF), it is to distribute the film and backers get a copy of "Limo Ride" just by donating!
Care to know more? "Limo Ride" follows ten friends re-accounting a tale of well-mannered debauchery. The reenactment of their 24-hour excursion through possession, trespassing, kidnapping, assault, intoxication and indecency, ultimately being stranded in the middle of nowhere is too good to be a lie, and you will want to be a part of it. Make these Georgia/Alabama filmmakers’ dream a reality and back the experimental documentary comedy and travel with them from Mobile, Alabama to the annual Polar Bear Plunge at the Gulf Coast.
Look At Me Now: Catching Up With Petter Onstad Løkke
Our Music Video Jury Award Winner from 2014 talks with us about his submissions experience, the value of a music video background, and what he's working on now.
Petter Onstad Løkke produced "Deathcrush: Lesson #16 for Beatmaster V / Fun," an ATLFF '14 Official Selection that emerged victorious with the Jury Award. In 2015, his short film "Polaroid" screened in our Other Worlds shorts block. We caught up with him about his ATLFF submissions experience, his transition from music videos to short films, and his current projects.
"As a first time submitter from Europe, it's always difficult to know which festival we should use our submission money on. We chose ATLFF because of its great reputation. The submission process with both Deathcrush: Lesson #16 for Beatmaster V / Fun and Polaroid went quite smoothly. The first times I submitted via Withoutabox, but this time I'm using FilmFreeway, as I prefer the latter. All dates were held as promised and when accepted, the festival coordinated all the practical stuff really well. The digital solutions make the deliverance of the material easy.
While winning the music video Jury Award was undoubtedly the most rewarding, I haven't been able to visit the festival yet. It's a shame, but hopefully more opporturnities will turn up as I'm submitting two short films this fall.
Making music videos is a great way to test visual and narrative ideas and concepts. We've worked with artists that've given us full creative freedom, which is important for me and the directors I work with. But while the creative process of making music videos has been rewarding, the lack of funding limits how much time I can spend doing that.
The most obvious, but also the most important, transition from music videos to short films is the narrative process. In music videos, you can disguise your story with visuals, rhythm and performance, as well as the song itself. When making short films, the overall process takes a lot more time in every stage of the project, especially in script development, the editing, and of course the sound design. The latter is obviously a big deal, since the sound designer can be so essential to the narrative. For instance, in Polaroid it really is our sound designer Inger Elise Holm who is the hidden star of the show, as she added crucial elements to the story.
Making music videos has definitely been important. Today's audience certainly has a lack of patience to be entertained, even in three minute long music videos. As filmmakers we must know how to hold the audience's attention constantly. Since this is even more difficult in short films, music videos are a great way to practice. It also is a great way to get to know different people and test relations with different directors.
In addition to Polaroid, I'm launching two more short films: Love Me More by Kristoffer Carlin and Taxfree by Christian K. Norvalls. Since completing the shorts, my focus has turned to developing feature films. Several very different and exciting projects are in the making and hopefully, some of them will be realized in the following years.
Together with several producers around Europe, we are working on developing relations and networks with an overall goal to do international productions. There are a lot of opportunities to fund films as long as you know how and where to look. This is my focus right now besides the film projects. I believe international co-productions will become even more important in the years to come."
We are now accepting submissions for the Music Video category, the Oscar-qualifying Narrative Short category, and all other categories for the 2016 Atlanta Film Festival. The Regular Deadline is September 18.
ATLFF '14 selection A WILL FOR THE WOODS now available On Demand and on DVD!
One of ATLFF '14's most inspired documentaries is now available for you to watch at home! A WILL FOR THE WOODS is now on DVD or available on Vimeo On Demand or iTunes.
One of ATLFF '14's most inspired documentaries is now available for you to watch at home! "A Will for the Wood" is now on DVD or available on Vimeo On Demand or iTunes.
Musician, folk dancer and psychiatrist Clark Wang battles lymphoma while facing a potentially imminent need for funeral plans. Determined that his last act will not harm the environment—and, hopefully, help protect it—Clark has discovered the movement to further sustainable funerals that conserve natural areas. "A Will for the Woods" is an immersive, life-affirming depiction of people coming to terms with mortality by embracing their connection to timeless natural cycles.
In addition to being a hit during the festival, a Best of Fest screening took place months later, in August, co-presented by Mountainfilm on Tour ATL. More information about how you can watch "A Will for the Woods" is at www.awillforthewoods.com.
ATLFF On Tour brings the movies and workshops to you!
Made possible by Fulton County Arts & Culture, the Atlanta Film Festival is excited to embark on a local area tour this summer—making stops at several elementary schools, high schools, community centers, senior centers, hospitals and libraries.
Made possible by Platinum level sponsor Fulton County Arts & Culture, the Atlanta Film Festival is excited to embark on a local area tour this summer—making stops at several elementary schools, high schools, community centers, senior centers, hospitals and libraries. Each date is catered to the location, and presentations vary from short film programs and feature film presentations to workshops on getting involved in the film industry.
On Friday, May 1st, ATLFF On Tour had a soft launch at Banneker High School in College Park. ATLFF '14 official selection "Cyber-Seniors" and two short films were screened in front of 260 students, teachers and staff members.
In addition, ATLFF On Tour includes 'Best of the Fest,' a special three-day series full of encores from our 2014 festival. Taking place at Lefont Sandy Springs Tuesday, June 24th through Thursday, June 26th, Best of the Fest will feature 6-10 screenings. This is your chance to catch what you might have missed earlier this year or see your favorites a second time!
The tentative dates for ATLFF On Tour:
- May 1 — Banneker High School
Screening: "Cyber-Seniors" & Animation Shorts, with ASIFA - May 12 — Mountain Park Elementary
Screening: Animation Shorts, with ASIFA - May 14 — Abernathy Arts Center (Free & Open to the Public!)
Workshops: "Intro to the Film Industry" & "Resume Writing" - May 16 — New Beginnings Senior Center
Screening: "Cyber-Seniors" - May 21 — Northside Hospital Cancer Center
Screening: "Cyber-Seniors" - May 22 — Children's Healthcare, Scottish Rite
Screening: Animation Shorts, with ASIFA - June 14 — South Fulton Regional Library (Free & Open to the Public!)
Workshops: "Intro to the Film Industry" & "Resume Writing" - June 28 — Alpharetta Branch Library (Free & Open to the Public!)
Workshops: "Intro to the Film Industry" & "Resume Writing" - June 24-26 — Best of the Fest at Lefont Sandy Springs (Open to the Public!)
6-10 Screenings - June TBA — South Fulton Arts Center
Screening: Animation Shorts, with ASIFA
ATLFF 2014 Interactive Schedule Now Live
If you're the kind of person who likes to have a battle plan of events for the weekend, our new interactive schedule will really scratch that organizer's itch.
If you're the kind of person who likes to have a battle plan of events for the weekend, our new interactive schedule will really scratch that organizer's itch.
At first glance it's a fairly simple color-coded list of ATLFF events in chronological order, but a quick visit to the Schedule menu (below) reveals a variety of ways to search and sort.
The Grid view presents a familiar set of blocks arranged by time and venue:
The schedule in Grid view.
Each film has its own expanded view with a description, photo, and ticket availability:
Set up a profile on the schedule and you can build your own agenda of saved events for later. Connect your Facebook or Twitter account to see which of your friends have created an agenda, and what films they're planning to see.
Once at the Festival, the schedule's mobile version (compatible with every mobile browser we've tried) keeps the magic going.
You can search and sort just like the desktop version:
And you can even buy tickets on the move.
Start building your personal schedule of films now, and let us know what you think of the interactive schedule.
Opening and Closing Night Films Announced
The 38th Annual Atlanta Film Festival will open with "Joe," starring Nicolas Cage as an ex-con and unlikely role model who meets a 15-year-old boy (Tye Sheridan) and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. Director David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express," television's "Eastbound & Down") is scheduled to attend. Closing out this year’s fest is "The Double," a stylish black comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska. Eisenberg plays Simon James, a timid man living an isolated existence in an indifferent world until his exact physical double and opposite personality arrives in the form of new co-worker, James Simon. "The Double" is directed by cult favorite Richard Ayoade ("Submarine," television’s “The IT Crowd").
The 38th Annual Atlanta Film Festival will open with the feature film "Joe," starring Nicolas Cage. This film from Roadside Attractions is centered on Nicolas Cage, who plays the titular role of Joe, an ex-con and unlikely role model, who meets a 15-year-old boy (Tye Sheridan) and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin. "Joe" is directed by David Gordon Green, director/producer of television’s “Eastbound and Down” and cult classic films "Pineapple Express" and "All the Real Girls." Gordon Green will be a making an appearance at the festival alongside opening night.
Closing out this year’s fest is "The Double," a stylish black comedy from Magnolia Pictures. "The Double" stars Jesse Eisenberg as Simon James, a timid man living an isolated existence in an indifferent world until his exact physical double and opposite personality arrives in the form of new co-worker, James Simon. Directed by cult favorite Richard Ayoade of "Submarine" and television’s “The IT Crowd”, "The Double" promises searing wit and seasoned character actors including Mia Wasikowska and Wallace Shawn.
“The Atlanta Film Festival is not just an opportunity to see amazing independent films but also a chance to meet and interact with the professionals in the film industry who make movie magic happen. We are thrilled to welcome David Gordon Green to this year’s festival,” said Christopher Escobar, Atlanta Film Festival executive director. Hot off the heels of the Atlanta Film Festival’s overwhelmingly successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to bring more filmmakers to Atlanta, festival goers can expect an immersive film experience with more directors, producers and acting talent attending this year’s event. Escobar added, “We’re also delighted to have 'Joe' and 'The Double' bookend this year’s festival. Unique films like these highlight and reflect the incredible variety that the festival offers.”
For nearly four decades, the Atlanta Film Festival has presented a myriad of independent films, showcasing the best in emerging local, national and international films. Additional feature length films, shorts and programming for this year’s Atlanta Film Festival will be announced over the coming weeks. The 38th Annual Atlanta Film Festival runs from March 28 – April 6 2014. Passes are currently on sale. Discounted student, teacher, senior and military passes are also available.
2014 Call For Entries Closed: A Record 3,194 Films Submitted
Our last deadline to submit films for the 2014 festival was this past Friday, and for the third year in a row, submissions for the Atlanta Film Festival have shown a remarkable increase.
Our last deadline to submit films for the 2014 festival (March 28 - April 6) was this past Friday, and for the third year in a row, submissions for the Atlanta Film Festival have shown a remarkable increase.
The 2013 fest received 2,810 submissions, the 2014 fest hit 3,194. A historic milestone, as ATLFF has never had more than 3,000 submissions in a single period. What's equally eye-popping is that 75% of those 3,200 submissions came in by October 10th of this year. An entire month sooner than when we hit 75%* last year, as well as a full month ahead of this year's November 8th Late Deadline. Two months after we opened the 2014 call for films, we were about even with 2013. By August, submissions accelerated, not slowing down till after the Late Deadline.
We'll take that growth and pace as a sign that we're putting on the kind of fest filmmakers are looking for. We'll also take that as a hint to how much sweat-equity we should be investing into the 2014 fest. Already some of that sweat-equity we're pouring into our "Bring #Artists2ATL" Kickstarter campaign (which coincidentally launched the same day as our last deadline). We'd like to cover the travel of as many of the filmmakers representing the 200 plus 2014 official selections as humanly possible.
Our DVD players, laptops and iPads have been fed steady diets of independent film since May. That won't be stopping anytime soon as you can guess. Fortunately, Kristy, Christina, Sailor, and I, have a great group of screeners, interns, and of course staff, assisting us in getting all these films watched.
I believe that's enough blabbering for one evening. I'll bring this in for a landing.
Our Kickstarter plea video is below. Give it a watch when you have a free moment. Hopefully the goal will resonate, and you'll share the campaign with your own networks. Early awareness and exposure is a major key to Kickstarter success. We're only two days into the campaign, so there's time to get the word out far and wide before the December 22 pledge deadline sneaks up on us.
Now if you'll pardon me, this stack of documentaries needs watching.
Charles
Artistic Director
*I'm known as a numbers geek if you can't tell.
2014 Numbers by Category
FEATURES
Narrative Features
384
Documentary Features
316
EXPERIMENTAL &
MUSIC VIDEOS
Experimental Shorts
127
Music Videos
231
SHORTS
Narrative Shorts
1716
Animated Shorts
185
Documentary Shorts
201
Puppetry Shorts
34