ATLFF Filmmaker-in-Residence Brantly Watts Wants to Share "Birthday Cake" With You!

Brantly Jackson Watts, along with her husband and frequent filmmaking partner, Jon Watts, first came into the Atlanta Film Festival fold with their feature debut, "AKA Blondie," at ATLFF '12. Focusing on the Clermont Lounge's most famous dancer-poet-activist-author-celebrity, Anita Rae 'Blondie' Strange, that film became a local phenomenon and catapulted Brantly and Jon into positions as local film community leaders. Now in their second year as ATLFF Filmmakers-in-Residence, Brantly and Jon have been exceptionally busy in recent years. They both launched the Homespun Series in 2014, and Brantly has been a central figure in the birth of the New Mavericks program that launched early this year. 

Now, we are excited as Brantly prepares to make her first ever narrative film, "Birthday Cake."

Set in the deep south, Birdie marks the first anniversary of leaving her abusive lover, Donnie, with a ceremonial candle on a cake. As the evening unfurls, Birdie will be confronted by more than an aching heart in this Southern Gothic thriller. A haunting story of love, survival and the complexities found in relationships, this film examines modern domestic violence and abuse in a way that is seldom explored. Violence in relationships is often viewed with very clear moral distinction, without any gradations. "Birthday Cake" delves deeper into the issue to reveal the grey areas we often choose to ignore. An important film that promises to remain with viewers, "Birthday Cake" is as captivating as it is powerful.

The campaign was launched nine days ago and has already raised an incredible 86% of its $8,000 goal! However, stretch goals will be applied and the more money raised, the harder Brantly will work to make the film as perfect as possible! Check out the campaign and claim your perks now.

Contribute now!

Homespun Series to Spotlight Atlanta's Bustling Art Scene at The Plaza on July 30

Homespun is a curated series of short documentary films profiling unique individuals around the metro Atlanta area. Partnered by the Atlanta Film Festival, the series features local filmmakers who highlight the characters and neighborhoods that give Atlanta its distinctive culture. Through these individual character studies, Atlanta will be revealed as the Homespun phenomenon it has become.

There is no doubt that the arts scene in Atlanta is thriving. Any native Atlantan can tell you that our streets are exploding with art—from colorful murals lining our underpasses, to community-inspired and public-transportation projects, to a multitude of galleries featuring a wide range of performance and visual craft. This installment of Homespun will showcase a few of the artists working in and around the metro area who bring their innovative and sometimes homegrown creations to our city.

Admission: $10; Free for ATLFF Members

(ATLFF Members: Click Enter Promotional Code below and input the email address associated with your festival membership for complimentary tickets.)

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Low
Directed by Alex Zhuravlov & Arkia Jahani

The film focuses on The LOW Museum, located in downtown Atlanta. The gallery was created by three artists who've turned their residential home into an exhibition space. The LOW is dedicated to cultural undercurrents and underground art scenes in the city. The gallery founders visit WRAS 88.5 college radio station to discuss their mission and to learn more about the station's current situation. The following day Jordan Stubbs presents his work "You Tell Me" at the LOW; a collection of interactive sculptural installations that are made from found objects.

Inside the Abyss
Directed by Adrienne Lee

"Inside The Abyss" is an exploration of human character. Danny Abyss is a young, ambitious and up-and-coming tattoo artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He firmly believes in dedication and living his life to the fullest potential. Danny's beliefs are revealed through the sacrifices he makes to grow as a tattoo artist, the people he encounters, and his unwavering commitment to his craft. 

Kyle Brooks
Directed by Whitney Reed

Kyle “BlackCatTips” Brooks is a neofolk artist living in Atlanta, GA. A painter for over 15 years, Brooks has become a mainstay in the Atlanta art scene. While his work follows in the folk tradition by speaking to contemporary issues, his inspiration comes from the things he sees everyday—bugs, animals, and odd Atlanta folk walking down the road. Many of his commissioned pieces can be seen in storefront windows, restaurants and metro homes; but Atlantans are also just as likely to see one of his whimsical paintings nailed to a utility pole in an East Atlanta neighborhood. 

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Homespun returns this month to highlight Atlanta's most unique characters

Created by ATLFF Filmmakers in Residence Jon Watts & Brantly Watts, Homespun is a curated series of short documentary films profiling unique individuals around the metro Atlanta area. Partnered by the Atlanta Film Festival, the series features local filmmakers who highlight the characters and neighborhoods that give Atlanta its distinctive culture. Through these individual character studies, Atlanta will be revealed as the Homespun phenomenon it has become.

This installment of Homespun celebrates imagery in Atlanta. Featuring three subjects who live on the outskirts of our society, these films challenge viewers to find beauty in the places and the characters of our city that are often dismissed.  In addition to the films and Q&As with the award-winning filmmakers, a special mobile gallery exhibit will follow the screening from We Love ATL that has been curated specifically for the Homespun audience.  Arguably one of the best local film screenings of the year, this is an event you don’t want to miss.

Films in this installment:

Thomas Bennett
Directed by Nathan Honnold

Thomas Bennett is a hymn-singing Vietnam War veteran with a love for costume jewelry and war medals. An intimate and empathetic portrait of a man who lives on the fringes of our society, “Thomas Bennett” promises to elicit both compassion and intrigue from its viewers.

Adrian
Directed by John Merizalde

Adrian is a teenager who lives in “The Bluff", a neighborhood in northwest Atlanta notorious for drugs and violence. This short is a tone poem documentary that attempts to capture an essence of Adrian and what it's like living in his neighborhood.

Tommy (World Premiere)
Directed by John Merizalde

Tommy Nease is a free spirit—equal parts vagrant, photographer, and philosopher. His artwork is critically acclaimed and has been featured in both local and international galleries. Tommy lives by his own rules, creating art and traversing the world through any means - be it walking, hitchhiking, or even train-hopping. Utilizing some of his own personal footage, this short documentary attempts to piece together a portrait of a young artist that lives on the fringes of our society.

About the Filmmakers:

Nathan Honnold is an emerging local Atlanta film director with a degree in film and video from Georgia State University. His films have premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival.  His latest film "Thomas Bennett" won the jury prize for Best Documentary Short at the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival.

John Merizalde is a 24 year-old director from Atlanta, Georgia. His work has been screened both nationally and internationally at various festivals including the Atlanta Film Festival and the Cannes Short Film Corner. In 2011 he co-directed an international feature documentary about sex trafficking and slavery entitled "Freedom", which helped raise millions of dollars in aid. His music videos have been featured on Vimeo Staff Picks, VEVO, MTV and more, where they have amassed millions of combined views. 

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