Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference Reveals New Dates and Official Selections for 2020 Event

The 2020 Atlanta Film Festival will now take place from Thursday, September 17 – Sunday, September 27, 2020

ATLANTA, GA (March 26, 2020) — The Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF), presented by WarnerMedia, announced today that the 44th annual event will now take place from Thursday, September 17 – Sunday, September 27, 2020. The festival was originally scheduled to take place in the spring, but was postponed last week due to precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the date announcement, the festival has also shared the lineup of creative works, feature-length and short films selected from a record-breaking 8,500+ submissions for the 2020 event.

“We are committed now more than ever to presenting a 2020 Atlanta Film Festival that represents the talent, passion and resilience of the city of Atlanta,” said Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of ATLFF. “While we are disappointed that we are not able to share the stellar lineup announced today as we originally planned in the spring, we are grateful to our sponsors, filmmakers, and supporters for their enthusiasm and dedication that have made it possible for the festival to move to September. We recognize that this is an already busy time of year, and hope to collaborate with as many existing events and organizations as possible to present a 2020 event that truly represents all that Atlanta has to offer.”

The selected works include 38 feature length films, 86 short films and 24 creative media that will be presented during the 11-day festival. This is in addition to the six narrative and documentary features announced in January as the first wave. Five winning screenplays from the screenplay competition will also be announced at a later date. Though ATLFF intends to present the lineup as announced, films are subject to change. 

Among the works announced today, there are 20 narrative and 18 documentary features, 14 short film blocks, as well as music videos and virtual reality experiences from the creative media category. Fourteen films are slated to have their world premieres at the festival.

A forthcoming slate of Marquee screenings & Creative Conference events, including Opening and Closing Night presentations, as well as Special Presentations will also join the lineup.

"The programming team, with the support of a multitude of volunteer screeners, has been working since last May to review thousands of submissions in order to select the 148 works announced today,” ATLFF Programming Director Alyssa Armand stated. “Revealing our lineup so soon after the announcement of our postponement is bittersweet, but we are proud to acknowledge the work of the filmmakers we have selected for this year’s festival along with the new dates.”

The 10th annual Creative Conference, a five-day series of 40+ educational events, will remain a key part of ATLFF’s programming. The festival will again host some of the top professionals in the entertainment industry to share their latest ideas, innovations and observations. The Creative Conference lineup of panelists and moderators are expected to be finalized and announced as the September event nears.

With diversity in programming being a cornerstone of ATLFF, this year’s selections have continued with that tradition. In 2020, 55 percent of the selected works are directed by female filmmakers, and more than half are directed by filmmakers of color. These numbers are up 5 percent and 10 percent, respectively, from 2019.

Works from 118 different countries were submitted for the 2020 festival, and 40 countries are represented in the chosen lineup. ATLFF also recognizes the cultural and filmmaking importance of its home state, and with that, approximately 20 percent of the works have ties to the state of Georgia.

Specialty tracks of New Mavericks, which celebrates female excellence in film, ¡CineMás!, which focuses on Latin American culture, and Pink Peach, which features films with LGBTQ stories and characters, all return in 2020.  

“We are thrilled that for the fifth year in a row, a record number of diverse and incredibly talented filmmakers and artists submitted works to our festival,” Escobar continued. “Our selections bring the most compelling visual storytelling the world has to offer to Atlanta, while also representing the rich diversity of the city itself.”

The Atlanta Film Festival is the annual centerpiece of educational and enriching film programming that is provided year-round by its parent organization, the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS). Now in its fifth decade, ATLFF was recently named in USA Today’s ‘10Best Film Festivals’ Reader’s Poll for the second year in a row.

Festival badges, Creative Conference badges and IMAGE Film Awards Gala tickets are on sale now at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. Any previously purchased badges will be honored for the new dates. For people that can no longer attend the festival and have already purchased badges for the original dates, the festival has relaxed its refund policy. Please visit the website and the FAQ page for details on refunds.

Additional announcements will be made as programming is added to the 2020 ATLFF lineup. ATLFS and ATLFF will continuously monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and follow guidelines from leaders and experts, and issue any event updates as needed. To stay up-to-date, please visit the website and follow the festival on social media via Facebook (@atlantafilmfestival), Twitter (@atlantafilmfest) and Instagram (@atlantafilmfestival).

NARRATIVE FEATURES

BLACK CONFLUX
directed by Nicole Dorsey
Canada, 2020, English, 100 minutes
15-year-old Jackie is a model student, but the legacy of a broken home has her surrendering to adolescent temptations. Continually plagued by the failures of the women of her family, her mindset gradually shifts as she actively decides to escape a seemingly inevitable future. Dennis, socially inept and isolated by his inability to connect, escapes the reality of his solitude by imagining a fantasy world in which visions of adoring women surround him. These seemingly separate lives converge in this haunting exploration of womanhood, isolation, and toxic masculinity.
[New Mavericks]

CATCHING UP
directed by Bill Crossland
USA, 2019, English, 107 minutes
Frank, a romantically inexperienced high school teacher with muscular dystrophy, pretends to be dating his best friend so her parents won’t find out she’s gay. But when his able-bodied childhood crush moves back to town, his desire for a real relationship is unexpectedly awakened.
[Pink Peach]

CLIMATE OF THE HUNTER
directed by Mickey Reece
USA, 2019, English, 81 minutes
Contentious sisters Alma and Elizabeth are taking some quiet time in their family’s cabin. Their issues are dredged up by the reappearance of Wesley, a man from their youth. Whilst staying next door, his odd behavior leads local weirdo BJ to suspect there’s something supernatural to blame. Soon the seed of doubt starts to take root in Alma. Has Wesley returned from his globe-trotting adventures a vampire, or are Alma’s delusions overtaking her reality?

CURTIS
directed by Chris Bailey
USA, 2020, English, 80 minutes
Suffering from schizophrenia, a former basketball star is triggered down a dark path when he discovers his championship ring is missing. With the help of a young boy in the neighborhood, he scours the streets of Detroit for it, only to find himself stuck in a time warp and unable to come to grips with life as it is now.
[World Premiere]

FREELAND
directed by Mario Furloni & Kate McLean
USA, 2020, English, 80 minutes
An aging pot farmer suddenly finds her world shattered as she races to bring in what could be her final harvest, fighting against the threat of eviction as the impact of the legalization of the cannabis industry rapidly destroys her idyllic way of life. Shot on off-the-grid pot farms during the actual harvest, this emotional thriller is embedded with a deep and empathetic authenticity.
[In Competition]

FULLY REALIZED HUMANS
directed by Joshua Leonard
USA, 2020, English, 74 minutes
With less than a month until the birth of their first child, Jackie and Elliot embark on a madcap mission of self-discovery in attempt to rid themselves of the inherited dysfunction of their own upbringings. This crusade will push them to the edge of sanity, forcing them to do battle with themselves, each other, their friends and even their families. And when the smoke clears, they’ll either be the world’s greatest parents... or they’ll be institutionalized.

GIRAFFE
directed by Anna Sofie Hartmann
Germany/Denmark, 2019, German/Danish/Polish/English, 87 minutes
A tunnel will be built to connect Denmark and Germany. Dara, an ethnologist, arrives to document the houses tagged for demolition, interacting with the residents who are about to lose their homes and generations worth of history. Dara becomes engrossed in these stories and in the memories lingering in buildings that will soon disappear. When she meets Lucek, a young man from Poland working to prepare the construction site, she finds herself embarking on an unexpected romance that will ultimately reflect the transience of their surroundings.
[New Mavericks]

GOLDEN ARM
directed by Maureen Bharoocha 
USA, 2020, English, 90 minutes
Melanie is a baker in a small town, struggling with debt and a major case of the blahs caused by her failed marriage. When her ex demands half her grandmother’s bakery in their divorce, Melanie has no other choice but to take her best friend Danny’s advice – to enter the Ladies Arm Wrestling Championship. It just might work if Melanie can toughen up and take down the reigning champ, Danny’s arch nemesis, Brenda “The Bonecrusher” Smith!
[Georgia Film] [New Mavericks]

THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS
directed by Robert Machoian
USA, 2020, English, 84 minutes
David desperately tries to keep his family of six together during a separation from his wife. They both agree to see other people but David struggles to grapple with his wife's new relationship. Now living with his father, his mental health begins to deteriorate and paranoia consumes his sense of hope, forcing him to confront personal demons in order to save his family and future.
[In Competition]

LUCKY GRANDMA
directed by Sasie Sealy
USA, 2020, Mandarin/English/Cantonese, 87 minutes
In the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma is eager to live life as an independent woman. When a local fortune teller predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma goes all in at the casino, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck and the target of some local gangsters. Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war.
[New Mavericks]

MALPASO
directed by Héctor Valdez
Dominican Republic, 2020, Spanish/Creole, 80 minutes
Cándido and Braulio are twin brothers growing up near the border of Haiti in the Dominican Republic. While Braulio helps their grandfather sell coal in the border market of Malpaso, Cándido leads a lonely existence secluded in his home due to his albinism. Their life takes an unexpected turn for the worse after their grandfather's sudden death, and Braulio will now need to look after his brother by making ends meet in Malpaso. All the while Cándido dreams of the return of their absent father.
[Cinemás] [In Competition]

MILKWATER
directed by Morgan Ingari
USA, 2020, English, 101 minutes
Seeking direction and purpose, Milo rashly decides to become a surrogate and egg donor for Roger, an older gay man she meets in a bar. However, as Milo becomes increasingly attached to Roger, she starts leveraging the pregnancy as a means of staying embedded in his life, gradually alienating herself from her friends when they try to address her erratic behavior. As Roger draws lines in the sand, Milo must figure out how to navigate the intensity of entering into a surrogacy with a stranger.
[In Competition] [World Premiere]

THE MISEDUCATION OF BINDU
directed by Prarthana Mohan
USA, 2019, English/Hindi, 92 minutes
15-year-old Bindu, desperate to escape her high school bullies, forges her mother's signature to test out of school. When she discovers she must pay a hefty fee by the end of the day in order to take the test, Bindu is forced to interact with the students she is so desperate to escape from.
[New Mavericks]

MY HEART CAN’T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO
directed by Jonathan Cuartas
USA, 2020, English, 86 minutes
Dwight and Jessie find themselves at odds over care for their frail and sickly younger brother Thomas, who only lives off human blood. Leaving a trail of corpses in their wake, Dwight wrestles with the ramifications of what it takes to keep his brother alive. As Dwight begins to distance himself from his siblings, the relentless Jessie will do whatever it takes to keep the family together.
[In Competition]

NAFI’S FATHER (BAAMUM NAFI)
directed by Mamadou Dia
Senegal/USA, 2019, Fulah, 107 minutes
Tokara wants to marry his cousin, the beautiful Nafi, bringing their fathers into conflict with one another. Nafi's father is a high-ranking clergyman while Tokara's father is a candidate for Mayor of the small town in Senegal they all call home. Initially, the fathers' fraternal struggle seems to be all about the happiness of their children, but gradually it transpires that Tokara and Nafi are pawns in a bitter dispute about tradition, progress and the true nature of Islam. Can their family ties help them overcome these ideological differences?
[In Competition]

THE ORPHANAGE (PARWARESHGAH)
directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat
Afghanistan/Tajikistan/Denmark/France/Luxembourg, 2019, Hindi/Russian/Urdu, 100 minutes
In the late 1980s, 15-year-old Qodrat lives in the streets of Kabul and sells cinema tickets on the black market. He is a big Bollywood fan and he daydreams himself into some of his favourite movie scenes. One day, the police bring him to the Soviet orphanage. The political situation in Kabul is changing. Qodrat and his fellow orphans want to defend their home.

THE OUTSIDE STORY
directed by Casimir Nozkowski
USA, 2020, English, 86 minutes
Charles Young (Brian Tyree Henry) is an introverted video editor trying to recover from a broken heart. Perceiving a betrayal of trust as a sign his girlfriend Isha (Sonequa Martin-Green) is leaving him, Charles preemptively blows up his relationship and sequesters himself at home. When Charles accidentally locks himself out of his apartment, he is quite literally forced out of his comfort zone and must interact with the neighbors he has long avoided. With no shoes, no money, a phone running low on battery, Charles finds himself embarking on a transformative odyssey within his own community.
[Georgia Film]

THE OUTSIDERS FOOTBALL CLUB (LOS AJENOS FÚTBOL CLUB)
directed by Juan Camilo Pinzon
Colombia, 2019, Spanish, 91 minutes
Four quirky retired sailors transform an old shipyard into a home, intending to spend the last of their days there together. When one of them dies, they learn he was the rightful owner of their property when his estranged daughter, Martina, arrives to collect her inheritance. Finding that her father left behind a mountain of debt that prevents her from selling the shipyard, Martina signs the three tenants up for a soccer competition in order to win enough money to pay off their debt. This unlikely family must do the impossible in order to save their home.
[Cinemás]

TEST PATTERN
directed by Shatara Michelle Ford
USA, 2019, English, 82 minutes
Renesha and Evan's relationship is put to the test after Renesha is sexually assaulted and Evan drives from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit. Part psychological horror, part realist drama, TEST PATTERN is set against the backdrop of our national discussion about an inequitable health system, #metoo, and race relations in America.
[In Competition] [New Mavericks]

THE VICE GUIDE TO BIGFOOT
directed by Zach Lamplugh
USA, 2020, English, 83 minutes
A paranormal comedy that follows a hopelessly millennial reporter on the most important assignment of his career: Bigfoot. But after following a prominent cryptozoologist into the Appalachian foothills, he's forced to answer the question "is a good story worth dying for?"
[Georgia Film]

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

ANBESSA
directed by Mo Scarpelli
Ethiopia/Italy/USA, 2019, Amharic, 86 minutes
Ten-year-old Asalif and his mother have been displaced from their Ethiopian farmland by the massive construction of a condominium. Now living on the divide between a new and ancient world, they are reminded that their country’s big dream of “progress” is not for them. Land developers come knocking while ferocious hyenas lurk in a dark forest. Faced with these threats, Asalif transforms into a lion (“anbessa” in Amharic) to fight back. His newfound power takes him to places he never imagined inside and out of the condo until finally, he must shed the lion persona to find his own strength inside. The film vibrantly mirrors its subject’s imagination to paint an urgent and caring portrait of those cast aside by the processes of modernization.

CINEMA PAMEER
directed by Martin von Krogh
Afghanistan/Sweden, 2020, Dari/Pashto, 80 minutes
A film about a cinema, the passionate people working there, and their unrelenting love of film in a harsh conflict-ridden city. CINEMA PAMEER explores everyday life in a country torn apart through a cinema in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan – a place for escape, inspiration, and refuge in a city still trying to find its footing after decades of war, poverty, and religious fundamentalism. This feel good story follows the well-meaning denizens of the cinema in their everyday struggle to provide a safe haven for their countrymen.
[In Competition]

FANDANGO AT THE WALL
directed by Varda Bar-Kar
Mexico/USA, 2020, Spanish/English, 93 minutes
FANDANGO AT THE WALL follows Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra founder/conductor Arturo O'Farrill to the remotest regions of Veracruz, Mexico, where he meets and jams with the masters of son jarocho. Son jarocho is 300-year-old folk music rooted in the land that combines Indigenous, Spanish and African traditions. After Arturo's inspiring journey to a place where time seems to stands still, he and his orchestra join the masters of son jarocho at the music and dance festival Fandango Fronterizo which takes place simultaneously on both sides of the United States-Mexico border, transforming an object that divides into one that unites. Fandango at the Wall reveals a Mexico seldom depicted and shows how art and culture can bring our countries and people together.
[Georgia Film]

FLANNERY
directed by Elizabeth Coffman & Mark Bosco, S.J.
USA, 2020, English, 97 minutes
A lyrical, intimate exploration of the life and work of author Flannery O’Connor and how her distinctive Southern Gothic spin on Bible-thumping prophets and murderous Misfits influenced a generation of artists and activists. With her family home at Andalusia (the Georgia farm where she grew up and later wrote her best known work) as a backdrop, a picture of the woman behind her sharply aware, starkly redemptive style comes into focus. Including conversations with those who knew her and those inspired by her, FLANNERY employs never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered personal letters and her own published words alongside original animations and music to celebrate the life and legacy of an American literary icon.
[Georgia Film]

FOR THE LOVE OF RUTLAND
directed by Jennifer Maytorena Taylor
USA, 2020, English, 92 minutes
Set in a blue-collar New England town, FOR THE LOVE OF RUTLAND explores small town America as a complex microcosm of our current national and global reality. An attempt to bring new life to an economically struggling, overwhelmingly white community – through refugee resettlement – unleashes deep partisan rancor within the city’s small population of 15,000. After a lifetime of being invalidated for her poverty and addiction, Stacie emerges as an unexpected and resilient leader in a community divided by class, culture, and the toxic politics of today.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

HOPE FROZEN
directed by Pailin Wedel
Thailand/USA, 2019, Thai/English, 76 minutes
A Thai-Buddhist couple struggles to find closure after cryopreserving their two-year-old daughter Einz. After her death from brain cancer, her family stores her remains in an American lab, her head and brain now resting inside a tank in Arizona. The girl’s father, a laser scientist, yearns to give Einz the opportunity to experience a rebirth inside a regenerated body. He instills this dream inside his son, a 15-year-old whiz kid named Matrix, who wants to be a part of reviving his little sister. But what the boy later discovers will rattle the family's radical hope in science.

I AM SAMUEL
directed by Pete Murimi
Kenya, 2020, English/Swahili/Luhya, 70 minutes
Filmed vérité style over 5 years, I AM SAMUEL is an intimate portrait of a Kenyan man torn between balancing duty to his family with his dreams for his future.
[In Competition]

LOOKING FOR LIFE (CHÈCHE LAVI)
directed by Sam Ellison
Mexico/USA/Haiti, 2019, Haitian Creole/Spanish, 76 minutes
A lyrical portrait of two Haitian migrants, Robens and James, who find themselves stranded at the US-Mexico border with no way forward and no one to depend on but each other. The quiet, unexpected tenderness of their friendship shines in the eye of an incomprehensible geopolitical storm, even as the two men drift towards drastically different futures and as a new border wall rises on the horizon. This is a film about longing: for a place to fit in, for a stable life, for connection and companionship. It isn’t about crossing borders; it’s about how it feels when you can’t get across. It’s about what happens when you end up in a totally unexpected place and you have to start over.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENEZUELA
directed by Anabel Rodriguez Rios
Venezuela/United Kingdom/Brazil/Austria, 2020, Spanish, 99 minutes
Once upon a time, the Venezuelan village of Congo Mirador, floating on stilts just inches above the deep Lake Maracaibo, was prosperous, alive with fishermen and poets. In recent years, it has decayed and disintegrated, rotting beneath pollution and neglect—a small but prophetic reflection of Venezuela itself. Director Anabel Rodríguez Ríos’s striking and mournful ode to her country bears first hand witness to the irreversible consequences of government corruption, while simultaneously capturing the resilient spirit of those most directly affected by Venezuela’s profound economic and political crises.
[Cinemás] [New Mavericks] [In Competition]

OVERSEAS
directed by Sung-A Yoon
Philippines/Belgium/France, 2019, Tagalog/English/Ilongo, 90 minutes
In the Philippines, women get deployed abroad to work as domestic workers or nannies. In order to do so, they frequently leave their own children behind, before throwing themselves into the unknown. In one of the many training centers dedicated to domestic work that can be found in the Philippines, a group of trainees are getting ready to face both homesickness and the possible abuses lying ahead. During role playing exercises, they alternatively play both the roles of the employee and that of the employers. Bordering on fiction, OVERSEAS brings to light the question of modern servitude in our globalized world, while emphasizing these women’s determination, their sisterhood, and the strategies they find to face the ordeals that awaits them in the near future.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

PIER KIDS
directed by Elegance Bratton
USA, 2019, English, 84 minutes
Director Elegance Bratton offers an intimate and strikingly raw portrait of New York City's underground community of pier kids, introducing us to Krystal, Desean, and Casper, three homeless queer black youth searching for stability in a harsh city. As they reconcile the love of chosen families with the cold complexities of biological ones, their struggle to find stable housing takes center stage, leading them to risky ventures and inhibiting them from passionate pursuits. Filmed over five years at the pier, on the streets, and in the ballroom scene, PIER KIDS is a sweeping, empathetic, and emotional look at the struggles of queer youth after they're expelled from their homes.
[Pink Peach]

THE REVENGE OF THE DIVA (SIVANDIVAN)
directed by Gustav Ahlgren & Emelie Jönsson
Sweden, 2019, Swedish, 80 minutes
At the height of fame and fortune, internationally acclaimed opera singer Siv Wennberg aka Siv the Diva suffered a gross betrayal and disappeared from the public eye. She is an uncompromising artist who refused to adapt to the norm of how a female artist should behave. And for that, she has had to pay dearly. She is now 77, has no family, no money and no fame. In the opera community she is an outcast. Some 30 years later she’s back, looking for revenge. A story about feminism, love and never ever giving up.

RING OF DREAMS
directed by Willem Baptist
The Netherlands, 2019, Dutch, 70 minutes
In a world where fantasy meets reality, Tengkwa leads a band of Dutch show wrestlers and tries to train a new generation of super heroes. With slim chances of fame and glory and little money to speak of, only the most die-hard of them will succeed. RING OF DREAMS tells the story of fighting for your dreams against the odds of our dreary daily lives.

SOCKS ON FIRE
directed by Bo McGuire
USA, 2020, English, 93 minutes
A poet composes a cinematic love letter to his grandmother as his homophobic aunt and drag queen uncle wage war over her estate in Hokes Bluff, Alabama. SOCKS ON FIRE is a transgenerational docudrama told through a series of stylized reenactments spun with family VHS footage and colorful interviews. The film documents the fluidity of identity, personality, and performance in the director Bo McGuire's hometown among his Mama’s people.
[Pink Peach] [In Competition]

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN
directed by Lance Oppenheim
USA, 2020, English, 83 minutes
Behind the gates of a palm tree-lined fantasyland, four residents of America’s largest retirement community, The Villages, FL, strive to find happiness and meaning. Referred to as the “Disneyland for Retirees,” this planned retirement community offers residents a utopian version of the American yesteryear. While most residents have bought into its packaged positivity, we meet four residents living on the margins, striving to enjoy their golden years. By turns biting, tender, and surreal, the film demonstrates that no matter our age, we are always becoming. With strikingly composed cinematography, SOME KIND OF HEAVEN challenges our stereotypes around aging, emboldening its characters to live as vibrantly as possible in the time they have left.
[In Competition]

SOUTHERN GOTHIC 
directed by Stephen Robert Morse, Nick Hampson
USA, 2020, English, 94 minutes
Set in the heart of the American South, SOUTHERN GOTHIC examines both the 1983 and 2018 investigations into the racially-motivated murder of African-American man Timothy Coggins in Griffin, Georgia. A multi-layered story of one town in two different eras, it highlights how one era enabled this crime to go without punishment and how the other attempts to bring justice decades later. Featuring a 360-degree view of all people involved within the case, SOUTHERN GOTHIC asks audiences to become the juries themselves; questioning their presumptions of guilt, innocence, and authority.
[Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

TRANSHOOD
directed by Sharon Liese
USA, 2020, English, 96 minutes
Filmed over five years in Kansas City, TRANSHOOD follows four transgender kids - beginning at ages 4, 7, 12, and 15 - as they redefine “coming of age.” These trans kids and their families allow us into the intimate realities of how gender is re-shaping the family next door in a never-before-told chronicling of growing up trans in the heartland. The film is a nuanced examination of how families tussle, transform, and sometimes find unexpected purpose in their identities as trans families.
[Pink Peach]

WHAT’S EATING RALPHIE MAY?
directed by Cat Rhinehart
USA, 2019, English, 90 minutes
Filmmaker Cat Rhinehart spends one year closely following comedian Ralphie May, leading up to his planned weight loss surgery. Initially intended to be a weight loss documentary, what is captured instead is a raw and intimate portrait of a family dealing with addiction, a wife coming to terms with her inability to change the person she loves, and a tragically flawed comedian breaking down during one of the last years of his life.

SHORT FILM BLOCKS

CALL YOUR MOM
Candid conversations about the ties that bind.
Documentary Shorts

DÍA DE LA MADRE | directed by Ashley Brandon & Dennis Hohne, USA, 5:36
A band of juveniles embarks on a 24-hour spree of breaking into houses and causing a ruckus.

ÀI BÀBA (LOVE DAD) (愛爸爸) | directed by Connie Huang, USA, 6:13
A film revealing an intimate recording between a mother and her 7 year old daughter talking about divorce.
[New Mavericks]

NO CRYING AT THE DINNER TABLE | directed by Carol Nguyen, Canada, 15:40
Filmmaker Carol Nguyen interviews her family to craft a portrait of love, grief and intergenerational trauma.
[In Competition]

WATER CHILD (MIZUKO) | directed by Kira Dane & Katelyn Rebelo, Japan/USA, 14:45
Inspired by a Buddhist ritual for grieving abortions, a Japanese-American woman reevaluates what it means to end her own pregnancy.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

THE HEART STILL HUMS | directed by Savanah Leaf & Taylor Russell, USA, 28:44
A documentary short, following five women as they fight for their children through the cycle of homelessness, drug addictions and neglect from their own parents. Unique, yet undoubtedly familiar to many; a story on fear, sacrifice and the unconditional love between a mother and her children.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition] [World Premiere]

COMEDIES OF ERRORS
Nobody's perfect, laugh it off!
Comedy Shorts

SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS | directed by Symone Baptiste, USA, 17:12
A struggling black college grad wakes up to find that reparations have finally been paid to descendants of slaves in America. With this new found capital, he must decide how best to spend his newfound money, totaling a mere $16,000.

MONEYBAG HEAD | directed by Patrick O'Brien, USA, 15:20
Dennis is searching for human connection despite having a head that looks like a literal bag of money.

COFFEE SHOP NAMES | directed by Deepak Sethi, USA, 7:58
Three Indian people imagine their personas as their "coffee shop names," the names they give baristas because their real names are hard to pronounce.

DADDIO | directed by Casey Wilson, USA, 17:15
A dad and daughter comedically grapple with grief in different ways – from questionable hair perms and hot tub hangs to sleeping in closets and embracing the extremes of laziness. Unfortunately, based on real life events.
[New Mavericks]

RICHARD NIXON: GETAWAY DRIVER | directed by Kevin Daniel Lonano, USA, 5:47
Drunk on power and tripping on LSD, President Richard Nixon recounts his role as the getaway driver for JFK's second shooter.
[Georgia Film]

UNFINISHED BUSINESS | directed by Mary Dauterman, USA, 6:52
A male stripper has an unusual experience on the job.

THIRSTY | directed by Nicole Delaney, USA, 11:59
A mosquito falls in love with a man after she tastes his blood.

EAT THE RICH
A feast for the eyes served in three courses.
Narrative Shorts

NIMIC | directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Germany/United Kingdom/USA, 11:35
A professional cellist has an encounter with a stranger on the subway which has unexpected and
far-reaching ramifications on his life.

CHEWING GUM (CHICLETE) | directed by Philippe Noguchi, Brazil, 19:20
Irene is one of the exiles of a fantastic island populated by young people of curious eating habits, whose only connection with the world outside is a boat of supplies. An unexpected event makes her the protagonist of a strange collective catharsis.
[Cinemás] [In Competition]

ELECTRIC SWAN | directed by Konstantina Kotzamani, France, 40:30
Buildings are not supposed to move. But in Buenos Aires, a building sways and the ceiling shivers, causing a strange nausea that devours its residents. Those who live on the top are afraid they'll fall - the ones who live beneath are afraid they'll drown.

EXIT INTERVIEWS
Memoirs of moving on.
Narrative Shorts

HE LEFT INSTRUCTIONS | directed by Zeke Farrow, USA, 13:00
Estranged sisters Christine and Kristin reunite at their brother's apartment after his sudden death. The instructions he left for them will bring them together.

GOODBYE GOLOVIN | directed by Mathieu Grimard, Ukraine/Canada, 14:02
For Ian Golovin, the death of his father is the chance at a new life outside his native country. As he prepares to leave and bid farewell to his sister, he is forced to face his decision — why he is always blindly moving forward and what he is leaving behind.
[In Competition]

DRIFTING (漂流) | directed by Hanxiong Bo, China/USA, 16:25
Yan is an illegal second child born during the One-Child policy. To avoid government punishment, Yan's parents hid their oldest daughter in the countryside and raised Yan as a girl. Now a young adult, Yan struggles with his gender identity and being treated an outcast in a conservative society. His sole escape is drifting his father's old taxi through abandoned parking lots.

SON OF A DANCER ( ابن الرقاصة) | directed by Georges Hazim, Lebanon, 20:49
Grieving the loss of his mother, Majed attempts to reconcile his memory of her with the discovery of her past as a belly dancer.
[Pink Peach]

JARVIK | directed by Emilie Mannering, Canada, 19:29
As the summer is coming to an end, Léa needs to breathe but her brother's mechanical heart constantly reminds her that life hangs by a thread.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

T | directed by Keisha Rae Witherspoon, USA, 13:51
A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. t-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.
[In Competition]

FLASHBULB ROMANCE
Snapshots of lust and longing.
Narrative and Documentary Shorts 

MINI DV | directed by Shauly Melamed, Israel, 9:56
Through self-made video recordings, filmmaker Shauly revisits his childhood cinematic attempts and discovers the recordings he made with friends hid his biggest secret.
[Pink Peach]

GOD | directed by Greg Brunkalla, USA, 13:30
A daydreaming college student’s sexuality comes into question when his fraternity becomes obsessed with a poem and its poetess.

ANNA | directed by Dekel Berenson, Ukraine/United Kingdom/Israel, 15:20
Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine Anna is an aging single mother who is desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love.

DICK PICS! (A DOCUMENTARY) | directed by Hannah McSwiggen & Russell Sheaffer, USA, 12:18
Dick Pics! gathers men from all walks of life and asks them one of the most important questions of the modern era: “What in god’s name compels you to send pictures of your penis to non-consenting others?”

DIRTY | directed by Matthew Puccini, USA, 10:50
Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend. Things do not go as planned.
[Pink Peach]

BKS | directed by Alexa-Jeanne Dubé, Canada, 10:37
The portrait of a breakup told through ASMR.
[New Mavericks]

FOUR OF A KIND
A cinematic balm for the soul.
Documentary Shorts

AFTER THE SILENCE (APRÈS LE SILENCE) | directed by Sonam Larcin, Belgium, 23:20
In order to flee his country, David had to leave behind the man that he loves. Now seeking refugee status, David must speak for the first time about a life he was forced to keep hidden.
[Pink Peach] [In Competition]

19.91 | directed by Emilia Sniegoska, Poland, 24:25
A meaningful friendship blossoms between a 19 year old German girl and a 91 year old Polish Holocaust survivor.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

ALL CATS ARE GREY IN THE DARK (NACHTS SIND ALLE KATZEN GRAU) | directed by Lasse Linder, Switzerland, 18:16
Christian lives with his two cats Marmelade and Katjuscha. As he is yearning to become a father, he decides to fertilize his beloved cat Marmelade by an exquisite tomcat from abroad.
[In Competition]

COBY AND STEPHEN ARE IN LOVE | directed by Carlo Nasisse & Luka Yuanyuan Yang, USA/China, 30:41
Coby, a 92 year old retired nightclub dancer, and Stephen, a filmmaker 20 years her junior, have found an unlikely love in each other through matching outfits, dance, and art. As their last dance performance in Las Vegas approaches, Coby and Stephen prepare a final routine.
[In Competition]

LATE NIGHT, GREAT NIGHT
Sleep is for the weak.
Narrative and Animated Shorts

BENEVOLENT BA | directed by Diffan Sina Norman, Malaysia/USA, 9:00
A devout woman’s lust for virtue thrusts her family into a sacrificial slaughter of biblical proportions.

VALERIO’S DAY OUT | directed by Michael Arcos, USA, 8:30
A young jaguar goes on a killing spree when he escapes from his enclosure at a zoo. After he's captured, sedated, and relocated, he makes a video diary for his significant other, Lula.

STUCCO | directed by Janina Gavankar & Russo Schelling, USA, 17:28
An agoraphobic woman finds a suspicious, hollow wall in her house.

TERROR FERVOR | directed by Phoebe Parsons, Canada, 6:00
The vices of seven characters take the viewer on a psychedelic fever dream that is hard to classify and hard to forget.

TIC | directed by Ben Nicholas, Canada, 15:09
Alan is an online shopping addict and devoted product reviewer. He also happens to be a murderer. He leaves some killer reviews.

HAND IN HAND | directed by Ennio Ruschetti, Switzerland, 3:41
Two Politicians shake hands. The situation gets out of hand.

CHANGELING | directed by Faye Jackson, United Kingdom, 9:30
A new mother becomes increasingly mesmerised and appalled by the strange transformations happening around her baby. She instinctively hides them, unaware they are building towards a final metamorphosis - her own.
[New Mavericks]

NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL KID SHORTS
Fun-sized films for the young and young at heart.
Kids Shorts

RUNAWAY RADISH | directed by Grace Hayes-Dineen, USA, 3:16
A Daikon radish comes to life one day and is chased through the farmer's market, causing chaos.
[Georgia Film]

THE KITE | directed by Martin Smatana, Czech Republic/Slovakia/Poland, 13:03
The friendship of a little boy and his grandpa extends far into the sky above their flying kite.
[In Competition]

ARCHIE | directed by Ainslie Henderson, United Kingdom, 4:24
A new day brings sunshine and hope for Archie who goes on a journey to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

MASTER MOLEY BY ROYAL INVITATION | directed by Leon Joosen, United Kingdom, 33:09
The story of a young Mole and his adventure to pick a rose from the Queen's Garden, not knowing that this simple act will change, not only his life, but the life of all Moles.

OUTSIDE THE LINES
Technicolor trips beyond the boundaries of convention.
Animated Shorts

FOREIGN EXCHANGE | directed by Corrie Francis Parks, USA, 5:45
A multitude of mini-universes collide in this tiny world built with money and sand.
[In Competition]

KAPAEMAHU | directed by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, & Joe Wilson, USA, 8:28
The hidden history of four mysterious boulders on Waikiki Beach—and the mystical transgender healing spirits within them.
[Pink Peach] [In Competition]

UMBILICAL | directed by Danski Tang, China/USA, 6:53
An animated documentary exploring how a mother’s abusive relationship shaped the filmmaker's experiences in boarding school.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

PURPLEBOY | directed by Alexandre Siqueira, Portugal/France/Belgium, 13:55
Oscar is a child who sprouts in his parents garden. Nobody knows his biological sex but he claims the masculine gender. Will he manage to have the identity recognition he desires?
[Pink Peach]

HI, CROWS | directed by Zehong Zhu, United Kingdom, 4:51
A girl performs in front of a group of crows. She thinks she needs to make her audience happy, but is faced with self-doubt.
[New Mavericks]

INTERMISSION EXPEDITION | directed by Wiep Teeuwisse, The Netherlands, 8:21
During a sunny holiday, a flock of tourists struggle to let go of their busy city lives. The absence of daily tasks leaves them lost in an uncomfortable and frightening place.

2.3 X 2.6 X 3.2 | directed by Jiaqi Wang, United Kingdom, 3:47
A filmmaker discusses the certainty of hope and uncertainty of disease through a Kareau, a wooden figure meant to drive away the bad spirits.
[New Mavericks]

GRAY BODY (جسم خاکستری) | directed by Samaneh Shojaei, Iran, 4:59
Waiting for their appointments, the patients are far less calm than the doctor.

INTO THE FLAME | directed by Sean McClintock, USA, 5:51
As Floyd tries to process the disappearance of his cult-obsessed wife, a moth burrows his way into his ear, setting off a series of visions and ultimately, the adventure of his life.

CLOSE(D) | directed by Elaine Song, United Kingdom, 3:49
After finding her favorite restaurant has closed, a girl realizes the special connection she had with the place and its food.
[New Mavericks]

SH_T HAPPENS | directed by Michaela Mihalyi & David Stumpf, Czech Republic/Slovakia/France, 13:10
Mutual despair leads an exhausted caretaker, his frustrated wife, and a totally depressed deer to absurd events, because... shit happens all the time.
[In Competition]

OUTTA THIS WORLD
Earthly tensions heightened by the supernatural.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Shorts

THE PREGNANT GROUND | directed by Haolu Wang, United Kingdom, 24:02
After a traumatic stillbirth, a woman starts to believe the ground below her apartment is pregnant.
[New Mavericks]

ABDUCTION | directed by Paul Komadina, Australia, 16:00
After waking up in a field with no memory of how she got there, Mathilda reckons strange visions and marks on her body with the trail of judgement and cruelty that follows.
[World Premiere]

THE TAIL (KUYRUK) | directed by Yiğit Hepsev, Turkey, 10:03
After an existential encounter with his neighbor, Ekrem rethinks his morning routine – cutting off the second head which grows from his neck every night.

WHITE ECHO | directed by Chloe Sevigny, USA, 14:01
After participating in a game of Ouija with a group of friends, Carla is confronted by the supernatural powers she only used to claim to possess.
[New Mavericks]

SWEEP AWAY HUNGRY GHOSTS | directed by Zhang and Knight, United Kingdom, 8:19
The wishful reverie of a young Asian man as he struggles to come to terms with his deceased father’s gender identity. Imbued with themes of traditional Chinese filial piety, the film explores the shifting role of the parent and the uncomfortable space between sex and gender.
[Pink Peach]

ARABIAN ALIEN | directed by Meshal Aljaser, USA, 14:59
Saad, a married Muslim man facing an identity crisis, finds a way to cope with his depression after a space Alien is introduced into his life.
[Pink Peach] [In Competition]

POWER MOVES
Women making their own ways.
New Mavericks Shorts

BLOCKS | directed by Bridget Moloney, USA, 11:04
An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit plastic toy blocks.
[New Mavericks]

THE WALKING FISH | directed by Thessa Meijer, Japan/The Netherlands, 18:59
A sea-creature transforms into a human girl. Her sole desire is to become a perfect individual, but she finds herself overwhelmed with her ambitious pursuits. Will she ever be content?
[New Mavericks]

MARCY LEARNS SOMETHING NEW | directed by Julia Kennelly, USA, 15:52
Feeling run down by the usual cycle of self-improvement programs, a widow tries going to a dominatrix workshop.
[New Mavericks]

BLACKHEADS | directed by Emily Ann Hoffman, USA, 7:46
A woman copes with bad therapy, heartbreak, and blackheads.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

SUZE | directed by Korlei Rochat, Switzerland, 19:30
In a fury of violence, Suze meets the man of her dreams. After a passionate night together, Suze will find out she is allergic to her new friend.
[New Mavericks] [In Competition]

RADICAL REVERIES
A transcendental medley of exceptional cinematic psalms.
Experimental Shorts

UNREST IN IRAN | directed by Alexandra Tahereh Kaucher, USA/Iran, 4:47
A stream-punk collage film examining the state of Iran and U.S. involvement in Iranian history.

MY MOTHER RESENTS ME | directed by Victoria Linares Villegas, Dominican Republic, 6:44
Victoria, an only daughter, tries to decipher her mother's resentment towards her by parsing through old photographs and new footage.
[New Mavericks] [Pink Peach] [Cinemás]

HIS EYES BEHIND MINE | directed by Qin Ziwei, USA, 5:45
A boy, lost in his insecurity and loneliness, has his first romantic exchange with a stranger through text. The unfamiliar feeling for the man turns into a selfish kind of love. Yet he is unaware of the retaliation coming after him.
[Pink Peach]

CHOR(E)S | directed by Danielle Deadwyler, USA, 12:58
With a Bankhead bounce as clarion call, a single woman choir(us) labors a cacophony of chor(e)s: from the domestic to the limits of being left 'lone.
[Georgia]

TO ALL THOSE | directed by Josh Weissbach, USA, 6:47
A city symphony in miniature, dedicated to anyone who has gotten lost in thought while stuck on the midwinter train- to all that unfolds in those private reveries.

BE KIND, PLEASE | directed by Ace McColl, USA, 3:30
An intimate look into a daughter's relationship with her father, told through compiled voicemails and damaged analog tapes.
[Georgia] [New Mavericks] [World Premiere]

SONG OF CLOUDS | directed by Ankit Poudel, USA, 14:59
A haunting visual fever dream; a meditation on the afterlife; the journey to the other-world and what gets left behind among the living.

OH MY HOMELAND | directed by Stephanie Barber, USA, 3:50
A minimal gesture akin to the practice every portrait painter or mother recognizes as ineffably powerful. A film about identity, love, power, patriotism and the transcendent potential of art through the viewing of a face receiving adoration.
[New Mavericks]

STOMPING GROUND
Georgia makers leaving their marks.
Georgia Shorts

MAKING SAMANTHA | directed by T Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper, USA, 10:23
This combined documentary and music video shows the bringing together of 27 trans actors to tell the story of one trans woman and what it means to love and be loved.
[Pink Peach] [Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

PETTING ZOO | directed by Daniel Robin, USA, 11:03
In 1974, the local TV news station came into the filmmaker’s childhood home to document and learn about Jewish rituals. A narrative evolves about the formation of American Jewish identity, and transforms into an analogy for the current rise in anti-Semitism and nationalism in America and the world.
[Georgia Film]

AROUND THE BLOCK | directed by Kevon Pryce, USA, 15:08
An ambitious teenage boy is awarded the opportunity to get out of the Bronx, but finds that the city won’t allow him to leave.
[Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

BLISS IS ORANGE | directed by Jenna Kanell, USA, 6:10
When the chip implanted in her wrist lights up green, Claire discovers that someone nearby is the love of her life.
[New Mavericks] [Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

CON FUERZA | directed by Andrés Eduardo, USA, 9:00
A young Venezuelan refugee woman living in Colombia struggles through the pain of leaving home with the help of some local folk characters.
[Cinemas] [Georgia Film]

BROWN WITH BLUE | directed by Christian Nolan Jones, USA, 22:00
The relationship between a young man and woman slowly deteriorates as they struggle to come to grips with a past decision.
[Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

I DO NOT SLEEP | directed by Beppy Gietema, USA, 16:08
After her mother waits too long to bury her brother, Kitty must decide whether to honor the living or the dead.
[New Mavericks] [Georgia Film]

THREE MEN NAMED MANTAS | directed by James Mackenzie, Lithuania/USA, 11:04
After a one night stand, a pregnant American attempts to track down the father of her child in Lithuania.
[Georgia Film] [World Premiere]

WHAT’S UP WITH THE YOUTH?
Up and coming of age.
Narrative Shorts

PAPERBOY (BLAÐBERINN) | directed by Ninna Pálmadóttir, Iceland/USA, 10:25
A small town paper delivery boy peeks through his neighbor’s window and connects with a traumatized woman.
[In Competition]

BYE BYE, BODY | directed by Charlotte Benbeniste, USA, 9:53
When Nina fails to meet her goal in the final week of weight loss camp, she makes a deal with the devil that leads her to see her body anew.
[New Mavericks]

FISH HEAD | directed by Grace Tan, Australia, 10:00
An alienated teen on the cusp of womanhood must find solace in an alternate coming of age, where lines of gender dissolve by the surrounds of the sea.
[Pink Peach] [World Premiere]

HOMEGOING | directed by Carlton Daniel Jr., USA, 13:30
Working as a mortician as his father's funeral parlor, Junior cycles through an unsatisfying daily routine. A night out with friends forces him to see the world as it truly is.

BROKEN BIRD | directed by Rachel Harrison Gordon, USA, 9:58
A biracial girl caught between two worlds prepares for her Bat Mitzvah and adulthood.
[New Mavericks]

LONELY BLUE NIGHT | directed by Johnson Cheng, USA, 15:05
An awkward family reunion at a business dinner leads a Chinese mother to realize the consequences of leaving her daughter in the care of an American homestay family.
[In Competition] [World Premiere]

CREATIVE MEDIA

EPISODIC
Sit back and enjoy our primetime hour on life, love and pursuit of glory.

BROTHERS FROM THE SUBURBS | directed by Patrick Wimp, USA, 14:35
The highs and lows of three black teenagers coming of age in an affluent, suburban, white, private school community.
SHORT TERM RENTAL | directed by Steve Figueiredo & Sean Patrick Kelly, USA, 5:01

After his marriage comes to an abrupt end, John is left with a vacancy in his heart...and his apartment.

PRETTY PEOPLE | directed by Shelby Blake Bartelstein, USA, 10:10
When Rachel's casual and unexpected hook-up sparks Greg's feelings of jealousy, they'll be forced to say what's on their minds.
[New Mavericks]

TOUGH LOVE | directed by James Mackenzie, USA, 13:05
Nikki is committed to finding a unicorn: someone – male, female, non-binary – who she’s madly attracted to, understands her approach to sexuality, and is actually a good person.
[Pink Peach] [Georgia]

BEST SELLER | directed by Nora Kirkpatrick, USA, 14:06
When the reigning queen of the Home Shopping Network is killed live on-the-air during a hair drying demonstration gone wrong, her three venomous, power-hungry disciples enter into a cutthroat competition for her coveted time slot.
[New Mavericks]

MUSIC VIDEOS

Slide into our slate of electrifying cinematic musical melodies.

BUT FIRST… | directed by Erin Brown Thomas, USA, 5:24
When what comes first makes all the difference!
[New Mavericks]

FLOTUS | directed by Sigin Ojulu, USA, 5:39
Three AfroFuturistic aliens crash ship onto an unknown planet Earth. Melanin ensues. Michelle Obama is channeled. And bad-ass, big clit energy is given.
[New Mavericks] [World Premiere]

DON BROCO - ACTION | directed by Benjamin Roberds, USA, 5:57
This live action/stop motion hybrid starts off as a cheesy homage to 80s and 90s TV ads but soon turns into a nightmare world where the toys fight back.
[Georgia]

FINN ANDREWS - ONE BY THE VENOM | directed by Alexander Gandar, New Zealand, 2:49
A strange and sprawling mosaic about the ways one might end up meeting one's maker.

LADY CLEMENTINE’S FANTASTIC PARTY - CLEMENTINE SEASON X EAST COAST | directed by Mikkoh, USA, 4:43
Lady Clementine brings us the spring dream we’ve all been thirsting for; a window into her dreamworld in “Clementine Season" and a window into her reality in “East Coast.”
[New Mavericks] [Georgia] [Pink Peach]

THE FINAL PIECE | directed by Maris Jones, USA, 3:48
Music artist Suzy Jones is submerged into a visual collage paying homage to 60s art.
[New Mavericks] [Georgia]

TERRY! | directed by Andrew Schwab, USA, 3:03
Utilizing puppetry, choreography, and psychedelic imagery, Atlanta band Moloq celebrates the national treasure that is Terry Gross.
[Georgia]

VIOLENT WATER | directed by Danny Chandia, USA, 4:09
The handcrafted story of a French Navy captain who discovers a wondrous underwater city, and the mermaid who must rescue him from the danger that awaits.

DUE WEST | directed by Cara Stricker & Mindy Le Brock, USA, 5:26
A continuation of the evolution of self, questioning of the romanticism of “home” and what we leave behind in order to gain hope in what’s ahead.
[New Mavericks]

MORMOR - SOMEPLACE ELSE | directed by rubberband, USA, 3:50
A man chases himself after a fatal accident.

J.I.D. - OFF DA ZOINKYS | directed by Scott Lazer, USA, 2:54
In a reimagined scene from Robert Altman's classic 1973 film ‘The Long Goodbye', Ansel Elgort stars as a hungover man that feeds his cat.
[Georgia]

VIRTUOUS CIRCLE | directed by Farhad Ghaderi, Canada, 5:10
The joys and pains of brotherhood through the volatile relationship between a young boy and his self-destructive older brother.

VAGABON - WATER ME DOWN | directed by Maegan Houang, USA, 4:32

Laetitia Tamko meditates on self-empowerment through movement and colored dreamscapes.
[New Mavericks]

VIRTUAL REALITY

Immerse yourself in our line-up of ground-breaking 360° experiences.

12 SECONDS OF GUNFIRE | directed by Seth Blanchard & Suzette Moyer, USA, 7:26
First-grader Ava struggles to deal with the aftermath of a school shooting — from her friend Jacob’s funeral to the anguished letter she sends to President Donald Trump asking him to keep kids safe from guns.

HOW TO TELL A TRUE IMMIGRANT STORY | directed by Aggie Ebrahimi Bazaz, USA, 12:57
A 360-degree tapestry of reflections on belonging, racial profiling, and resilience among members of an immigrant community in upstate New York.
[Georgia] [New Mavericks]

CHILDREN DO NOT PLAY WAR | directed by Fabiano Mixo, USA/Brazil/Uganda, 8:02
A tale of the war in Uganda told through the eyes of a young girl. Mixing early oral storytelling tradition and contemporary VR narrative, blending fiction and non-fiction elements, this film narrates the memories, dreams and daily lives of the children who returned from the war and about how they recovered their childhood.

SWAMPSCAPES | directed by Liz Miller, Kim Grinfeder, & Juan Carlos Zaldivar, USA, 12:47
An immersive film that offers a journey to remote regions of the Everglades, one of the most diverse swamps in the world, and explores the complexity between humans and this extraordinary ecosystem.

TX-REVERSE 360° | directed by Martin Reinhart & Virgil Widrich, Austria/Germany, 5:28
What is behind the cinema screen? What if the auditorium dissolves and with it the familiar laws of cinema itself? An experience shot in 10K and 360° with 135 participants at Babylon Berlin, reversing time and space.

VR FREE | directed by Milad Tangshir, Italy, 10:08
Exploring the nature of incarceration spaces by portraying slices of life inside a prison in Turin, Italy. VR bridges the gap between the jail and the world outside: virtual fragments of freedom regained.

Atlanta Film Festival Postpones 2020 Event

STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER ESCOBAR

ATLANTA, GA (March 19, 2020) - In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the 44th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF), originally slated for April 30 – May 10, 2020. We remain committed to presenting ATLFF in 2020 in a way that the city can be proud of, and recognize that with recent guidelines by both the City of Atlanta and the CDC, it is no longer possible on the previously announced dates. We are already in the process of selecting new dates for later in the year, which we hope to announce very soon.

This is not a decision we make lightly, but we are committed to protecting the safety of our staff, filmmakers and all those who attend our event. We also recognize the importance of playing our part to slow the effects of COVID-19 in order to keep those among us who are most vulnerable safe. 

We are incredibly proud of the work we will showcase in our 2020 program, and remain committed to bringing a diverse lineup of selected films and creative works, in addition to our Creative Conference and special events, to audiences at a time that it is safe to do so. The lineup of programming, selected from a record-breaking 8,550 submissions, has been chosen and will be announced with the forthcoming revised dates for the 2020 event. 

Film festivals have always been deeply rooted in community. While the upheaval in the festival landscape is unprecedented and can feel disheartening, we are encouraged by the level of kindness and support we have witnessed amongst our festival peers, sponsors, the filmmaking community and the city of Atlanta. With this support and collaboration, ATLFF and its parent organization, the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS), remain committed to our mission to provide support, education and a voice for the arts and filmmakers across the globe, and especially in the state of Georgia. 

ATLFS will continue to explore online options for classes and events as needed over the coming months, following the guidelines of the CDC and local officials as we move forward.

We realize that moving our dates may bring about scheduling conflicts with our attendees. Any purchased badges will be honored for the new dates. In the event you can no longer attend the festival and have already purchased badges for the original dates, we have relaxed our refund policy and will provide a window to request refunds. Please refer to our website and FAQ page for details on refunds—these pages will be updated as soon as our new dates are announced.

To stay up-to-date on new festival dates, announcements on the lineup and other Atlanta Film Festival news, please visit AtlantaFilmFestival.com and follow the festival on social media via Facebook (@atlantafilmfestival), Twitter (@atlantafilmfest) and Instagram (@atlantafilmfestival).

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 30,000 festival attendees enjoy independent, animated, documentary and short films each year, selected from more than 8,550 submissions from 118 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. It is also the most distinguished event in its class, recognized on USA Today’s ‘10Best Film Festivals’, as well as the 'Best Spring Festival' by Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 'Best Film Festival' by Creative Loafing and Atlanta Magazine, and one of the '25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World' by MovieMaker Magazine. Major funding for the Atlanta Film Society is provided by WarnerMedia, SPANX and the Sara Blakely Foundation, the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, 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 and Delta Airlines.

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. 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.

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 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. 

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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). 

Atlanta Film Festival Announces Opening Night, Closing Night, Special Presentations & Creative Conference

ATLANTA, GA (March 3, 2017)  — The 2017 Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is pleased to unveil key programming highlights that will take place during the 41st annual event from Friday, March 24, 2017 – Sunday, April 2, 2017. The featured screenings and events, announced first by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, include Opening and Closing Night Presentations, 18 Marquee and World Premiere screenings, 40 Creative Conference events and 12 unique Special Presentations. The programming revealed today will join a spectacular lineup of 163 previously announced feature length and short films, selected from a record 6,000+ submissions.

To kick-off the fest, ATLFF is pleased to welcome the feature film DAVE MADE A MAZE, as the Opening Night Presentation on Friday, March 24, 2017. Lauded “a cult classic in the making,” the narrative feature-length film combines elements of live action, puppetry and stop-motion video. The film stars comedian Nick Thune and is the directorial debut of writer-director Bill Watterson. Watterson and select cast and crewmembers will attend the Opening Night red carpet screening and celebration.

The festival’s Marquee screenings will take place throughout the ten-day event, giving attendees the opportunity to see a diverse lineup of upcoming releases from major film studios, including: Focus Features, 20th Century Fox, CBS Films and Sony Pictures Classics. Marquee screenings will include: THE LOST CITY OF Z (starring Charlie Hunnam, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson), THE BOSS BABY (starring Alec Baldwin, Steve Buscemi, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy Kimmel, Toby Maguire), and DEAN (starring Demetri Martin and Kevin Kline). 

Among the Marquee screenings is a trio of films presented in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF). ATLFF is proud to partner with AJFF to co-present three films with strong ties to Judaism that both celebrate and honor the Jewish faith and heritage. Based on the best-selling novel by Diane Ackerman, THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE (starring Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh, Daniel Brühl) recounts the true story of the Polish couple, who fought to save humans and animals in the Warsaw Zoo during World War II. NORMAN: THE MODERATE RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF A NEW YORK FIXER – partially shot in Israel – tells the story of Norman Oppenheimer (Richard Gere), an opportunist who finds himself in the center of a geopolitical drama beyond anything he could have imagined.

To conclude Atlanta’s 2017 celebration of culture and cinema, ATLFF will close with MENASHE from A24 Films, the studio behind the ‘Best Picture’ winner at the 2017 Academy Awards®.  A Yiddish comedic drama that explores New York’s ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community, MENASHE is the third film presented in partnership with the AJFF. Executive Producer Danelle Eliav is scheduled to appear at the Closing Night celebration.

ATLFF is proud to host the World Premiere of seven feature-length narrative or documentary films and two episodic pilots during the 2017 festival. World Premiere presentations will feature films from ATLFF specialty tracks (New Mavericks, Pink Peach, Georgia-Made) and with casts that include notable actors such as Maggie Grace, Justin Chatwin, Maika Monroe and Will Patton.

In addition to film screenings, ATLFF hosts a series of Special Presentations annually, including fest-favorites Food on Film and SOUND + VISION. This is the fifth year that ATLFF has hosted the Food on Film event, which pairs a food-themed movie with a delicious after party. This year, foodies and film lovers can expect a 25th Anniversary Presentation of Georgia-made classic MY COUSIN VINNY, followed by a southern celebration to honor grits. SOUND + VISION will also return to the 2017 festival with details to be announced. Also joining the Special Presentations lineup this year is a block of emerging creative media including music videos, episodic television pilots and virtual reality screenings. 

Rounding out the announcement of key programming is the 2017 ATLFF Creative Conference schedule. As the festival’s educational programming track, the five-day Creative Conference program consists of nearly 40 panels, talks and demos that delve deeper into the captivating world of cinema, focusing on topics such as screenwriting, acting, producing, casting, funding and distribution. This year ATLFF is delighted to offer conferences on production location, IMDB, costume design, script writing and more. 

For a full lineup of films, or to purchase passes, please visit www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. Select individual screening tickets are on sale now and will be updated as additional events are announced. 

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.

Additional announcements will be made as programming is added to the 2017 ATLFF lineup.

OPENING NIGHT PRESENTATION

Dave Made A Maze

Directed by Bill Watterson
USA, 2017, English, 81 minutes
Friday, March 24, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

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.
#Puppetry, #Marquee

Director Bill Watterson and select cast and crew members scheduled to attend.
Sponsored by Moonshine Post-Production.

CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION

Menashe

directed by Joshua Z. Weinstein
USA/Israel, 2017, Yiddish, 91 minutes
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 7:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Presented in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Deep in the heart of New York’s ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community, Menashe, a kind, hapless grocery store clerk, struggles to make ends meet and responsibly parent his young son, Rieven, following his wife Leah’s death. Tradition prohibits Menashe from raising his son alone, so Rieven’s strict uncle adopts him, leaving Menashe heartbroken. Meanwhile, though Menashe seems to bungle every challenge in his path, his rabbi grants him one special week with Rieven before Leah’s memorial. It’s his chance to prove himself a suitable man of faith and fatherhood, and restore respect among his doubters.
#Marquee

Executive Producer & Unit Production Manager Danelle Eliav scheduled to attend.
Sponsored by Music Matters.

MARQUEE FILMS

The Boss Baby

Directed by Tom McGrath
USA, 2017, English
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 2:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

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.
#Animation #FamilyFriendly

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

The Hero

Directed by Brett Haley
USA, 2017, English 96 minutes
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories and smoking too much weed with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes up an exciting, contentious relationship with stand-up comic Charlotte (Laura Prepon), and he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter), all while searching for one final role to cement his legacy.
#Marquee

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

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
Presented in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

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

The Promise

Directed by Terry George
Spain/Portugal/Malta/USA, 2016, English/German/French, 134 minutes
Sunday, April 2, 2017, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

Michael Boghosian (Oscar Isaac) arrives in 1914 Constantinople as a medical student determined to bring modern medicine back to Siroun, his ancestral village in Southern Turkey. Photo-journalist Chris Myers (Christian Bale), has come here only partly to cover geo-politics. He is mesmerized by his love for Ana (Charlotte le Bon), an Armenian artist he has accompanied from Paris after the sudden death of her father. When Michael meets Ana, their shared Armenian heritage sparks an attraction that explodes into a romantic rivalry between the two men even as Michael hangs on to a promise from his past. After the Turks join the war on the German side, the Empire turns violently against its own ethnic minorities. Despite their conflicts, everyone must find a way to survive—even as monumental events envelope their lives.
#Marquee

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

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

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
Presented in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (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 Żabińskis 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

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

WonderRoot’s Local Film Series
Thursday, March 23, 2017, 7:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main — $12 at door/$10 in advance

Once again, we kick-off the festival with WonderRoot’s generally local, mostly independent film series. Join us for a night of awe-inspiring short films from our own backyard.
#Georgia

ATLFF Screenplay Competition: Table Read
Friday, March 24, 2017, 4:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs — FREE with RSVP

Join us for a script read of selections from each of the three 2017 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition winners, featuring local SAG-AFTRA actors.

AIGA Poster Show: Art Director’s Cut
Friday, March 24, 2017, 7:00 PM — Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge — FREE with RSVP

It’s the sequel to last year’s smash hit Poster Show + Mixtape Collaboration fundraiser with a new twist: MOVIES! Our carefully selected critics have curated a poster exhibition that will be on display during the festival to pay homage to our favorite movies. All attendees will take home an event poster for free.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday, March 24 & 31, 2017, 12:00 AM — Plaza Theatre, Main — $12

It's a Plaza Theatre institution! Lips Down On Dixie performs the interactive version of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Midnight each Friday.

Fear Haus
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 10:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main — $12 at door/$10 in advance

Join the FEAR HAUS team during their hand-picked, 1-hour horror genre block, presented by Blair Bathory and Drew Sawyer, with guests of honor Luchagore! FEAR HAUS is an Atlanta-based international brand that curates episodic and feature content with directors and filmmaking teams from around the world. We are proud to have Luchagore with us at the festival, kicking off our newest season. Additionally, Luchagore is collaborating with FEAR HAUS on original content in Atlanta as part of our brand new FEARMAKER program. FEARMAKER provides sustainable production opportunities for talented genre filmmakers, helping showcase them and other’s work around the world. Prepare to make horror your new home.
#Georgia

Food on Film - 25th Anniversary presentation: My Cousin Vinny
directed by Jonathan Lynn
USA, 1992, English, 120 minutes
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 12:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main — $12 at door/$10 in advance

Bill Gambini and Stan Rothenstein are a couple of 21-year-old college guys taking a cross-country road trek to UCLA via the back roads of the deep South. They should be having the time of their lives, except for one small mishap: They are wrongfully arrested in Wahzoo City, Alabama, for murdering a convenience store clerk. At best, they face long-term jail sentences; at worst...the electric chair. Their only hope is legal representation from Bill's cousin Vinny, a Brooklyn lawyer who took six years to pass the bar and only made it six weeks ago. This is not only his first murder trial it's his first case. Refusing help from his fiery Brooklyn girlfriend, Lisa, the novice lawyer must wrestle with legal procedures in an alien environment under the intimidating eye of Chamberlain Haller, a tough country judge with an obsession for the letter of the law and a powerful dislike for Vinny. This year, we are having an after-party to celebrate GRITS, in all the glorious, Southern dishes we can get our hands on. (After-party FREE with “My Cousin Vinny” ticket or festival badge.)
#Georgia

Puppet Slam
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 9:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main — $12 at door/$10 in advance

Hosted by Beau Brown, the Puppet Slam (formerly known as Touch the Puppet Head) is a combination of live puppetry performances and curated short puppet films. Featuring “New Roommate” directed by Victor Yerrid, “Pets” directed by Raymond Carr & Molly Coffee, “Fade to Grey” directed by Rowan Patel and “Fruit Flies” directed by Benjamin Wilson.
#Georgia

The Florida State University College Of Motion Picture Arts Presents: Selected Keylight Films
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 6:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs — FREE with RSVP

The FSU College of Motion Pictures Arts presents a showcase of eight short student films followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the College. Ranked by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 25 film schools in the country, FSU College of Motion Picture Arts produces student films that regularly win prestigious awards like the Student Emmys and Oscars. Join us for an evening of cinematic entertainment as we showcase this year's selected Keylight Films.

The Art Institute of Atlanta Presents: Senior Film Screening
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 5:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main — FREE with RSVP

A showcase of short films created by senior level students from The Art Institute of Atlanta.
#Georgia

EPISODIC PILOTS

FAMILY PILOTS
Enjoy family pilots before the shorts block Planet of the Children!    
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:15 PM — Towne Cinema
FREE with RSVP                                    

The Discovery of Dit Dodson
Directed by Kelley Kali | USA, 2016, English, 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.
#FamilyFriendly, #WorldPremiere

Little Mouse
Directed by Ervin B. Nagy | Hungary, 2016, Hungarian, 7:12
1986. Budapest. The later olympic champion swimmer Krisztina Egerszegi is only 12. Her opponents are stronger and bigger.
#FamilyFriendly

COMEDY PILOTS
Binge through three full season comedies at Dad's Garage!
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 3 PM, 5PM & 7:30 PM — Dad's Garage Theatre
$12 at door/$10 in advance

The Benefits of Gusbandry
Directed by Alicia J. Rose | USA, 2016, English, 1:17:00
One woman, one man, a lot of weed, a little crying and NO sexual attraction whatsoever.  Love is so gay.
#NewMavericks, #PinkPeach

The Minutes Collection
Directed by Jim Cummings & Dustin Hahn | USA, 2015, English, 1:27:10
Dona Nobis Pacem: grant us peace.

Hart of America
Directed by Arlen Konopaki | USA, 2016, English, 55:00
Alcoholic bigfoot, sex-crazed teens, and a hard-nosed detective cross paths in the Georgia woods searching for fulfillment.
#Georgia

UNSCRIPTED PILOTS
Tune into vignettes of local and domestic artists in our documentary block.
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 4:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Main
$12 at door/$10 in advance

UNCODE
Directed by Myisa Plancq-Graham | USA, 2017, English, 25:00
An original series documenting the presence, global influence, and varied interests of the African diaspora.
#NewMavericks, #PinkPeach

We The Creators
Directed by Babacar Ndiaye | USA, 2016, English, 12:00
“We the Creators” takes a closer look at a diverse group of artists specializing in multiple art forms.
#Georgia

SCRIPTED PILOTS
Head to Poncey-Highland for some late night drama.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 7:20 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
$12 at door/$10 in advance

Reset
Directed by Christelle Gras | France, 2016, French, 33:57
The end of the world, the beginning of theirs

Steps
Directed by Fernando Sanchez & Pascual Sisto | USA, 2016, English, 59:00
A series that rearranges itself to form unique episodes for each viewer as it weaves the deviant drives of several unconnected people.
#WorldPremiere

VIRTUAL REALITY

Monday, March 27 & Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 6PM to 10PM — 7 Stages Theatre, Black Box

Ch'aak' S'aagi (Eagle Bone)
Directed by Tracy Rector
USA, 2016, Lushootseed/English/Tlingit, 5:00
Nature reminds us that we are all connected and to reflect on the teachings of the old ones.

Fossil Hunters of the Gobi
Directed by Jason Drakeford
USA, 2016, English, 3:44
We immerse the viewer in the journey of 1920s explorer and fossil hunter Roy Chapman Andrews, leading up to current day research.
#Georgia

haunt
Directed by Lilian Mehrel
USA, 2016, English, 7:39
"haunt" is a short virtual reality film about presence, experienced through the eyes of a ghost.
#NewMavericks

I Philip
Directed by Pierre Zandrowicz
France, 2016, English, 13:00
“I Philip” is an immersive short fiction that takes the viewer inside the mind of one of the greatest writers of science-fiction of our time.

Please State Your Name
Directed by Jak Wilmot
USA, 2016, English, 9:00
Stuck with a broken voice box, a decapitated robot head desperately tries to escape a giant garbage facility.
#Georgia

Traces
Directed by Gabriela Arp
USA, 2016, English, 8:00
Traces is a cinematic virtual reality film exploring the meaning of memory for one woman living with Alzheimer's disease.
#Georgia, #NewMavericks

Women on the Move
Directed by Shannon Carroll
Niger, 2016, English, 6:24
A woman's life in rural Niger changes when she enters into a savings group. Will her granddaughter take the next step out of poverty?
#Georgia

MUSIC VIDEOS

Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 9:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

“Oh Elise” - VIECH
Directed by Arne v. Nostitz-Rieneck | Austria, 2016, German, 6:19

“It Keeps You Running (To The Hills)” - Metal McDonald
Directed by Video Rahim | USA, 2016, English, 6:37
#Georgia

“Dangerous” - Big Freedia
Directed by Wilberto Lucci | USA, 2015, English, 4:30
#PinkPeach

“The Rush” - Langtunes
Directed by Sahar Tarzi | Iran, 2015, English, 3:37

“Young Rebels” - TW Walsh
Directed by Brit Wigintton | USA, 2016, English, 3:03
#Georgia

“Soy Yo” - Bomba Estéreo
Directed by Torben Kjelstrup | Denmark, 2016, Spanish, 2:55

“Left & Right” - Pazes
Directed by Camila Lima | Brazil, 2016, 3:29

“Ponura Tresura” - Makabreski
Directed by Ala nunu Leszynska | Poland, 2016, Polish, 5:09

“Time Stops” - StarBenders
Directed by Benjamin Roberds | USA, 2016, English, 3:49
#Georgia

“Fighter” - Supa Good D Smoke feat. Jackie Gouché + Davion Farris
Directed by Erica Eng | USA, 2016, English, 6:00

“Redefine” - TRENTEMØLLER
Directed by Åsa Ritton & Andreas Emenius | Denmark/Sweden, 2016, English, 5:08

“Move” - Austin Royale
Directed by Josh Yates | USA, 2016, English, 2:30

“Funeral Regrets” - Closet Witch
Directed by Autojektor | UK/USA, 2016, English, 2:55

“Flight Attendant” - XXX
Directed by Mattis Dovier | South Korea/France, 2016, Korean, 3:52

“Beasts in the Garden” - Spires That In The Sunset Rise
Directed by Lori Felker | USA, 2015, English, 6:29

“The Was” - The Avalanches
Directed by Soda_Jerk | Australia, 2016, English, 13:40

CREATIVE CONFERENCE

MONDAY, MARCH 27th

Location, Location, Location — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

A director, production designer, and location managers discuss finding the right location and how collaboration can produce the perfect look.

Reputation is Everything — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Black Box

From your resume to the basics of IMDb, learn to accurately and properly list your credits whether you're an actor or crew.

Create Me — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

A writer, director, actor, propmaster, and costume designer work together to construct different characters from the page to the stage.

Trust Me — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Documentary filmmakers explore when and how to build trust with their subject(s), the difficulty of staying neutral, and the lines to avoid crossing.

Make It Work — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Development is crucial to success—what's involved, why it's about more than just script rewrites, and how the right team can help bring your ideas into focus.

Breaking In — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Production Assistants discuss how they got started, what they wish they'd known, tips for success, and networking best practices to keep getting gigs.

I'll be in my Trailer — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Actors working on network television shows and studio features share what it took to get there, and how indie film started their careers.

SAGIndie: Get Great Talent — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Producers and production staff: SAGIndie offers an indepth look at the various low budget contracts that the Screen Actors Guild has to offer.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28th

Fincannon & Associates: Casting Master Class — 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Plaza Theatre, Main

Mark Fincannon explains the art of casting, self-taping, auditions, discovering new talent, and more.

Based on a True Story — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Narrative, reality TV, and documentary filmmakers discuss the pros and cons of crafting stories based in real life.

The Pinewood Panel: Candy Jar - An Indie Case Study — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Main

Please join Producing team Judy Cairo and Michael A Simpson, Line Producer Carole Peterman, and Director Ben Shelton as they discuss their new film shooting at Pinewood, Candy Jar.

Back to One — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Actors and directors explore how to find a common language to best communicate intention, and what makes a good working relationship.

A Fist Full Of Dollars — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Black Box

Art department members share tips and tricks to save money, like recycling big budget sets to keep them out of landfills.

Note to Self — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

A writer, director, producer, and editor talk about the art of giving and receiving notes, whether from each other or a studio.

Working in a Virtual World — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Directors and DPs examine the differences and challenges of VR storytelling vs typical narrative work.

Block, Light, Rehearse, Shoot — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

From shot lists to scheduling, how the DP, Director, and 1st AD collaborate to ensure a production runs smoothly.

The Business of The Biz — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Former film crew members explain how their insider knowledge allowed them to start an ancillary business that serves the film industry and their previous craft.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29th

Grip Truck Show and Tell — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Back Parking Lot

Day 1 Production Services showcases the typical 3-ton non-CDL grip truck used by indie features and smaller productions.

The Fine Print — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Entertainment attorneys discuss the contracts necessary to protect everyone involved on your next production.

Light and Shoot Your Indie — 11:15 AM - 12:45 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

PC&E demos cameras, lighting, and grip equipment to help you choose the right gear for your next production.

Stop and Care: Set Safety  — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

From insurance and safety meetings to stunts and guns, how to get the shots you need, encourage your crew to speak up, and keep your set safe.

Animate It — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, The Workshop

Hands-on workshop provides the tools, equipment, and know how to create an animated project in under an hour.

Sound is Half the Picture — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

From on-location sound recording and basic equipment to post audio and foley, the dos and don'ts of sound recording.

Show Me The Money — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Film investment, tax credits, sales reps, and self distribution; panelists share how their process works and best practices.

ShareGrid: Cinematography — 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Directors of Photography discuss cameras, lenses, and the best approach for investing in gear. Get tips on branding yourself as an owner/operator and how to fully monetize your time and gear. Join us for a ShareGrid sponsored Happy Hour at Highland Ballroom following panel discussion! 

Media Services: Payroll-101 — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Everything you need to know about payroll: union issues, workers’ comp, incentives, budgeting and the latest digital tools from Media Services Payroll.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30th

Disrupting Hollywood — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

The Hollywood system has made movies the same way for over 100 years. Is Atlanta poised to disrupt the status quo using data and new technologies?

I Recognize That Voice — 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

From animation to VO and narration, Atlanta's voice talent community examines what it takes to succeed.

Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick Two — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Filmmakers share the challenges and freedom of low budget filmmaking, plus tips and tricks to help you succeed.

Unions & Guilds — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Reps discuss who their unions/guilds represent, how to join, how they work with indie productions, and what to expect when under a union contract.

It's a Small World Afterall — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

How diversity behind and in front of the camera increases marketability and sales; delivering your message to an ever-growing diverse, worldwide audience.

Truth or Consequences — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Documentary filmmakers examine ‘truth’ in today's climate, its affect on their power to persuade, and whether agenda based or neutral approaches may work best.

Not Your Parents' Cartoons — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Network animated series creators share how new digital platforms expand distribution possibilities for their shows as well as animators in general.

#ShePersisted — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Film Fatales, PGA WIN committee, BWFN, WIFTA, New Mavericks, and more discuss opportunities for females in education, mentorship, and support.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31st

Managing Media — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Post-production companies handling studio features, network TV shows, and indie features explain best practices for organizational workflow.

Playing Games — 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

With over 100 video game studios, Georgia is a hotbed of talent, creating opportunities for gamemakers and interesting alliances with filmmakers.

Georgia On My Mind — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

Georgia has a deep and diverse music scene—how to license songs, get an original score, and use music to complement rather than overwhelm the moment.

Airport Shorts: Puppetry and Stop Motion Animation — 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Molly Coffee and friends discuss the making of “Passing 66,” her felt puppet stop motion animation airport short.

Case Study: A Scene for Sound Design — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, 7 Stages Theatre, Main

John Kassab, sound designer and producer of last year's ATLFF feature “Like Lambs,” dissects scenes from the movie to illustrate the art of sound design.

Case Study: VFX in GIFs — 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

Self-taught viral video GIF maker Chris Nik demystifies the process, explains improv comedy's influence, and how to VFX problem solve on a DIY budget.

Music Videos + Pilots in 2016 ATLFF Lineup Announced

The 2016 schedule includes two presentation categories curated to contribute to the variety and excitement of our 40th anniversary: music videos and pilot webisodes.

Music videos will screen as a FREE Joystick Gamebar event followed by games, drinks, and Q&As with attending artists and filmmakers.

Pilots will precede the Analyze This: A Webseries Pilot Case Study panel during Tuesday's Creative Conference, where three webseries filmmakers will pitch their pilots to a panel of Adult Swim industry professionals.

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MUSIC VIDEOS

The Less I Know the Better — Tame Impala
directed by CANADA, 5:42

Water N Liquor — Karmella Daniel
directed by Payne Lindsey, 3:22

Amadeus — Family & Friends
directed by Mike MacDonald, 3:30

Kandy Kangaroo — Q. Guyton
directed by Quentin Guyton, 4:43

Golden Goose — Sam Lucia
directed by Blake Davey, 3:28

King — Grades
directed by Taichi Kumura, 4:37

The Ground Walks — Modest Mouse
directed by Jorge Torres-Torres, 4:01

Going Nowhere — St. Beauty
produced by tre native  and Directed by Lacey Duke, 3:46

Dove — Pillar Point
directed by Jacob Krupnick, 4:52

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PILOTS

"The Brint KostOn Show" 
written & directed by Brent Costin and BROCK SHANKS
USA, 2015, 7:50

"McTucky Fried High" 
created & directed by Robert Carnilius, written by Lexington L. Lawson
USA, 2015, 4:17

"The Rub" 
written & directed by Kenneth Beaumont & Jonathan Davenport
USA, 2015, 6:31

Thursday's Creative Conference: Casting Call + More

Screenwriting Day, Puppetry Day, and Free Demo Day are behind us, but we're not done! Join us tomorrow at 7 Stages for Fever Pitch: An Open Casting Call, I Want My MTV, and Scoring on A Budget.

Filmmakers and casting agents would be wise to attend the Open Casting Call from 11am to 12:30pm on the Main Stage; over 50 hopefuls have signed up to pitch their acting talent! Carrie Anne Hunt, actress and Co-Chair of the Atlanta SAG-AFTRA Indie Outreach Committee will host and moderate the event.

Then from 1:30-2:30pm, visiting filmmakers will show one-and-a-half to two minute clip reels showcasing excerpts from three music videos they’ve created in I Want My MTV. After the panelists hit play, attendees momentarily rock out before said panelist waxes poetically on the pleasures and/or challenges of each project. ATLFF alumnus and editor Tom Roche will moderate.

Finally, learn how to create a cohesive sound for your film, choose a composer, license songs, and the best practice for film scoring when you don't have money to burn. From 3-4pm, Film Composer Paul Mercer and Sound Designer Bruce Bennett will discuss how to score a film on a budget. 

Wednesday's Creative Conference: Lights! Camera! Grip Truck!

The Creative Conference is a series of panel discussions, DIY presentations, and informational workshops presented by our Educational Director and his chosen panelists. The next three mornings, March 24th through March 27th, 7 Stages theatre will host curated themes. Come out Wednesday morning to participate in an entirely FREE lineup: Field Audio 101, DIY Lighting Workshop, Demo: Grip Truck, On-Set Safety, Demo: A Drone's Eye View, and DJI Ronin Camera Stabilizer Workshop.

From 10:30-11:30am, learn the basics of production sound! This seminar is designed to provide an introduction for students, producers, and anyone who wants to learn more about field audio. Even if you’re not an aspiring mixer, understanding the workflow of the sound department can help your set run smoothly! Topics will include wireless microphone fundamentals, booming techniques, wiring talent with lavaliers, and basic recorders. 
Presented by Dan Joseph and Marty Simpson from Gotham Sound

Then from 12-1pm, discover economical tricks to building your own lighting without compromising the professional look of your film. Cinematographer/writer/director Ly Bolia discusses lighting on a limited budget in this hands-on workshop.

Step inside the Grip Truck for a show-and-tell with Day 1 Production Services from 1:30-2:30, or join us inside for a meaningful conversation about the long-term impact on-set safety has on crew-members, talent and local communities.

Nolan Lunsford and Brent Bouthiller from Unmanned Imaging will present a live hexacopter demonstration and showcase footage from previous projects from 3-4pm.

Lastly, ATLFF Filmmaker-in-Residence and installation artist Micah Stansell will present a hands-on workshop on the DJI Ronin 3-axis stabilized handheld gimbal from 4:30-6pm! Learn the powerful capabilities (and flexibility) of this new gimbal camera platform and how it can transform your next production.  The workshop will give attendees a chance to set-up and operate the Ronin in a real world scenario as well as tips and strategies for capturing high production-value footage.  Limited to the first 30 people.

This is the perfect day for any student or filmmaker yearning to explore tools, secrets, and strategies! Whether you're a seasoned Conference guest or waiting for a worthy chance to check it out for the first time, Wednesday has what you're looking for.

Tuesday's Creative Conference: Puppets and Archer and Lasers, Oh My!

The Creative Conference is a series of mostly FREE panel discussions, DIY presentations, and informational workshops presented by our Educational Director and his chosen panelists! Each weekday morning, March 23rd through March 27th, 7 Stages theatre will host curated themes. Come out Tuesday morning to participate in A Fist Inside the Glove: Puppetry in Independent Film, Puppeteering for the Camera, Archer: Behind the Scenes, and Silhouette Animation: 3D Printing and Laser Cutting!

Tired of those pesky human actors? Puppets are the answer! Join Atlanta's very own New Puppet Order from 10:30-11:30am to learn their methods for incorporating puppetry into independent film. Sam Carter, Darrell C. Hazelrig and Beau Brown will share insights from the 8 puppetry short films they have produced in the last 5 years. 

From 12:00-1:00pm, learn the hand-and-rod puppetry style developed for television by Jim Henson known by puppeteers as “monitor work”; the puppeteer references a live feed of their performance in a monitor rather than watching the puppet directly. Participants will learn the basics of gravity, focus, and breath as well as get a chance to see themselves on screen.

From 1:30-2:30pm, The 3D and 2D animators/illustrators from Floyd County Productions will present clips from the Emmy-nominated animated series “Archer” and discuss how they broke into the industry. There will be a Q&A and a meet-and-greet with the panelists following the program.

With help from innovative technologies like the 3D printer and laser cutter, the animation industry has opened to a world of possibilities. Join us where papercraft meets stop motion animation as we present an up close demo from 3-4pm of how Pepakura and Pop Up Pro paper craft software can create amazing effects as seen in our ATLFF film bumper. 

ATLFF '15: Hone Your Crafts at the 2015 Creative Conference

Last year's Creative Conference saw a variety of panels, workshops, demos and seminars take place during the day on Monday-Friday at The Plaza Theatre. Now, we are pleased to be offering an even more diverse slate of educational opportunities for those wanting to hone their skills and develop their interests at the 2015 Creative Conference, Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27. This year, we are moving the Creative Conference to 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points!

Several of our panels and demos are completely FREE! Whether you want to learn about Screenwriting, Lighting, Audio, On-set safety or Specialty cameras, check out one—or all—of our free events!

Ticketed Creative Conference events cover topics like Puppetry, Animation, an "Archer" meet-and-greet, an acting Casting Call, a Music Video panel, Film Scoring, Funding and discussions on making Short Films, on finding balance between art and story in Documentaries, and on Female Stereotypes in the Film Industry. BBC World News will also present a documentary screening from BBC Pop Up.

If you would like to sign up to pitch your screenplay on Monday March 23 at 1:00 PM, Click here!

If you would like to sign up to participate in the Casting Call on Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 AM, Click here!

Check out the full listing below and check out the Creative Conference page to get tickets!

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MONDAY - 3/23

FREE “Invading Hollywood: Breaking into the Industry for Screenwriting”
7 Stages, Main Stage
10:00am-11:00am
This panel discussion will cover topics such as finding an agent, shopping your script around, and what to do with your script once it's written and polished.
Panelists: Chris Kelly, Robin Henry, Dan Bush        
Moderator: Denise Hendricks

FREE “What’s the Plan, Stan: The Logistics of Screenwriting”
7 Stages, Main Stage
11:30am-12:30pm
Want to write a screenplay but don’t know where to start? This panel discussion will offer insight on developing a practical timeline for your future screenplay.
Panelists: Brian Egeston, Todd Brock, Lanre Olabisi (Somewhere in the Middle)        
Moderator: Denise Hendricks

FREE “Screenplay Pitch-O-Rama”
7 Stages, Main Stage
1:00pm-2:30pm
Screenwriters will have 90 seconds to pitch their screenplays to an audience and a panel of professionals who will then vote for the three films they'd like to see—the three screenplays that are most effectively “pitched." Winners will receive complimentary passes to Michael Lucker’s next Screenwriters’ School.
Judges: Michael Lucker, Ken Lemm, Corey Prince and Frank Hall Green (Wildlike)        
Moderator: Denise Hendricks    
SIGN UP HERE

“Student to Professional: Navigating Your Way into the Creative Industry ”
7 Stages, Main Stage
3:00pm-4:00pm
When career path options seem infinite, applying for jobs can be intimidating. Whether interested in production, post-production, freelance, full-time, or something in between, the Student to Professional panel can help with these important decisions. Curated by Tube (Tubecreative.com), this panel consists of three industry veterans who can offer insight and tips for resumes, portfolios and best practices for applying for work in the creative industry. Featuring Chris Downs from Tube and David Goldstein
 

TUESDAY - 3/24

“A Fist Inside the Glove: Puppetry in Independent Film”
7 Stages, Main Stage
10:30am-11:30am
Tired of those pesky human actors? Puppets are the answer! Join Atlanta's very own New Puppet Order to learn their methods for incorporating puppetry into independent film. Sam Carter (Good Grief Suicide Hotline), Darrell C. Hazelrig (Good Grief Suicide Hotline) and Beau Brown will share insights from the 8 puppetry short films they have produced in the last 5 years.
Presented by New Puppet Order

“Puppeteering for the Camera”
7 Stages, Main Stage
12:00pm-1:00pm
Learn the hand-and-rod puppetry style developed for television by Jim Henson by puppeteers as “monitor work”; the puppeteer references a live feed of their performance in a monitor rather than watching the puppet directly. Participants will learn the basics of gravity, focus, and breath as well as get a chance to see themselves on screen.

“Archer: Behind the Scenes”
7 Stages, Main Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm
The 3D and 2D animators/illustrators from Floyd County Productions will present clips from the Emmy-nominated animated series “Archer” and discuss how they broke into the industry. There will be a Q&A and a meet-and-greet with the panelists following the program.
Presented by Jay Li, Chris Malone, Josh Grubbs, Duncan Burris and Allyssa Lewis from Floyd County Productions

“Silhouette Animation: 3D Printing and Laser Cutting”
7 Stages, Main Stage
3:00pm-4:00pm
With help from innovative technologies like the 3D printer and laser cutter, the animation industry has opened to a world of possibilities. Join us where papercraft meets stop motion animation as we present an up close demo of how Pepakura and Pop Up Pro paper craft software can create amazing effects as seen in our ATLFF film bumper.
Presented by Ginger Tontaveetong (Starlight), Ai Zhang and Yu Ueda (Starlight)
 

WEDNESDAY - 3/25

FREE “Field Audio 101”
7 Stages, Main Stage
10:30am-11:30am
Learn the basics of production sound! This seminar is designed to provide an introduction for students, producers, and anyone who wants to learn more about field audio. Even if you’re not an aspiring mixer, understanding the workflow of the sound department can help your set run smoothly! Topics will include wireless microphone fundamentals, booming techniques, wiring talent with lavaliers, and basic recorders.
Presented by Dan Joseph and Marty Simpson from Gotham Sounds

FREE “DIY Lighting Workshop”
7 Stages, Main Stage
12:00pm-1:00pm
Discover economical tricks to building your own lighting without compromising the professional look of your film. Cinematographer/writer/director Ly Bolia discusses lighting on a limited budget in this hands-on workshop.

FREE “Demo: Grip Truck”
7 Stages, Parking Lot
1:30pm-2:30pm
Step inside the Grip Truck for a show-and-tell with Day 1 Production Services.

FREE “On-Set Safety”
7 Stages, Main Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm
This panel represents different aspects of the film industry and can speak to the importance of on-set safety. Join us for a meaningful conversation about the long-term impact it has on crew-members, talent and local communities.
Moderated by ATLFF Business Manager Amy Tippit
Panelists: Dick Hillman from Operation Lifesaver, Tara Ansley, and Linda Burns

FREE “Demo: A Drone’s Eye View”
7 Stages, Main Stage
3:00pm-4:00pm
Nolan Lunsford and Brent Bouthiller from Unmanned Imaging will present a live hexacopter demonstration and showcase footage from previous projects.

FREE: “DJI Ronin Camera Stabilizer Workshop”
7 Stages, Black Box
4:30pm-6:00pm
ATLFF filmmaker in residence and installation artist Micah Stansell presents a hands-on workshop on the DJI Ronin 3-axis stabilized handheld gimbal. Learn the powerful capabilities (and flexibility) of this new gimbal camera platform and how it can transform your next production.  The workshop will give attendees a chance to set-up and operate the Ronin in a real world scenario as well as tips and strategies for capturing high production-value footage.  Limited to the first 30 people.
 

THURSDAY  - 3/26

“Fever Pitch: An Open Casting Call”
7 Stages, Main Stage
11:00am-12:30pm
Actors will have one minute to pitch themselves to an audience of filmmakers and casting agents. Carrie Anne Hunt, actress and Co-Chair of the Atlanta SAG-AFTRA Indie Outreach Committee will host and moderate the event.
SIGN UP HERE

“I Want My MTV”
7 Stages, Main Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm
Visiting filmmakers will show a one-and-a-half to two minute clip reel showcasing excerpts from three music videos they’ve created. Each panelist sets up what will screen, hits play, and attendees momentarily rock out before said panelist waxes poetically on the pleasures and/or challenges of each project.
Moderated by ATLFF alumnus and editor Tom Roche.
Panelists: Brandon Obey (Lordencih - Propaganda), Joshua Yates (J.K. The Reaper - Exodia), Video Rahim/Ashley Simpson (Gunpowder Gray-Saints) and David Kim from Tre Native

“Scoring on a Budget”
7 Stages, Main Stage
3:00pm-4:00pm
Film Composer Paul Mercer and Sound Designer Bruce Bennett discuss how to score a film on a budget. Learn how to create a cohesive sound for your film, choose a composer, license songs, and the best practice for film scoring when you don't have money to burn.
 

FRIDAY - 3/27

“Breaking In Short-Style: Q&A and Interactive Discussion On Short Filmmaking”
7 Stages, Main Stage
10:30am-11:30am
In this interactive panel discussion, ATLFF instructor and writer-producer Kathy Berardi will moderate an insightful conversation between three festival-placing filmmakers and attendees looking to learn the ins-and-outs of making a short. Featured filmmakers will open up about lessons they’ve learned and their favorite filmmaking moments.
Panelists: Raymond Carr (Hitori), Aly Migliori (Knightsville), Gabrielle Fulton (Ir/Reconcilable), Alexander Yan (Chandelier), and Brian Lonano (CROW HAND!!!)

“Subject vs. Presentation: Finding the Balance in Documentary Filmmaking”
7 Stages, Main Stage
12:00pm-1:00pm
As documentary filmmaking evolves, where does the emphasis belong—with the story or the artform? ATLFF documentary filmmakers will participate in a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by Film School Rejects’ and Nonfics’ Christopher Campbell.
Panelists: Jared Callahan (Janey Makes a Play), Jef Bredemeier (Dante’s Down the Hatch), Gayla Jamison (In Our Son’s Eyes), Michael Lessac (A Snake Gives Birth to a Snake), Erin Bernhardt / Danielle Bernstein (Imba Means Sing)

“Funding Your Film”
7 Stages, Main Stage
1:30pm-2:30pm
Get the tools you need to bring your film project to life! This panel of industry professionals will provide independent filmmakers with practical advice for creating a business plan to secure film funding. Through this step-by-step lecture, prospective filmmakers will learn how to budget their production, pitch to investors, and raise the capital to finance their project.
Moderated by ATLFF Executive Director Christopher Escobar

“Filminism: An Examination of Female Stereotypes in the Film Industry”
7 Stages, Main Stage
3:00pm-4:00pm
Should women suppress what makes them feminine in order to be successful, or should they challenge industry standards to embrace the female voice? Any approach to these issues presents merits and drawbacks. ATLFF Filmmaker in Residence Brantly Watts will moderate a panel of selected female filmmakers as they discuss what it might look like to facilitate industry change to better support gender equality.
Panelists: Meryem Benmbarek (Jennah), Sorrell Sanders (Pepper’s Place, Good Grief Suicide Hotline), Jen West (Little Cabbage), Caryn Waechter (The Sisterhood of Night)

“BBC News Worldwide presents: BBC Pop Up (@bbcpopup)”
7 Stages Main Stage
4:30pm-6:00pm
BBC World News presents a documentary screening from BBC Pop Up (www.bbc.com/bbcpopup), an experimental mobile news bureau that has been on the road in the U.S for the past 6 months. The team of video journalists relocates each month to a new town, where they crowdsource suggestions for stories about American communities for the BBC’s global audience on BBC World News TV and bbc.com. BBC Pop Up creator Matthew Danzico will host a Q&A and documentary filmmaking workshop in conjunction with the screening to give insights into the project.