Want to Help Us Watch Movies? Join Our Screening Committee!
We get thousands of submissions every year and need lots of help watching them! Apply to be a part of our Screening Committee now!
Last year alone, the Atlanta Film Festival received 3,761 film entries from filmmakers around the globe. From these hopefuls we have only the capacity to program a little more than 200 films. How do we decide which films to play? How do we go through those thousands of entries to sort the ones that will please our local audience the best?
We get help. A lot of help.
Most of that help comes from our volunteer screening committee. Members of this team watch dozens (sometimes hundreds) of short and feature films each, evaluating them along the way. This helps the programming team sort out the worthy from the not-so-worthy so they can make the final decisions.
Seeing as the first submissions for the 2016 Atlanta Film Festival are already rolling in, we'd like to offer you the chance to join this elite team. Volunteer screeners can earn a variety of perks (free tickets and passes to the festival) based on how many films they watch, and films can be watched most anywhere you have an internet connection.
If you feel like you have the fortitude, the courage, and the spare time required to sail the oceans of independent cinema with us, tell us more about you! We look forward to hearing from you.
Learn More about the 48 Hour Film Project and the benefits of participating at this month's Eat, Drink, & B-Indie!
This month's Eat, Drink, & B-Indie presented by Stella Artois is all about being the 48 Hour Film Project! Come learn about the June 12-14 event and hear from past participants on tips for entering.
FREE EVENT! The 48 Hour Film Project comes back to Atlanta on the weekend of June 12-14, 2015. On Tuesday, May 19, at Manuel's Tavern, come and learn more about the event's structure and history, as well as what it takes to be a part of it. Hear from past participants and winners and get tips for your own project.
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 PM at Manuel's Tavern
Join us on the third Tuesday of every month at Manuel's Tavern for Eat, Drink, & B-Indie presented by Stella Artois! The first 40 (age appropriate) attendees will receive a ticket good for a free Stella Artois.
GSU Student Film Festival to Screen Jury Selections at the High Museum
On Monday and Tuesday, April 27-28, all GSUFF submissions will screen at Cinefest Theater. On Thursday, April 30, jury selections will screen at the High Museum's Hill Auditorium. Admission is FREE!
The Georgia State University Student Film Festival (GSUFF) is pleased to announce details of its 5th annual presentation. Celebrating the hard work and artistry of GSU students, the three-day event takes place April 27-28 and April 30th.
“The GSU Student Film Festival is at once an annual celebration of GSU student filmmaking and a valuable educational experience for our student filmmakers,” said GSUFF Director Daniel Robin, Assistant Professor of Film and Video Production in the GSU Department of Communication. “We want to share the diverse creative voices from our film production courses while also giving the students an opportunity to understand what it means to show their films outside of the safety net of the classroom.”
On Monday, April 27 and Tuesday, April 28, all submissions will be screened at the Cinefest Theater, GSU’s student-run movie theater, beginning at 5:00 PM both days. The top films will then be selected by a jury and screened at the High Museum of Art’s Hill Auditorium on Thursday, April 30, at 7:30 PM.
Following the screening at the High, awards will be presented for Best Fiction Film, Best Experimental Film, Best Documentary Film, and Special Jury Selection.
All admission is free and open to the public.
Extreme Theatre Makeover: Plaza Edition
This Saturday, April 25th, The Plaza Theatre Foundation is teaming with Comcast Cares to help with Show You Care Day!
This Saturday, April 25th, The Plaza Theatre Foundation is teaming with Comcast Cares to help with Show You Care Day! Register below to rally around The Plaza Theatre—a historic Atlanta icon and crucial ATLFF venue—in efforts to spruce it up and show we care! From 8am-12pm, volunteers will contribute by painting, helping with minor construction, and spring cleaning. This is a great opportunity to support a treasured staple in our film community, and we need your help to do it!
Learn the basics of becoming a PA at this month's Eat, Drink, & B-Indie!
This month's Eat, Drink, & B-Indie presented by Stella Artois is all about being a PA! Whether you want to get into PA work, change your area of focus or don't even know what a PA is, check out this free event!
Leading up to the new GPP/ATLFF PA Academy, brought to us by master producer Linda Burns on May 16th and 17th, we are going to answer all of your questions about who PAs are, what PAs do, and how to become a PA! Whether you are a set PA, an office PA, an art PA or working in another department—there are a lot of basics you need to know. Get primed for your admission to the Academy by Linda and a group of experienced Atlanta PAs.
Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 PM at Manuel's Tavern
Join us on the third Tuesday of every month at Manuel's Tavern for Eat, Drink, & B-Indie presented by Stella Artois! The first 40 (age appropriate) attendees will receive a ticket good for a free Stella Artois.
ATLFF Filmmaker Vania Leturcq Charms the Mix-and-Match Questionnaire
"Next Year" Director and New Maverick knows the truth about "Love Actually" and French fries.
Complete this sentence: "If you liked _________ or _________, you'll love my film."
If you liked "Ghost World" by Terry Zwigoff, or "Les demoiselles de Rochefort" by Jacques Demy, you'll like my film!!
Is your film for cat people or dog people? Why?
Actually it is perfect for both : there's a dog in it, but I'm a cat person... So welcome everybody!
What's the most challenging part of making a film for you? Do you enjoy the challenge or is it something to be avoided?
Being able to still want to do this film over the many many years and the many many discouragements is something that I'm quite proud off... But I'm not sure it was a challenge... Even when I thought about it for a second, I never wanted to give up. And I'm so happy today that I did not!
Of the filmmakers working today, whose talent do you want to steal?
I'd like to steal the talent of the french director Claire Denis. But I also know that a talent like that is not something that is given to you, but something you gain over the years and experiences.
Name three films you consider under-appreciated and explain their hidden genius.
- "13 going on 30" : I think no one understands the genius of Jennifer Garner!
- "Love Actually" : best script ever! And everyone seems to think it's just another romantic comedy... you fools!
- "La tour montparnasse infernale" : a French comedy that no one thought was funny in the whole universe but me... Impossible to understand for an American I think...
What are your three favorite ways to eat potatoes?
I could kill for a "gratin dauphinois" (au french specialty),
I like them baked in the oven,
And of course I can't say no to french fries, because I'm belgian, and what you call french fries is actually from Belgium!! ;o)
Vania's film, "Next Year (L'année Prochaine)," screens its US Premiere Saturday, March 28th at 2:15pm at The Plaza, and Vania will be in attendance. Don't miss this!
ATLFF Filmmaker Jiyoung Lee Laughs With the Mix-and-Match Questionnaire
Complete this sentence: "If you liked _________ or _________, you'll love my film."
If you liked "Ghost World" or "Beavis and Butthead," you'll like my film.
Is your film for cat people or dog people? Why?
Dogs. I love female dogs. Especially black labs.
What's the most challenging part of making a film for you? Do you enjoy the challenge or is it something to be avoided?
Fundraising was the hardest part. I didn't enjoy crowdfunding, but it's something you have to learn to do as an independent filmmaker.
Of the filmmakers working today, whose talent do you want to steal?
Ruben Ostlund, director of Force Majeure.
Name three films you consider unappreciated and explain their hidden genius.
Wayne's World - Shaped comedy for an entire generation
Beavis and Butthead Do America - Distills the 90s (which I grew up in)
Hausu - Great horror movie which even non horror fans like I love.
What are your three favorite ways to eat potatoes?
French Fries, Baked and Mashed
Jiyoung's film, "Female Pervert," screens Friday, March 27th at 8:00pm at 7 Stages! Get your tickets soon!
ATLFF Love NC-17 Filmmakers Love the Mix-and-Match Questionnaire
Martin Edralin's and Hannes Thor Arason's contributtions to our mix-and-match questionnaire are rated G for everyone.
MARTIN EDRALIN
HANNES THOR ARASON
Complete this sentence: "If you liked _________ or _________, you'll love my film."
Martin Edralin: Julien Donkey Boy or Amour
Hannes Thor Arason: If you liked Happiness or Taxi Driver, you'll like my film.
Is your film for cat people or dog people? Why?
M: Cat people. Because I'm a cat person.
H: This film is for all animal lovers. The only animal that actually appears in the film is a goldfish and we took very good care of it.
What's the most challenging part of making a film for you? Do you enjoy the challenge or is it something to be avoided?
M: Writing. I hate the challenge but fight through it.
H: The most challenging part is financing. It is also the part I least enjoy about making movies but of course it can't be avoided.
Of the filmmakers working today, whose talent do you want to steal?
M: Terrence Malick
H: I respect a lot of filmmakers but I wouldn't want to steal anybody's talents because that would mean I couldn't be surprised by their films anymore.
Name three films you consider under-appreciated and explain their hidden genius.
M: "From What Is Before", Lav Diaz. Its respect for time.
"Gummo", Harmony Korine. It's beautiful.
"The Turin Horse", Béla Tarr. Its simplicity and the weight of silence.
H: The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Happiness (Todd Solondz) although I understand that it's not a film for everyone.
Usually I think the hidden genius behind under-appreciated films is the fact that they're under-appreciated.
What are your three favorite ways to eat potatoes?
M: Mashed, french fries, kettle cooked chips.
H: I like 'em sweet, peeled and French.
Martin's film "Hole" and Hannes's film "Happy Endings" screen Friday, March 27th at 9:45pm with the Love NC-17 shorts block at The Plaza! Get your tickets to an exploration of malleable love.
ATLFF Filmmaker Will Feagins, Jr. Conquers the Mix-and-Match Questionnaire
"Divided Time" Director Will Feagins, Jr. tells us about the most challenging part of filmmaking and why his film is for closet cat people.
Complete this sentence: "If you liked _________ or _________, you'll love my film."
If you liked "The Other F Word" or "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest," you'll like my film.
Is your film for cat people or dog people? Why?
My film is for dog people who are secretly cat people as well because it has a mixture of energetic, outgoing material as well as sensitive parts interwoven throughout.
What's the most challenging part of making a film for you? Do you enjoy the challenge or is it something to be avoided?
The most challenging part of making a film, aside from the financial resources, is the beginning, coming up with the idea and roadmap to bring that idea to life. I enjoy the challenge AFTER I have conquered it.
Of the filmmakers working today, whose talent do you want to steal?
Ava DuVernay and Rick Cordero
What are your three favorite ways to eat potatoes?
1. Mashed
2. cut into shoestring sized pieces and fried
3. Scalloped Au Gratin
Will's film, "Divided Time," screens tonight, March 26th at 5pm at The Plaza! Tickets are disappearing; get yours now!
TONIGHT: 7 Stages Presents the Competition Screenplay Reading
SAG-AFTRA actors will read excerpts of our three winners' screenplays from the 2015 Screenplay Competition tonight, March 25th at 5pm. Admission is FREE.
Wednesday, March 25th, SAG-AFTRA actors will read excerpts from our Screenplay Competition winners' screenplays! Come out to 7 Stages at 7:30pm for an evening of recognition. Admission is FREE!
"Killbook" —Pearse Lehane, England
A teenager’s life is shattered when he inadvertently agrees to a “murder swap” on a dark-net website. When his worst enemy is shot to death he realizes he will be next to die unless he carries out his half of the bargain and becomes a murderer himself.
"The Veil" —Andrea Feist Stein, New Jersey
The wife of a murdered Mideast peace negotiator is chosen to represent the terrorist who has been arrested for the crime.
"When the Devil's Loose" —Ben Watts, California
In the summer of 1988, four young friends set out to discover the truth behind mysterious happenings as an ever-spreading wildfire threatens to wipe out their small suburban community.
Andrea, Ben, and Pearse will have returned from their Serenbe Screenwriters' Retreat just in time to see the World Premiere of screenwriting Mentor Lanre Olabisi's "Somewhere in the Middle," screening at The Plaza at 9:00pm! The reading is FREE, and tickets for Lanre's Premiere are only $10! Snag yours here: