Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is an Oscar-qualifying international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. It is run by the Atlanta Film Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The festival began in 1976 and happens every spring.

ATLFF shows many different kinds of independent films. It gives special attention to films directed by women, films from the LGBTQ community, films from Latin America, films featuring Black characters, and films from the American Southeast. This festival is special because it is one of the few festivals that can qualify films for an Academy Award in all three short film categories.

History

In 1968, Atlanta held its first big film event, the Atlanta International Film Festival. It ran until 1974. Two years later, in 1976, a group of filmmakers started a new group called Independent Media Artists of Georgia (IMAGE). They opened the IMAGE Film & Video Center, the first place in Georgia where filmmakers could get equipment and support. The first Atlanta Independent Film & Video Festival happened on May 14, 1977, in a park building.

Over the years, the festival changed its name a few times. In 1984, it became the Atlanta Film and Video Festival, and in 2002, it was called the Atlanta Film Festival. In 2015, the group running it changed its name to the Atlanta Film Society. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the festival was moved from spring to September for that year only. By 2022, it returned to its usual spring schedule.

For many years, this festival has been important for short films. Winners of certain short film awards at the festival can become eligible for Oscar consideration. In 2015, the festival became qualifying for all three short film categories. One film that qualified here and later won an Oscar was The Accountant, directed by Ray McKinnon.

The festival has also helped launch the careers of many filmmakers. Spike Lee, for example, first showed his film Last Hustle in Brooklyn at the festival, which helped him decide to become a filmmaker. Other directors like James Ponsoldt, Stella Meghie, and David Gordon Green also had their early works featured at the Atlanta Film Festival.

Locations

The Atlanta Film Festival takes place in many theaters across Atlanta, Georgia. Some of these include Piedmont Park, High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre, and Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. In 2013, the festival moved its main screenings to The Plaza Theatre in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood.

In 2007, the festival worked with Landmark Midtown Art Cinema to bring more events to Midtown, an area known for its arts and culture. Later, it moved to The Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon Avenue, adding more places for guests to enjoy. This helped make the festival easier to explore on foot and introduced visitors to fun parts of Atlanta like Poncey-Highland and Little 5 Points.

Programming

The Atlanta Film Festival shows between 150 and 250 films from around the world each year. In 2020, it received over 8,500 film submissions. Most of the films come from special groups like women filmmakers, Black filmmakers, and filmmakers from Latin America and Georgia.

Since 2008, the festival has held a Screenplay Competition. Over 1,300 scripts are submitted each year. The winners get to attend a special 3-day event where they work with professionals to improve their scripts. The festival also used to host a separate event for LGBTQ films called Out on Film, which is now run by the local LGBTQ community. Since 2008, the festival has included a special section called Pink Peach to highlight films by and about LGBTQ filmmakers. In 2013, the festival started a tradition called New Mavericks, showcasing films by women filmmakers with strong female characters. The festival also partners with local arts centers for special events like SOUND+VISION, which features music videos, art, and live performances.

Individual Award Recipients

The Atlanta Film Festival has given out many special awards to filmmakers and actors over the years. Some of these awards include the IMAGE Film Award, which has been given to people like Zell Miller, Victor Nunez, and Ruby Dee.

Other awards include the Southeastern Media Award, the Ossie Davis Award, and the Filmmaker-to-Watch Award, among others. These awards help recognize talented people in the world of film.

Notable films that have played the festival

The Atlanta Film Festival has showcased many important films over the years. Some well-known movies that were first shown at the festival include Clerks!, Paranormal Activity, and Little Miss Sunshine. These films gained attention and went on to be seen by many people around the world.

Feature Film Award-Winners

The Atlanta Film Festival gives out awards for feature films each year. These awards recognize great storytelling and filmmaking. The festival is important because it helps filmmakers share their work and can lead to bigger opportunities, including consideration for Academy Awards.