This year's closing night film was Carlos Cuaron's Rudo & Cursi and it was a tremendous success.

Even though Cauron has written and produced many movies in the past, this is actually his first time writing and directing his own project and he thinks he didn't do so bad. Actually, not bad at all, the movie has already been a great success in Mexico and will premiere in commercial theaters around the country shortly. However, Atlantans were amongst the few privileged enough to ask the director some questions themselves after the showing of the film, and later had the opportunity of drinking a beer with him and hear him crack a joke or two at the party.

Seeing Cuaron at the festival was actually very pleasing for many people, he seemed down to earth and very capable of having fun, joking around and carrying on conversations with admirers of his work. The audience at the showing was very diverse and despite the language barrier, and the author's insistence that the movie is actually a drama, the theater was filled with roaring laughter and lighthearted compassion for the characters in the story.

This year's audience choice award went to Living is Winning. This was a very pleasant surprised for co-producer Jeff Keating, who seemed ecstatic after hearing the news. However, the award does not come as a surprise since the Atlanta filmmakers did rally enough people to have a full audience on their opening night, and consistently promoted their film vigorously and charmingly thereafter. Congratulations guys!

One of the star shorts of the festival was Transitions, directed by Atlanta-based Filmmaker Joe Binford. The movie, shot in 35mm, moved from scene to scene without a single cut. I caught Binford at the closing night party and asked him to tell us a little bit more about his film.

Teems also talks about his amazing cast Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild), Ray McKinnon (Oscar Winner for The Accountant), & Dixie Carter. 

Video: From left to right Chris Holland & Heidi Van Lier

During Friday's Coffehouse Conversations at Starbucks, authors Chris Holland (Film Festival Secrets) & Heidi Van Lier (The Indie Film Rule Book), talked about the selection process if film festivals. 

These guys have had extensive experience selecting and judging for film festivals and now they give you the inside scoop on the DO's and DONT's that could get your film IN or most definitely OUT of a film festival.   

Greeting fellow film lovers and fanatics:

My name is Alejandra and I'm fortunate enough to have been endowed with blogging powers for the Atlanta Film Festival 365. 

The festival madness is about to begin this Thursday and it's my duty to keep you up to speed with the festival's happenings. There are dozens of movies to choose from and so little time. You and I will only have 10 days to catch our favorites! So let's get going!

Personally I'm hyped about the Georgia selection this year, especially the Q&A with the directors of I am the Blue Bird after the screening this Saturday, witch is a world premiere. 

Also, if you are lucky, you might catch the crew of some of your favorite movies having a beer and chilling at the Independent during happy hour.

So let's get out there and watch some movies!

Aron Gaudet, director, The Way We Get By 

1) If you could describe your film using only 3 words, what would they be?

Inspiring, intimate, raw

2) Where do you see your film in 5 years?

Being downloaded straight into people’s brains for instant watching for only $19.99… I’m a forward thinker.

3) Have you ever been to Atlanta? If so what's your favorite place to visit? If not, where would you like to visit?

Never been, but I love a good BBQ joint.

4) What motivated you to make this film?

The subjects of the film, including my mom motivated me. To witness how motivated they are in keeping their commitment to greeting every American troop that passes though the Bangor airport—nearly one million to date—you can’t help but be motivated to do something

5) If you premiered your film somewhere else, what was the one part of the film you were most nervous about audiences to reacting to?

We were hoping they would laugh…and they did.

6) What's the one thing about your film you're most proud of?

I’m most proud that we fought to keep the project alive for four years with no funding, and we never gave up until we found the help we needed to finish it.

7) What do you want Atlanta audiences to takeaway from the film?

I’m hoping they leave inspired to make a difference in their own community. That’s something we all need to be thinking about right now.

8) Someone has to go to the bathroom during your film, and they have to miss part of your film. Do they miss the beginning, the middle or the end?

If by end, you mean the credits, then miss those. I don’t care if you know who made it as long as you see it.

9) Who are the directors, filmmakers or artists that most influenced you or your film?

Joe Berlinger, Barbara Kopple and in some weird way Wes Anderson.

10) Who is the unsung hero of your film and why?

I would say the unsung hero of my film is Executive Producer Warren Cook. He stepped in and gave the financial support that allowed us to finish it when nobody else would. Without him, the film would probably still not be finished.