To Our Atlanta Film Festival Community,

It goes without saying that the last several days have been a tumultuous period filled with emotion, outrage, and fear. Though the many protests in response to the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmuad Arbery, and many others may appear to be only current indignation, it is something we’ve seen told in the stories we have been privileged to share for decades and are a long overdue outcry for change from a history of injustice.

While everyone may never truly understand the struggles our Black peers may endure, we can still show our support. This is part of why coming together to experience cinema is so important--especially those stories by those typically unheard and unseen--it helps us get a little closer to understanding those experiences outside our own, seeing ourselves in people who do not look like us, and learning from, celebrating and honoring each other through moving images. This is a means to an end of bettering our world. 

It is our duty at the Atlanta Film Society to uplift the stories, voices, works and artists alike that forward the effort towards equity and equality on the basis of gender, race, orientation, nationality, religion, socioeconomic status and abilities call upon all ATLFS members, supporters and alum to join us in the call for justice.

Some ways you can take action:

• Support Black filmmakers and their stories

• Find your pathway(s) to support social justice causes

• Continue to educate yourself on what it means to be anti-racist 

• Amplify the voices of marginalized people in your own circles 

• Educate yourself on racial inequalities and share meaningful resources with others

• Urge your political leaders for real change and VOTE!

This is not merely a hashtag on your social media page or a single day of solidarity, but an ongoing mission for a better future. We're at a critical moment in our history where a mirror has been placed in front of us, and it's time for us to not only admit the atrocities of the past but to start making a real change.

We all have a part to play. Don't make this just a moment. Take part in the movement. You can start here:

https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
https://blacklivesmatter.com/
https://atlsolidarity.org/
https://www.array101.org/

In Solidarity,

Christopher Escobar
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Atlanta Film Society