ATLANTA, GA (March 1, 2024) – The Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) is pleased to announce the first wave of films programmed for the upcoming 48th Annual Atlanta Film Festival & Creative Conference (ATLFF), slated for April 25 through May 5, 2024. Each year, this first wave announcement acts as the earliest glimpse at the upcoming festival and represents the exciting programming choices to come. 

This first wave, selected from the 7,500+ film & screenplay submissions, consists of three documentary features and three narrative features. 

“The 6 features in this group each exemplify the bold visions and sense of discovery that we want to bring to ATLFF's audiences. We think they serve as an ideal early taste of the full slate to come.” 
Jonathan Kieran, Programming Director, ATLFF 

For 2024, ATLFF received over 7,500 submitted works from 118 countries. The total programmed films include 59% film by BIPOC directors, 49% by women and non-binary directors, and 24% from Georgia-tied filmmakers. These first selections of films will be joined by over 140 others selected from submitted works when the entire lineup is released in late March.

AFRICAN GIANTS
Documentary Feature
Directed by Omar S. Kamara
United States, English, 106 minutes
Two first-generation Sierra Leonean American brothers navigate the changing dynamics of brotherhood after a surprise announcement.

NAKED AMBITION
Documentary Feature
Directed by Dennis Scholl and Kareem Tabsch
United States, English, 73 minutes
Bunny Yeager, the unseen force behind the bikini, Playboy's allure, and the invention of the selfie comes to life in 'Naked Ambition".

WE STRANGERS
Narrative Feature
Directed by Anu Valia
United States, English, 80minutes
Rayelle Martin, a commercial cleaning woman in Gary, Indiana, stumbles into a new job cleaning the homes of several rich, suburban families. While working, she tells one small lie that spins out of control.

THE BODY POLITIC
Documentary Feature
Directed by Gabriel Francis Paz Goodenough
United States, English, 91 minutes
In Baltimore, a young reform-minded politician is elected mayor, promising to stop chronic violence and end racist policing.

DRAGOONS
Narrative Feature
Directed by Reinis Ubelis
Latvia, Latvian, 77 minutes
After getting lost and finding refuge in a crumbling gothic manor, two wandering petty thieves, Pavel and Sabine, struggle to escape before Sabine goes into labor.

PIANOMAN
Documentary Feature
Directed by Sunny Liu
United States, English, 52 minutes
An undocumented immigrant achieves his dream opening a piano restoration factory but unforeseen threats jeopardize his family and livelihood.