2021 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winners

Please join the Atlanta Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Society in congratulating the 2021 Screenplay Competition Winners! Chosen from an absolutely record-shattering year, these screenplays and their respective authors represent the very best from nearly 2,400 feature, pilot, and short screenplay submissions. These five stories are undeniably all deeply personal, incredibly realized, and astounding in profundity.

FEATURE SCREENPLAY WINNERS

AMERICAN BABYLON by Yvan Iturriaga

MARCONIVILLE by Tony Clemente Jr.

POPULAR by Marley Schneier

PILOT SCREENPLAY WINNER

CAMP AMERIKA by Donna McNeely Burke

SHORT SCREENPLAY WINNER

PICK OR PAT by Jordan Whiteside-Johnson

In addition to their cash prizes, over the coming months, these scribes will enjoy unique mentorship opportunities, and they’ll get to watch talent bring excerpts of each of their screenplays to life in the form of Virtual Table Reads.

The 14th Annual ATLFF Screenplay Competition, which was recently named one of MovieMaker magazine’s 15 Submission-Worthy Screenwriting Competitions of 2021 is now officially open for entries!

For more information, please visit https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/submit-your-screenplay

ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL + CREATIVE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2021 AWARD WINNERS AND EVENT RESULTS

ATLANTA, GA (May 14, 2021) — The 45th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) is proud to announce the award winners for the 2021 festival, which took place from April 22, 2021 – May 2, 2021. Additionally, ATLFF is pleased to share event facts and figures resulting from its unique hybrid blend of both virtual and in-person presentations throughout this year’s festival. 

Today’s announcement recognizes filmmakers in 12 categories for their achievements and cinematic excellence. Winners of the Narrative Short, Animated Short and Documentary Short Jury Awards not only proudly took home their awards, but now also qualify for the 2022 Academy Awards®. ATLFF is one of less than twenty U.S. film festivals that is Academy Award®-qualifying in all three shorts categories: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. 

Most award winners were chosen by distinguished jurors from all backgrounds across the film industry. They include Ali Kareem, a screenwriter and director whose first short film, “Hassan in Wonderland,” has been screened at many film festivals all around the world; Jason Orr, an award-winning documentary filmmaker most notably known as the director, writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film, “FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade;” Keisha Rae Witherspoon, a Jamaican-American independent filmmaker who was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film 2020;” Gabriela Díaz Arp, an independent producer and filmmaker whose most recent virtual reality film premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and screened at Cannes NEXT and the Sheffield Doc Fest; among over a dozen others. The Audience Awards were determined by both virtual and in-person attendees. 

2021 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

Best Documentary Feature:
CARTERLAND directed by Jim Pattiz & Will Pattiz

Special Jury Award for Artistic Spirit and Ingenuity - Documentary Feature:
SOCKS ON FIRE directed by Bo McGuire

Best Narrative Feature:
CULPA directed by Ulrike Grote

Special Jury Award for Rising Director and Lead Actor - Narrative Feature:
LUDI directed by Edson Jean, starring Shein Mompremier

Best Animated Short:
UN DIABLE DANS LA POCHE, directed by Antoine Bonnet & Mathilde Loubes 

Best Documentary Short:
SEAHORSE directed by Nele Dehnenkamp

• Honorable Mention - Documentary Short:

SCARLET MEDUSA directed by Spencer MacDonald

Best Narrative Short:
THE DRESS directed by Tadeusz Lysiak

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short:

  ANITA directed by Sushma Khadepaun

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short:

  BORN AGAIN directed by Candice Onyeama

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short:

  GEORGIA directed by Jayil Pak

Best Cinematography (Sponsored by Panavision and Light Iron):
OFF THE ROAD cinematography by Ernesto Trujillo

• Honorable Mention - Cinematography:

  SOCKS ON FIRE cinematography by Matt Clegg  

Georgia Film Award:
bustitOpen directed by Danielle Deadwyler

Filmmaker-to-Watch Award:
Justice Jamal Jones ("How to Raise a Black Boy”)

Southern Documentary Fund Filmmaker Award (Presented by the SDF):

• SOCKS ON FIRE directed by Bo McGuire

• TEN LEAVES DILATED directed by Kate E. Hinshaw, co-directed by Ebony Blanding

 Audience Award Winners:

• SOCKS ON FIRE directed by Bo McGuire

• A FIRE WITHIN directed by Christopher Chambers

• JUST THE TWO OF US directed by Grasie Mercedes, co-directed by Nathan Caywood

• GEORGIA directed by Jayil Pak

From a record-breaking 9,500+ submissions, ATLFF selected 170 works, a mix of narrative and documentary feature-length films, short films and creative media, for the 2021 festival. Of the selected works, 53 percent were submissions with women and gender non-conforming directors, 15 percent had ties to Georgia and approximately 50 percent were directed by a person of color. In addition to the selected programming, ATLFF held 12 Marquee screenings and 35 Creative Conference events.

Shifting to a hybrid model with socially distanced in-person screenings, drive-in screenings and digital screenings, the 2021 event drew in approximately 23,000 total attendees. Over 1,600 people attended 17 indoor screenings held at The Plaza Theatre and 24 drive-in screenings held at two venues (The Plaza, Dad’s Garage) during the 11-day festival. An additional 12,000 people streamed screenings from ATLFF’s virtual catalog of 60 films and 35 Creative Conference workshops, panels or Masterclasses. 

With many of the in-person and drive-in screenings selling out, the virtual presentation of the film catalog also proved to be a success. More than five months’ worth of content was streamed during the festival, with viewers in all U.S. states, including District of Columbia, and 19 countries across five inhabited continents. The virtual format also allowed for over 80 festival filmmakers and 59 industry experts and professionals to participate in the Creative Conference.

A full list of jury members with brief biographies is included below, as well as film information for all award winners and honorable mentions. 

The 46th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference is set to take place from April 21, 2022 – May 1, 2022. ATLFF is currently accepting submissions for the 2022 festival. More information can be found at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. 

JURORS

NARRATIVE FEATURE JURY

CLAIRE CIFELLI (IFC Films)
Claire Cifelli is a marketing manager at IFC Films, where she leads theatrical and home entertainment campaigns for award-winning independent cinema. She collaborates with filmmakers, artists, exhibitors, and grassroots organizations to help support dozens of releases a year. In 2019, she served as IFC Film's creative lead for The Nightingale's "Breathtaking" trailer, which earned a gold award from Clio Entertainment. Her current and upcoming projects include Moffie, The Dry, and The Nowhere Inn.

BRETT ROGALSKY (Gravitas Ventures)
Brett is the Manager of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures. A massive cinephile, he strives to bring strong independent content to a wide audience. He’s proudly a Pittsburgh native, and graduated from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College with a degree in Cinema and Photography.

ALI KAREEM (Filmmaker)
Ali Kareem, born in 1984, is an Iraqi / German screenwriter and director. In 2011, he graduated as theater director from the Academy of Fine Arts, Baghdad University. In 2016, he completed his master "Choreography and Performance" at the Institute for Applied Theatre Studies, at Gießen University (Germany). His first short film HASSAN IN WONDERLAND has been screened on many film festivals all around the world including Palm Springs Film Festival and Short Short Film Festival. Ali Kareem works as program advisor for Film Festivals and he is part of the selection committee of the Arab Festival San Francisco.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE JURY

CHRIS CAMPBELL (Film School Rejects)
Christopher Campbell is a Senior Editor at Film School Rejects and the founding editor of Nonfics as well as a regular contributor to Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, Oz Magazine, and others. A transplant from the Northeast, he has been writing film criticism and covering entertainment news since the early 2000s and has specialized in documentaries for the past decade. In addition to being a member of the AFCC, he is the President of the Documentary Branch of the Critics Choice Association, for which he leads the annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

CAMERON SWANAGON (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Cameron has been an Oscilloscope Laboratories loyalist since his days slinging DVDs at a video rental shop, and as an employee for the last six years, most recently coordinating with festivals. He sustains mainly on top-ramen and drinks his coffee black.

 JASON ORR (Filmmaker, ATLFF Alum)
Jason Orr is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, marketing consultant, cultural arts curator and festival producer, most notably, FunkJazz Kafé Arts & Music Festival and Life Arts Documentary Film Festival + Music Conference. He's the director, writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film, "FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade", producer of the award-winning "Maynard" documentary on former Atlanta mayor and visionary, Maynard Jackson, producer/director of "Stepping Into Tomorrow' and director of "Hoodwinked: The Nigga Factory", a web series produced by Speech of Arrested Development. Orr has also produced and directed short films and music videos with several mainstream artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, UK artist Omar Lye-Fook, Dionne Farris and Van Hunt. On screen, Orr has appeared as himself on TV One's hit series, "Unsung" and Centric's "Leading Ladies - India Arie", providing expertise commentary on music and social history. In 2014, he received a proclamation from the City Of Atlanta for his contributions to the city's music, film and cultural arts communities.

 NARRATIVE SHORT JURY

KEISHA RAE WITHERSPOON (Filmmaker, ATLFF Alum)
Keisha Rae Witherspoon is a Jamaican-American independent filmmaker currently based in South Florida, her birthplace. Her work is driven by interests in science, speculative fiction and fantasy, as well as documenting the unseen and unheralded nuances of diasporic people. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Faces of Independent Film 2020". Her most recent film T has screened at BlackStar, Sundance and Berlinale, where it won the Golden Bear. It closed its festival run at New Directors/New Films and is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel. She is currently writing a Black sci-fi set in Opa-locka, Florida. This will be her feature directorial debut.

BOB MONDELLO (NPR)
Bob Mondello has reviewed movies and reported on arts and culture for NPR’s All Things Considered since 1984. Before becoming a critic, he headed the public relations department for a Washington DC cinema chain.

SHIRA ROCKOWITZ (Sundance Institute)
As Director of Creative Producing and Artist Support in the Feature Film Program at Sundance Institute, Shira leads the organization’s strategy for supporting emerging independent fiction producers, screenwriters, and directors. Prioritizing inclusion and underrepresented voices, she devises programs that encompass creative/professional development, granting, mentorship, and industry engagement to help artists advance their work and build enduring careers. Recently supported films include The 40-Year-Old Version, Farewell Amor, Nine Days, The Farewell, and Sorry to Bother You. Previously, Shira was Director of Development and Production at Exclusive Media and a co-producer on John Carney’s Begin Again. She has also held positions at New Regency, Paramount Vantage, and Fine Line Features / New Line Cinema. Shira is a graduate of Northwestern University and holds an MFA from the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, where she is an adjunct lecturer.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT JURY

MORRISA MALTZ (Filmmaker, ATLFF Alum)
Morrisa Maltz is an artist and filmmaker. She holds a BA in Fine Art from Columbia University. Her work has been shown at MOCA, MCASB and galleries internationally. Her first film, THE CARETAKER, won Best Live Action Short at the 2012 LES Film Festival in New York. Her second film, ODYSSEA, premiered at Slamdance in 2014. Morrisa’s first feature documentary, INGRID, premiered on PBS last spring and is distributed by Grasshopper Film. INGRID was a 2018 Festival Gem, and featured on Hammer to Nail’s top 20 films of 2018 as well as articles by The Sundance Institute and Movie Maker Magazine. She is currently finishing post production of her first narrative feature, THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY. Morrisa is a 2018/2019 AFS North Texas Pioneer grant recipient and was included in the IFP Narrative Lab 2019 US in Progress Poland and the 2019 AFS Artist Intensive.

GABRIELA DÍAZ ARP (Filmmaker, ATLFF Alum)
Gabriela Díaz Arp is an independent producer and filmmaker passionate about developing films and art that strengthen the human connection. Her most recent virtual reality film, Meeting a Monster, exploring the memories and motivations of former white supremacist Angela King, premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. It has also been shown at Cannes NEXT and the Sheffield Doc Fest. She's currently working on a documentary about a multi-generational family of women in Puerto Rico creating a science fiction film as a way of healing from gender-based violence and abuse.

DREW SCHWARTZ (VICE)
Drew Schwartz is a staff writer at VICE, where he covers the music and film industries. While he now lives in New York, he was born and raised in Atlanta.

ANIMATED SHORT JURY

JANE SAMBORSKI (Animator)
Jane Samborski is the Animation Director for Cryptozoo, winner of the Sundance Innovator Award. She is the Lead Animator for My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea, and her work has appeared in multiple documentaries as well as the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. She currently resides in Richmond, VA. with her filmmaking partner and husband, Dash Shaw, and their daughter.

JAK WILMOT (Disrupt, ATLFF Alum)
Jak Wilmot is the founder of Disrupt - an internet studio creating YouTube & Virtual Reality content.

ASHLEY KOHLER (Awesome Incorporated)
Ashley Kohler is the multi-hyphenate head of motion design and animation studio Awesome Incorporated. Ashley launched Awesome Inc in 2006 after eight years at Cartoon Network, bringing both experience and artistry to the company’s foundation. Supervising both creative and production, Ashley’s hands-on approach can be seen throughout Awesome Inc’s distinctive body of work and visionary team of talent. Ashley’s creativity, attention to detail and ardor for animation help distinguish Awesome Inc in the crowded field of content creation. 

Ashley has led teams on over 150 episodes of series animation for networks like Adult Swim, Hulu and IFC, while also supervising commercial, promo, and packaging projects for clients including FX, Cartoon Network, Wieden+Kennedy, and Nickelodeon. She is passionate about improving diversity in animation and empowering artists throughout the Southeast, and serves on the board of directors for ASIFA South.

CINEMATOGRAPHY JURY

AMBER L.N. BOURNETT (Cinematographer, ATLFF Alum)
Amber L.N. Bournett is an award winning cinematographer & director based in Atlanta. While studying Fine Art & Film and Video at Georgia State University, Bournett co-founded independent production company House of June. She then served as a videographer under an indie music label. Bournett gained training as a camera prep technician at Commander Lighting and Grip, before joining the union as a camera assistant. As an independent filmmaker, Bournett has served as cinematographer and co-director to several award winning short narratives. In addition to national festival screenings, several of her narratives have screened internationally. Her ATL Airport Shorts triptych, LEVITATE, LEVITATE, LEVITATE, was selected for Cannes Shorts through the THEA program. Amber has contributed additional photography for feature films, documentaries, and series including BET (“Tales”), HBO (UNITED SKATES OF AMERICA), and independent feature HIS, HERS AND THE TRUTH. Bournett was also a 2019 participant of the AFI Female Cinematographer Intensive. 

KRISTIAN ZUNIGA (Cinematographer, ATLFF Alum)
Kristian Zuniga came up in Atlanta working on music videos for artists like Future, Migos, Run The Jewels, Young Thug, Young Jeezy and many other local legends. He quickly found his way into branded docs and commercials. Within the last two years he's transitioned into the feature world having shot Depeche Modes "Spirits In The Forest", which premiered in theaters in November of 2019 and most recently BEAST BEAST which premiered at Sundance in 2020. 

SAM ELLISON (Cinematographer, ATLFF Alum)
Sam Ellison is a cinematographer, director and camera operator based in New York City. He was nominated for the SOC’s Camera Operator of the Year Award for his work on A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). His debut feature documentary, Chèche Lavi (Looking for Life), premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January 2019, winning Best Cinematography at the Atlanta Film Festival 2020 and Best Documentary Director at RiverRun 2020. Chèche Lavi has played at more than 40 festivals around the world. Sam’s recent camera credits include work on I Know This Much is True (2020), Academy Award winner Manchester By The Sea (2016), The Devil All The Time (2020), Vox Lux (2018), and the television series Severance (2021). He received his BA from Harvard in 2008 and his MFA from Stanford in 2017.

2021 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Finalists

Only 35 scripts now remain from a record 2,385 submissions for The Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. 17 feature film screenplays, 11 pilots, and 7 shorts represent the very best, from what was already a wonderful array of fresh and talented voices. The following few Finalists should be commended for their amazing accomplishment in having made it thus far, and please wish them the best as they square off for the distinction of being named Winners!

Feature Screenplay Finalists

AMERICAN BABYLON by Yvan Iturriaga

CIVIL BLOOD by Michal Lali Kagan & Shirley Kagan

THE COWARD OF HICKORY COUNTY by Julia Maddox

THE BLUFF by Darius Turbak

DANIEL RADCLIFFE STOLE MY LIFE by Ed Wiles

FULL COURT BONSAI by Andrew Benedict

GOOD CHANCE by Tricia Lee

GROW HOME by Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan

HOW TO SNATCH A CROWN by Dan Hass

MARCONIVILLE by Tony Clemente Jr

METASTASIS by Alessandro Guarino

POPULAR by Marley Schneier

PROVIDENCE by Tatjana Marjanovic

ROY RYDELL by Johnny Arnold

TAKEN AWAY by Katherine Hill

WHO WAS CARY GRANT? by Jon Davis

ZOMBABIES by Greyson Wyatt

Pilot Screenplay Finalists

CAMP AMERIKA by Donna McNeely Burke

CLOISTERED by M. Rowan Meyer

DEAD PLANET by Audrey McPherson & Hallie McPherson

HARVEST by Jazmyn Wright

THE MAD QUEEN by Cindy Matta

MAKING A KILLING by Valerie Bodurtha

THE N.O.C. by Lillian Wang

THE NUT FARM by Warren Clarke

THE OTHER SIDE by Allison Sanchez

PASSION FLOWER by Jae Nichelle

VILOMAH by Nathaniel Nauert

Short Screenplay Finalists

THE FORGOTTEN PLACE by Jeff Locker

HOUSE KEEPING by Leanna Adams

I AM A GENTLEMAN by Nicky Calloway

KNOT OF MY OWN by Serena Aguirre

NATE, THE MOST CONSCIENTIOUS BOMB SQUAD ROBOT by Marcus Julius

PICK OR PAT by Jordan Whiteside-Johnson

THE SLOW DECLINE OF DUKE TERROR by Nathan Cabaniss

ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL + CREATIVE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES 2021 AWARD WINNERS

The 45th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) is proud to announce the award winners for the 2021 festival, running from April 22-May 2, 2021.

Winners of the Narrative Short, Animated Short and Documentary Short Jury Awards not only took home their awards, but now also qualify for the 2022 Academy Awards®. The Atlanta Film Festival is one of less than twenty US film festivals that is Academy Award®-qualifying in all three shorts categories: Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short. 

Audience Awards will be announced following the conclusion of the festival. For information on the 2021 Jurors (and the competition films), please visit www.atlantafilmfestival.com/2021/jury.

2021 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
CARTERLAND – directed by Jim Pattiz & Will Pattiz

SPECIAL JURY AWARD FOR ARTISTIC SPIRIT AND INGENUITY (DOCUMENTARY FEATURE)
SOCKS ON FIRE – directed by Bo McGuire

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
CULPA – directed by Ulrike Grote

SPECIAL JURY AWARD FOR RISING DIRECTOR AND LEAD ACTOR (NARRATIVE FEATURE)
LUDI – directed by Edson Jean, starring Shein Mompremier

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
UN DIABLE DANS LA POCHE – directed by Antoine Bonnet & Mathilde Loubes

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
SEAHORSE – directed by Nele Dehnenkamp 

HONORABLE MENTION (DOCUMENTARY SHORT)
SCARLET MEDUSA – directed by Spencer MacDonald

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
THE DRESS – directed by Tadeusz Łysiak

HONORABLE MENTION (NARRATIVE SHORT)
ANITA – directed by Sushma Khadepaun

HONORABLE MENTION (NARRATIVE SHORT)
BORN AGAIN – directed by Candice Onyeama

HONORABLE MENTION (NARRATIVE SHORT)
GEORGIA – directed by Jayil Pak

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (SPONSORED BY PANAVISION AND LIGHT IRON)
OFF THE ROAD – cinematography by Ernesto Trujillo

HONORABLE MENTION (CINEMATOGRAPHY)
SOCKS ON FIRE – cinematography by Matt Clegg

GEORGIA FILM AWARD
bustitOpen – directed by Danielle Deadwyler

FILMMAKER-TO-WATCH
Justice Jamal Jones – director of HOW TO RAISE A BLACK BOY

SOUTHERN DOCUMENTARY FUND FILMMAKER AWARD (PRESENTED BY THE SDF)
Recognizing excellence in documentary storytelling through a Southern lens.
SOCKS ON FIRE – directed by Bo McGuire
TEN LEAVES DILATED – directed by Kate E. Hinshaw, co-directed by Ebony Blanding

2021 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Semifinalists

The Atlanta Film Festival is happy to reveal the submissions which have now advanced into the Semifinals for the 2021 Screenplay Competition. The following 115 feature film screenplays, 75 pilots, and 50 short screenplays represent the top 10% from a record-shattering 2,385 total submissions from around the world. Please join us in celebrating the amazing accomplishment of these talented authors, and wish them well as they vie further for the honor of being named Finalists and Winners!

Feature Screenplay Semifinalists

10 ROUNDS DEEP by Parker Bohner
1314 by Paige Gresty
99¢ CITY by Graeme MacMillan
ALIEN BOYS ARE DOUCHEBAGS by Emma Oberle
AMERICAN BABYLON by Yvan Iturriaga
AMERICAN DIRTBAGS by Liam McEneaney
AMERICAN DREAMS by Tricia Lee & Corey Brown
ANATOMY OF THE PRIMAL SYMMETRIES by Ruben Latre
ANGELS & MONSTERS by Christopher Ellis 
ATTACK THERAPY by Warren Clarke
THE AUDITION by Eric Carlson
AUGUST IN EDEN by Joseph Craig & Jason Rein
AWAKENED by Yolanda Buggs
THE BETROTHAL by Jacob Menke
THE BLUFF by Darius Turbak
BORN AGAIN by Jason Fraley
BOUNDARIES by Asad Farooqui
BUNDLES by Michael Boyle
BURY THE YOUNG by Tavish Gudgeon
BYSTANDER'S APATHY by Jacob Swann
CAIRO by Ahmed Siddiqui
CITY SPIRIT by Warren Clarke
CIVIL BLOOD by Michal Lali Kagan & Shirley Kagan
COLOR BLIND by Yolanda Buggs
CONSENT by Frank J. Avella
CORKED by Lori Shockley
THE COUP by Joe Ayella
THE COWARD OF HICKORY COUNTY by Julia Maddox
CRUEL PECANS by Jonny Flores
CUBANOS by Marcos Buznego
DANIEL RADCLIFFE STOLE MY LIFE by Ed Wiles
DARK AND STORMY by Rick Purdy
THE DARK COOKIE by James Thomas Gilbert
DEATHLESS by M. Rowan Meyer
DEERSLAYER by Nathan Cabaniss
DEVOTION by James Paul Nelson
DIVISION DATE by Jon Beauchemin
E PLURIBUS UNUM by Diana Black
EAT by Eric Whitten
EBONYSHA by Mugs Cahill
A FAMILY REUNION by Xavier Burgin & Thomas Wright
FATE BALL by Richard Sirianni & Adam Jones
FEELING GRAVITY'S PULL by Mark Brown
FIRE PROOF SAFE by Julio DeSanctis
FOUR by Charles W. Miller
FULL COURT BONSAI by Andrew Benedict
GENTLE GIANT by Greg Bennett
GOOD CHANCE by Tricia Lee
GROW HOME by Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan
GUILT by Jamie Severson
HALFWAY HOME by David Schroeder
HAS BEEN BEAUTY QUEEN by Jennifer Gerber
HAYSEED by Travis Burgess
HERE TO STAY by Sara Robin & Shirley Miller
HOW TO SNATCH A CROWN by Dan Hass
THE HUNDREDTH MONKEY by Justin Michael Terry
IDOL by Tricia Lee
JUST BY CHANCE by Michael Musumeci
KARACHI DREAMS by Alexander Devereaux
KING OF SWING by Alessandro King
THE LAST SCHUBERT HOTEL by Sean Patrick Hennessy
THE LONG WAY GONE by Nils Taylor
LOST LAUNDRY by Devyne Johnson & Alanna Bryant
LOVE ALWAYS, UNDYING by Allen Davis
THE LUCID DREAM: AN INDY MOVIE by Lauren Kleeman
M O B by Sophia Lee
MAN IN A CAGE by James Muthuuri
MARCONIVILLE by Tony Clemente Jr
MESCALERO by Anderson Boyd
METASTASIS by Alessandro Guarino
MINDFULNESS by Damon Griffin
NATURAL BURIAL by Mike Greca
NATURE BOY by Elizabeth Johnson
OF SAINTS & SCHOLARS by Amy Allen
ON THE LINE by Kevin Romito & Andreas Aristides
PASSIONFRUIT by Kristian Holland
THE PERFECT SHAPE by Annalisa Consolo
PERSONAL INFLUENCE by Monica Sender
PLEASANT GROVE by Zack R. Smith & Andrew Miller
THE POLE by Hunter Whaley
POPULAR by Marley Schneier
PRIVATE LIVES by Cate Holahan
PROVIDENCE by Tatjana Marjanovic
THE PURPOSE OF A LIGHTHOUSE by Gabe Berry
QUEEN OF NEWBURGH by Lisa Cole & Veronica Moody
QUEENS OF CLARENDON by Chantal Eyong
RANDY MANDY AND THE CURSE OF THE PLAZA THEATRE by Leanna Adams
RED THUNDER by Liam McEneaney
RISE & GRIND by Levi McCachen
ROY RYDELL by Johnny Arnold
SEMBLANCE by Bill Whirity
SENIOR PRANK by Alexis Lea Irvin
A SHALLOW DROWNING by Alison Rayner
SHELTER by Jonathan Doyle
THE SKELETON WATCH by Tricia Cerrone
SPEAR OF THE NATION by Reggie Cook
THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF THE ELEVATOR by Katy Regnery
TAINTED by Sydney Deeter
TAKEN AWAY by Katherine Hill
THE TRADITIONAL PLAN by Alyson Titkemeyer
THE TRAVELER by Jameel Saleem
TRIPWIRE LOVE by J. Ryan Briggs
THE RUN-AWAY by Matt Scruggs
U.X. by Kevin Burke & Matt Galuppo
UNDER THE SINO-SUN by Pedro Santos
UPSIDE DOWNERS by Nicole Donadio
VIOLET, VIOLET by Rachel Leyco
VIRAGO by Kieran Conaty
THE WAITING ROOM by Alex May
WEIRD HAIRCUTS AND BAD ATTITUDES by Alyson Titkemeyer
WESTMINSTER by Anthony Gilmore & Ryan Seale
WHO WAS CARY GRANT? by Jon Davis
WIT-SEC by Aidan Largey
ZOMBABIES by Greyson Wyatt
ZORRO: THE HOT, CARAMEL FIST OF THE WEST by Alex Enriquez

Pilot Screenplay Semifinalists

2 FALLS FORWARD, 1 STEP BACK by Ada Lee Halofsky
ACTIVATED by Juliet Warren
AFTERGROUND by Chantal Eyong
ALL IS NOT LOST by Ruth Johnson
ALLENSWORTH by Bryce Cracknell
BANKS OF HAVANA by Tom Brown
BEST BITCH by Rachel Hein
BETTER JUDGEMENT by Mark Marino
BLOCKCHAIN by Dan Jackson
BLOOD SHEPHERD by Adam Lapallo
BOMBSHELLS by Shanice Williamson
BROWN COUNTRY by Asad Farooqui
THE CALLING by Reggie Cook
CAMP AMERIKA by Donna McNeely Burke
CARPATHIA by Ashling Aisulu Sugrue
CHEESE THIEVES by Sadie Rae
CLIMBING ROCK BOTTOM by Jillian Sczesnak
CLOISTERED by M. Rowan Meyer
CRESCENT COVE by John Lawniczak
DARK HORSE by Jenny Ulmer & Hannah Stoddard
DEAD PLANET by Audrey McPherson & Hallie McPherson
DIARY OF A MADMAN by Ryan Brennan
DISINTEGRATED by George Gecewicz
ENIGMA by James R. Cowley
ESA by Joe Kourieh
THE FAR SIDE by Ben Guenther
GIRL ADRIFT by Veronica Burgess & Lauren Steffany
GOLDEN by Fran Lewis
HAPPINESS THERAPY by Ornella Ohayon
HARVEST by Jazmyn Wright
HE'S WITH ME by Matt Baetz
HIGHER DIVINE by John Russell
ILLUMINATI & SON by Kyle Vorbach & John Horan
JOYLESS by Ryan Manns & Jocelyn Manns
JUST SOUTH OF NORMAL by Ellen Gerstein
THE KILLER B'S by Dave Chan
KING ELIZABETH by Joe Cline & Eric Martin
LAND OF EAGLES by Isaac Banuelos
LEGALIZED by Bryan Torresdey
LEO by Brian McDevitt Jr.
LIBERTY by Sina Sultani
LIKE A JOHN DENVER SONG by Zina Kresin
LOVELY SHADOWS by Gillian Abrams
THE MAD QUEEN: NO ONE TRUSTS A TRAITOR by Cindy Matta
MAKING A KILLING by Valerie Bodurtha
MERCY TOYS by Elena Perez
MOMMY HOOD by Nathalie Dortonne
MOMO by Matthew Cameron
MOTEL CALIFORNIA by Connor O'Connor
NEVERTOWN by Megan Weaver
THE NOC by Lillian Wang
NOT YET by Marieve Herington & Jeffrey Jones
NOTHING EVER DIES by Neil Thomas Kirby
THE NUT FARM by Warren Clarke
ON THE FLY by Daniel Reji
THE OTHER SIDE by Allison Sanchez
PANHANDLED by Joel Handler
PASSION FLOWER by Jae Nichelle
PINEY RIDGE by La’Chris Jordan
POSTAL by Rob Sorensen & Zachary Lovelace
QUILL AND DAGGER by Maddie Ehrenreich
RAISIN MEN by Katrina Jaxson
ROLL CALL by Anngelica-Marie Eshesimua
SAVANT by Johnny Gilligan
SHOWSTOPPER by Ron O'Berst
SOMM COMEDY by Molly Rydzel
SOUTH SEA by Yancey Wang
SPACE VIOLET by Phoebe Stonebraker
THE ISLAMIC BOYS (TIB) by Asad Farooqui
UNDERTAKEN by Jamie Severson
UNREMARKABLE by Brittany McChesney
VICTORY LANE by Carol Sabik-Jaffe
VILOMAH by Nathaniel Nauert
WELCOME TO TRISTAN by David Caliguire & Blake Rutledge

Short Screenplay Semifinalists

A YEAR IN THE WIFE by Stacey  Garratt
AGWAJIING THE SANATORIUM by Michael O'Rourke
BAD GENES by Elen Boesing
THE BONEYARD by M.r. Fitzgerald
BOYS PLAY WITH TRUCKS by Alexander Cope
BREAKING, BROKEN by Jae Nichelle
CIRCLES by Brian Farrey-Latz
CODE SWITCH by Quamé Hamlin
THE CRICKET by Gabe Berry
THE CROSSING by Olga Rozanova
A DAY THAT ENDS IN Y by James M. Martin
DEAR BLACK SON by McKinley Bundick
DISRUPTURE by Ross Morin
DOGFALL by Nifemi Madarikan
DRAWING BLOOD by Zachary Tirgan
ETHEREAL by Wendi Tang
FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF: STARBUCKS-STYLE by Marcus John Julius
THE FORGOTTEN PLACE by Jeff Locker
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SPECIAL by Ada Lee Halofsky
GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE by Elijah Noble El
HAIR DAYS by Noam Argov
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH by Danish Aslam
HEROIN(E) IN LOVE by Danielle Thorpe
HIPPY DIPPY by Anthony Rainone
HOUSE KEEPING by Leanna Adams
I AM A GENTLEMAN by Nicky Calloway
A LEGACY OF LINES by Renee Padmore
THE LION by Samantha Duncan
LO-FI by Caity-Shea Violette
MAGIC SPOOL by Shaun Radecki
MARTHA by Sarah Smith
NATE, THE MOST CONSCIENTIOUS BOMB SQUAD ROBOT by Marcus Julius 
NORTH STAR by P.J. Palmer
OLD FART by Bryan Eisenbise
ONE SMALL VISIT by Jo Chim
OUT THE POT by Nifemi Madarikan
PHYSICAL by Dylan Murphy
PICK OR PAT by Jordan Whiteside-Johnson
ROAD TO ME by Gabe Berry
ROUGH TRANSLATION by Jonathan Chen
SAFE HARBOR by Serena Aguirre
SAY YES by Gabe Berry
SECRETS UNKEPT by Joseph DiFrancesco
A SIMPLE WALK by Donnetrice Allison
SIRENS by Maria Valdez
THE SLOW DECLINE OF DUKE TERROR by Nathan Cabaniss
THE SOUND OF MY HOUSE PLANT by Hua Shang
TRUNDLE AND THE LOST BORSCHT OF ATLANTIS by Zachary Smolar
UNTIL THE LAST ONE FALLS by Gabe Berry
VOID by Nieves Garcia Perchin
A YEMENI by Alyssa Amer

2021 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Quarterfinalists

The Atlanta Film Festival is proud to announce the Quarterfinalists for the 2021 Screenplay Competition. Chosen from a record 2,385 submissions, these 230 feature film screenplays, 150 pilots, and 100 short screenplays represent the top 20% of all entries. Their authors are competing for once in a lifetime mentorship opportunities to help hone their craft and plan the next steps in their careers. Please join us in congratulating this talented group, and do keep an eye out as the programming team continues to narrow this list down to the Semifinalists, Finalists, and eventually to 5 Winning Scripts!

Feature Screenplay Quarterfinalists

10 ROUNDS DEEP by Parker Bohner
1314 by Paige Gresty
99¢ CITY by Graeme MacMillan
THE ALICE SOLUTION by Emily Redinbo
ALIEN BOYS ARE DOUCHEBAGS by Emma Oberle
AMERICAN BABYLON by Yvan Iturriaga
AMERICAN DIRTBAGS by Liam McEneaney
AMERICAN DREAMS by Tricia Lee & Corey Brown
AMIRA by Bob Celli
ANATOMY OF THE PRIMAL SYMMETRIES by Ruben Latre
ANDANTE by Ray Goldberg
ANGELS & MONSTERS by Christopher Ellis 
ARAWAK by Giselle Miller
THE ARK by Andy Orr
THE ARMORED LEAGUE: BLOODLINES by Cassia Taylor
ARTEMISIA, AN ALLEGORY OF PAINTING by Gisella Faggi
ATTACK THERAPY by Warren Clarke
THE AUDITION by Eric Carlson
AUGUST IN EDEN by Joseph Craig & Jason Rein
AWAKENED by Yolanda Buggs
BAND OF MISFITS by Manny Fonseca
THE BETROTHAL by Jacob Menke
BIRD'S EYE by Erin Beute
THE BISHOP OF CARTHAGE by Gary Giudice
BLACK EYE by Zak Johnson & Joshua Perrault
BLUE FLOWER by Niousha Noor
BLUE MYST ROAD by Michael Cantu
THE BLUFF by Darius Turbak
BORN AGAIN by Jason Fraley
BOUNDARIES by Asad Farooqui
A BROWNSTONE IN BROOKYLN by Avery O Williams
BUNDLES by Michael Boyle
BURY THE YOUNG by Tavish Gudgeon
BYSTANDER'S APATHY by Jacob Swann
CAIRO by Ahmed Siddiqui
CAPTAIN F*CK IT by Melanie Holmes
CHAT WITH ME by Lynnette Kraft & Abigail Kraft
CINEMAGIC by Jason Fraley
CITY SPIRIT by Warren Clarke
CIVIL BLOOD by Michal Lali Kagan & Shirley Kagan
CLIMB by Terrence Kelsey
THE CLOSER by Daret Dickens
COLOR BLIND by Yolanda Buggs
CONSENT by Frank J. Avella
THE CONSUMED by Irene Herbruger
CONTROL by Jennifer Phillips
CORKED by Lori Shockley
CORPORATE B.S. by Jennifer Phillips
THE COUP by Joe Ayella
COURIER KNEW by T.S. Gregory
COURT ORDER by Raynard Goodman
THE COWARD OF HICKORY COUNTY by Julia Maddox
CRUEL PECANS by Jonny Flores
CUBANOS by Marcos Buznego
CUDDABUH by Leah Bognanni
CURFEW by Rodolfo Pereira
DANIEL RADCLIFFE STOLE MY LIFE by Ed Wiles
DARK AND STORMY by Rick Purdy
THE DARK COOKIE by James Thomas Gilbert
DARK CRIMES, STRANGE TIMES by Simon Oulouhojian
DEATHLESS by M. Rowan Meyer
DEERSLAYER by Nathan Cabaniss
THE DEVIL IS A LIE by Jared Hutchinson
THE DEVILS AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by Joi Elaine
DEVOTION by James Paul Nelson
DIE BEFORE YOU DIE by Timothy Parr
DIVISION DATE by Jon Beauchemin
DOMINO by Kamari Somers
DREAMHOME by Jackson Murray & Chance Smith
E PLURIBUS UNUM by Diana Black
EAT by Eric Whitten
EBONYSHA by Mugs Cahill
EIGHTEEN HOLES by Eric Carlson
ELLEN PARKER by Melina Maraki
ELLIE'S TALE by Rhonda R Deskins
EMPIRE by Dustin Brown
EN ROUTE by Christine Chen
ENEMIES OF GOD by Irene Herbruger
EVERGREEN by Tyrone Bradley
FAITHFUL SHADOW by Kevin J. Howard
A FAMILY REUNION by Xavier Burgin & Thomas Wright
FATE BALL by Richard Sirianni & Adam Jones
THE FEAR by Lane Bachelder
FEELING GRAVITY'S PULL by Mark Brown
FIRE PROOF SAFE by Julio DeSanctis
FIRST RUNNER UP by Christine Pfeiffer Stocke & Dan Stocke
THE FISH HUSBAND by Lourvey Bourdan
FISH STORY by Matthew Dixon
FOUR by Charles W. Miller
FULL COURT BONSAI by Andrew Benedict
GENTLE GIANT by Greg Bennett
GOOD BAD PEOPLE by Joshua Amar
GOOD CHANCE by Tricia Lee
GRAD NIGHT by Jessica Johnson
GRAVEDIGGERS by Lisa Franek
GROW HOME by Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan
GUILT by Jamie Severson
HALFWAY HOME by David Schroeder
HANNAH ELIAS by Nathan Ross Freeman
THE HAPPY HORRIGANS by Michael Maitland
HAPPY HOUR by Cynthia Mersten
HAPPY TURKEY DAY by Dustin Jacobs
HAS BEEN BEAUTY QUEEN by Jennifer Gerber & Samuel Brett Williams
HAYSEED by Travis Burgess
HERE TO STAY by Sara Robin & Shirley Miller
HOLD YOUR BREATH by Melina Maraki
HOLLYWOOD, MADAM by Michelle Somruthai D'Angelo
HOW TO SNATCH A CROWN by Dan Hass
THE HUNDREDTH MONKEY by Justin Michael Terry
HURRICANE TARA by Kyle Curry
I TOLD YOU SO by Brian Horgan
ICON by Mikhail Marks
IDOL by Tricia Lee
IMPASSE by David Mitsuoka
AN IMPRESSION OF ITS OWN KIND by Landon K. Elder
IMRE by Matthew Lashua
INVISIBLE (THE STORY OF THE USS MANTA RAY) by Mitch Nyberg
JUST BY CHANCE by Michael Musumeci
KALEIDOSCOPE by Adam Lapallo
KARACHI DREAMS by Alexander Devereaux
KILT by Ron Leach & Kristian Hodko
KING OF SWING by Alessandro King
KRAUTHAMMERS CODE by Michael Elliott Dennis
LADY REPORTER by Michael Lucid & Michael Lannan
THE LAST SCHUBERT HOTEL by Sean Patrick Hennessy
THE LAST SHOOTOUT OF CALAMITY JANE by Laura Morton
LATE BLOOMERS by Paige Morrow Kimball
THE LEASE OF NATURE by Anderson Boyd
A LITTLEFOOT ON THE LOOSE by Karen Conley
THE LONG WAY GONE by Nils Taylor
LOST LAUNDRY by Devyne Johnson & Alanna Bryant
LOVE ALWAYS, UNDYING by Allen Davis
THE LUCID DREAM: AN INDY MOVIE by Lauren Kleeman
M O B by Sophia Lee
MADNESS JACKSON by Charles Stanford Talbott
MAN IN A CAGE by James Muthuuri
MARCONIVILLE by Tony Clemente Jr
MESCALERO by Anderson Boyd
METASTASIS by Alessandro Guarino
MINDFULNESS by Damon Griffin
THE MONA LISA PROJECT by Joel Stunkard & Andrew Uscher
MOONGIRL by Virginia Kennedy
MYRA NIGHTSHADE'S GREATEST HITS by Jesse Swenson
MYSTERIOUS WAYS by Jamie Roberts
NATURAL BURIAL by Mike Greca
NATURE BOY by Elizabeth Johnson
THE NEGATIVE by Andy Orr
NIGHTMARES ARE DREAMS TOO by Britt Banks & Tamara S. Hall
NO MORE MONSTERS by Drew Metcalf
OF SAINTS & SCHOLARS by Amy  Allen
ON THE CUSP OF A BLOOD ORANGE SKY... by James Thomas Gilbert
ON THE LINE by Kevin Romito & Andreas Aristides
THE OTHER SIDE OF 25 by Becca Hurd
OUR GODS WITHIN by Alex Luprete
PAGES FROM THE GREEN BOOK by Janae Green & Aileen Natalia
PASS ME OVER by Amanda Lamarr
PASSIONFRUIT by Kristian Holland
THE PERFECT SHAPE by Annalisa Consolo
PERSONAL INFLUENCE by Monica Sender
PLEASANT GROVE by Zack R. Smith & Andrew Miller
POINTS OF SAIL by Lily Drummond
THE POLE by Hunter Whaley
POPULAR by Marley Schneier
POST CIVIL by Adam Hersh
PRE-UTOPIAN TENSION by Christian Maxwell
PRIVATE LIVES by Cate Holahan
PROVIDENCE by Tatjana Marjanovic
PUP ATTUCKS by Aesop Berk
THE PURPOSE OF A LIGHTHOUSE by Gabe Berry
QUEEN OF NEWBURGH by Lisa Cole & Veronica Moody
QUEENS OF CLARENDON by Chantal Eyong
RANDY MANDY AND THE CURSE OF THE PLAZA THEATRE by Leanna Adams
RED THUNDER by Liam McEneaney
REDBEAR by Lawrence Whitener
RESET by Gretchen Klein
RIOT GIRL by Monica Sender
RISE & GRIND by Levi McCachen
ROY RYDELL by Johnny Arnold
ROYA by Mahmoud Salimi & Michael Nolin
THE SAUCE by Chaz Hawkins
SAYETH THE LORD by Nathan Cabaniss
THE SECOND LOCATION by Tracy Schumer
SEMBLANCE by Bill Whirity
SENIOR PRANK by Alexis Lea Irvin
THE SEVEN YEAR SWITCH by Cory King
A SHALLOW DROWNING by Alison Rayner
SHELTER by Jonathan Doyle
THE SHOOTING OF JUNE PRICE by Orion Kaminky
THE SKELETON WATCH by Tricia Cerrone
SKIN DEEP by Khiray Richards
SNOW WHITE FROM QUEENS by Diana Lee Woody
SOILED DOVE by Leslie Ann Coles
SPEAR OF THE NATION by Reggie Cook
STILL SEPTEMBER by AJ Moss
THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF THE ELEVATOR by Katy Regnery
SURVIVING URANUS by Michael Wohl
TAINTED by Sydney Deeter
TAKEN AWAY by Katherine Hill
THE RUN-AWAY by Matt Scruggs
THEM WRETCHED SOULS by Keith St. Lawrence
THOSE GUYS by David Hutter
THE TRADITIONAL PLAN by Alyson Titkemeyer
THE TRAVELER by Jameel Saleem
TRIAL BY FIRE by Dan Sullivan
TRIPWIRE LOVE by J. Ryan Briggs
TUTUS & COWBOY BOOTS by Casey Peeler & Catherine Ware
U.X. by Kevin Burke & Matt Galuppo
UNDER THE SINO-SUN by Pedro  Santos
UNDESIRABLE by Rodolfo Alvarado
UPSIDE DOWNERS by Nicole Donadio
US INC. by Joel Michalak
A VIOLENT DAY IN GEORGIA by Adam Chaves
VIOLET, VIOLET by Rachel Leyco
VIRAGO by Kieran Conaty
THE WAITING ROOM by Alex May
THE WAY HOME by Jason Grimste
WAYWARD BOUND by Tim McQuaid
WE WERE BORN KINGS by Nick Brooks
WEIRD HAIRCUTS AND BAD ATTITUDES by Alyson Titkemeyer
WESTERN APPROACHES by Andrew Judge
WESTMINSTER by Anthony Gilmore & Ryan Seale
WHERE THE MEN ARE by Wendy Wilkins
WHO WAS CARY GRANT? by Jon Davis
WHOEVER FIGHTS MONSTERS by Michael Fine
THE WILL by Nathalie Dortonne
WIT-SEC by Aidan Largey
WITCH WATER: A SOUTHERN GOTHIC by Eva Sylvestre
WOLF NOTES by Arlene Brimer Mailing
ZOMBABIES by Greyson Wyatt
ZORRO: THE HOT, CARAMEL FIST OF THE WEST by Alex Enriquez

Pilot Screenplay Quarterfinalists

2 FALLS FORWARD, 1 STEP BACK by Ada Lee Halofsky
ACROBATSHIT by Jack Olin
ACTIVATED by Juliet Warren
AFTER GREENSBORO by Deborah Goodwin
AFTERGROUND by Chantal Eyong
ALL IS NOT LOST by Ruth Johnson
ALLENSWORTH by Bryce Cracknell
ANGELS OF WAR by Natalie Bergman & Victoria Rau
BANKS OF HAVANA by Tom Brown
BARTLEBEE'S GOLD by Hale Douthit
BASELINE by Matt Grenzebach
BEST BITCH by Rachel Hein
BETTER JUDGEMENT by Mark Marino
BLOCKCHAIN by Dan Jackson
BLOOD SHEPHERD by Adam Lapallo
BOMBSHELLS by Shanice Williamson
BRECK DOINKUS AND THE MILLENNIUM MACHINE by Alex Enriquez
BROWN COUNTRY by Asad Farooqui
THE CALLING by Reggie Cook
CAMP AMERIKA by D.M. Burke
THE CANDYMAN by Madison Peters
CANUSA STREET BLUES by Zack Morrison
CARPATHIA by Ashling Aisulu Sugrue
CARTUNION by Alessandro M. B. King
CHEESE THIEVES by Sadie Rae
CLIMBING ROCK BOTTOM by Jillian Sczesnak
CLOISTERED by M. Rowan Meyer
CODESWITCH by Sasha Kai Parker
COLUMBIA by Jesse Martin
CONFESSIONS OF MOSEBERRY FALLS by Karolina Gadek
CRESCENT COVE by John Lawniczak
CRYPTOPHASIA by Taylar Morrissey
DARK HORSE by Jenny Ulmer & Hannah Stoddard
DEAD PLANET by Audrey McPherson & Hallie McPherson
THE DETECTIVE AND THE SLEUTH by Tucker Iverson
THE DEVIL'S RUST by Matthew Evans
DIARY OF A MADMAN by Ryan Brennan
DISINTEGRATED by George Gecewicz
DOX by Annemarie Bettica
ENIGMA by James R. Cowley
ESA by Joe Kourieh
FAMILY POLITICS by Arielle Haller-Silverstone
THE FAR SIDE by Ben Guenther
FRAGRANCE by Tanmaya Shekhar
FRIENDS LIKE FAMILY by Bryan Mazzarello & Conrad Garcia
GIRL ADRIFT by Veronica Burgess & Lauren Steffany
GLITTER BOX: DICKING AOUND AT DAWN by Jennifer Le Roux
GOLDEN by Fran Lewis
GOLEM by Lewayne White
HAJIME by Haley Keeley
HAPPINESS THERAPY by Ornella Ohayon
HARRISON, ARK by Jonquil Goode
HARVEST by Jazmyn Wright
HE'S WITH ME by Matt Baetz
HEAVY by Collette Legault
HIGHER DIVINE by John Russell
HUSTLE by Cierra Lockett
I'M YOUR BABY by Erica A. Hart & Joseph Gerbino
ILLUMINATI & SON by Kyle Vorbach & John Horan
IN THE STORM by Vanita Borwankar
JASON SHARP: CONFIRMED BACHELOR by Steven Greenwood
JOSH ON EARTH by Nathan Dame
JOYLESS by Ryan Manns & Jocelyn Manns
JUST SOUTH OF NORMAL by Ellen Gerstein
KENSINGTON by Cierra Lockett
KILL, MARRY, SCREW by Jamin Keene
THE KILLER B'S by Dave Chan
KING ELIZABETH by Joe Cline & Eric Martin
KOHINOOR by Sidrah Mahmood
KUDZU by Palmer Rubin & Haley Cope
THE LAKE by Adam Seidel
LAND OF EAGLES by Isaac Banuelos
LEGALIZED by Bryan Torresdey
LEO by Brian McDevitt Jr.
LIBERTY by Sina Sultani
LIKE A JOHN DENVER SONG by Zina Kresin
LINDA'S JAZZ NIGHTS by Linda Manning
LOVELY SHADOWS by Gillian Abrams
THE MAD QUEEN: NO ONE TRUSTS A TRAITOR by Cindy Matta
MAKING A KILLING by Valerie Bodurtha
MEET ME AT BLAIR MOUNTAIN by Collin Blair
MERCY TOYS by Elena Perez
MIND INC by Brandon Riley & Robert Dobbins
MIRACLE LEAGUE by Michael Greenwald
MODEL MINORITIES by Delon Villanueva
MOMMY HOOD by Nathalie Dortonne
MOMO by Matthew Cameron
MONTAUK by Maria Bruzhayte
MOTEL CALIFORNIA by Connor O'Connor
MOTHERSTAR by Rob Carieri
MY HALF-SISTER'S HALF-BROTHER by Rebecca Greene
MY LITTLE SHOOTER by Simon Woodgate
MYSTIK by Craig Fleming & Chris Webster
NEUROTRANSMISSION by Andrea Berting
NEVERTOWN by Megan Weaver
THE NOC by Lillian Wang
NOT YET by Marieve Herington & Jeffrey Jones
NOTHING EVER DIES by Neil Thomas Kirby
THE NUT FARM by Warren Clarke
ON THE FLY by Daniel Reji
ORCHID HEIST by Ryan Manns & Jocelyn Manns
THE OTHER SIDE by Allison Sanchez
THE PAISLEY WITCH TRIAL by Julia Campanelli
PANGEA by Thomas Smith
PANHANDLED by Joel Handler
PASSION FLOWER by Jae Nichelle
PINEY RIDGE by La’Chris Jordan
POOR DARLNS by Gobbie Dixon & Kimberly Skoda
POSTAL by Rob Sorensen & Zachary Lovelace
PRICE OF ADMISSION by Kyle Wheelock
QUICHE by Tom Kiesche
QUILL AND DAGGER by Maddie Ehrenreich
QUIZZED by Leah Judge
RAISIN MEN by Katrina Jaxson
THE RAPPER by Jot Singh
RETIRED by Carlos Cerutti
RNWY GALAXIES by P.A. Lopez
ROLL CALL by Anngelica-Marie Eshesimua
SAVANT by Johnny Gilligan
SEATTLE by George Westberg
SEEN. by Colin Murphy
THE SENSATIONAL GENES: BULLET HOLE by Claire (CT Marie) Torn
SHADOWS by Cameron Schwartz
SHOWSTOPPER by Ron O'Berst
SOMM COMEDY by Molly Rydzel
SOUTH SEA by Yancey Wang
SPACE VIOLET by Phoebe Stonebraker
SPECIAL ED by William Johnson
SPORTS MED by Steven Karageanes
STILL LIFE by Duncan Putney
SUBURBIA FALLS by Yolanda Buggs
SUNDOWN by Drew Metcalf
SYLMAR by Ernesto M. Sandoval
TACTFUL CARNIVORES by Tyler Ellzey
TENURE by Ronald Eltanal
THE ISLAMIC BOYS (TIB) by Asad Farooqui
THE ROAD HOME by Clint Murphy
TIRA'ALLARA by Tavyn Gentry
TO THE DEPTHS by Benjamin Fraser
UNDERTAKEN by Jamie Severson
UNINSPIRED by Lesley Hennen
UNREMARKABLE by Brittany McChesney
UNTITLED GAY HITMAN PROJECT by Gus Constantellis & James Tison
VICTORY LANE by Carol Sabik-Jaffe
VILOMAH by Nathaniel Nauert
WASHED UP by Carlos Gutierrez & Michael Goldenberg
WELCOME TO TRISTAN by David Caliguire & Blake Rutledge
WHO FOLLOWS by Aaron Schroeder
WISE GIRLS by Sally Courtois
A YEAR IN THE WIFE by Stacey Garratt

Short Screenplay Quarterfinalists

A 40 FOR THE GOAT by Emil Gallardo & Derek Ho
AGWAJIING THE SANATORIUM by Michael O'Rourke
AMERICANITIS by Ashley Gwen Patrick
THE ART OF BEING WICKED by Amanda Öman
AURORA by Tim Debruler
AUTOCOMPLETE by Oscar Pineda-Madrid
BAD GENES by Elen Boesing
BLACK GIRLS AND FAIRYTALES by Celeste Banks
BLIND BIRD by Fred O. Dery
THE BONEYARD by M.r. Fitzgerald
BOYS PLAY WITH TRUCKS by Alexander Cope
BREAKING, BROKEN by Jae Nichelle
CAIRNS by Samantha Soule
CIRCLES by Brian Farrey-Latz
CODE SWITCH by Quamé Hamlin
THE CRICKET by Gabe Berry
THE CROSSING by Olga Rozanova
CURLING, OHIO by Tony Sandrew & Tony Hudacs
THE CYNIC by Alex Clark
DANDELION by Jennifer K Galm
THE DARK BETWEEN US by Nikhil Kamkolkar
A DAY THAT ENDS IN Y by James M. Martin
DEAR BLACK SON by McKinley Bundick
DINNER OUT by Richard Taylor
DISRUPTURE by Ross Morin
THE DOCTOR by Justin Patricolo
DOGFALL by Nifemi Madarikan
DRAWING BLOOD by Zachary Tirgan
ETHEREAL by Wendi Tang
FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF: STARBUCKS-STYLE by Marcus John Julius
FOR THE MANY MORES OF US by Jesse Kuba
THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Rasha Mohamed
THE FORGOTTEN PLACE by Jeff Locker
THE FRANNY FRIDAY by Taylor Mull
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SPECIAL by Ada Lee Halofsky
GOODNIGHT AND GOODBYE by Elijah Noble El
THE GREAT WINGZINI by Shaun Radecki
HAIR DAYS by Noam Argov
A HAUNTED EGO by Daniyal N. Khan
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH by Danish Aslam
HEROIN(E) IN LOVE by Danielle Thorpe
HIPPY DIPPY by Anthony Rainone
HOLY LIGHT by Varun Bhuchar
HOUSE KEEPING by Leanna Adams
HUGGY BEAR by Brittani Harris
I AM A GENTLEMAN by Nicky Calloway
I LOVE YOU MORE. by Roger Gerard Cole
THE INFINITESIMAL LIFE OF JOBE GRENNAVICH by James Greasley
INVISIBLE by Adeodatus McCormack
JUST US by Cecilia Kim & Ashley Nedd
KEEPING IT TOGETHER by Wendy Rich Stetson
THE LAST GOODBYE by Alex Surowitz
A LEGACY OF LINES by Renee Padmore
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY by Anthony Maccio
THE LION by Samantha Duncan
LO-FI by Caity-Shea Violette
MAGIC SPOOL by Shaun Radecki
MARTHA by Sarah Smith
NATE, THE MOST CONSCIENTIOUS BOMB SQUAD ROBOT by Marcus Julius 
THE NOBLEMAN by Sid Powell
NORTH STAR by P.J. Palmer
OFFERING by Nate Glassman-Hughes
OLD FART by Bryan Eisenbise
ONE SMALL VISIT by Jo Chim
OPPY by Natalie Kimura
THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN by Darian O'Neil
OUT THE POT by Nifemi Madarikan
PEOPLE IN A BOX by M.r. Fitzgerald
PHYSICAL by Dylan Murphy
PICK OR PAT by Jordan Whiteside-Johnson
POST by Marquelle Young & Dana Ferguson
RECOVERY CHAIN by Quamé Hamlin
ROAD TO ME by Gabe Berry
ROUGH TRANSLATION by Jonathan Chen
SAFE HARBOR by Serena Aguirre
SAGRADA by Tarik Woodbine
SAY YES by Gabe Berry
SECRETS UNKEPT by Joseph DiFrancesco
SHOW AND TELL by Anh Le
SILENT TREATMENT by Monica Sender
A SIMPLE WALK by Donnetrice Allison
SIRENS by Maria Valdez
THE SLOW DECLINE OF DUKE TERROR by Nathan Cabaniss
SOU-SOU by Reem Jubran
THE SOUND OF MY HOUSE PLANT  by Hua Shang
SPIRIT by Maarifa King
A SPOONFUL by Tom Machell
SQUISHED by Shaun Radecki
STAIN RESISTANT by Shruti Tewari
SUCH IS DEATH by Jamie Carrick
THEOMORPHIS by Sam Moony
A THOUSAND TIMES A DAY by Chantelle James
THE TIKI TICKET by Brian White
TP'D by Ashley Brandon
TRAUMA by Dhun Sharma
TRUNDLE AND THE LOST BORSCHT OF ATLANTIS by Zachary Smolar
UNTIL THE LAST ONE FALLS by Gabe Berry
VOID by Nieves Garcia Perchin
THE WEIGHT OF MATTER by Christopher Thomas
A YEMENI by Alyssa Amer

ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES PROGRAMMING FOR 2021 CREATIVE CONFERENCE

ATLANTA, GA (March 23, 2021) — The Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) announced its lineup of 2021 Creative Conference events today. This will be the 11th annual Creative Conference, ATLFF’s educational programming, and will take place as part of the 45th annual festival from April 22 – May 2, 2021. Today’s announcement comprises 3 headlining Masterclasses, 13 one-on-one conversations and 7 roundtables featuring some of the most well-respected names in the entertainment industry from around the country.

The Creative Conference serves to educate, entertain and enlighten by pulling back the curtain on film and television production to give the ATLFF audience a peek behind the scenes at how projects get made and by whom. The topics of these informative sessions, which will all be presented virtually via Eventive, will include writing, showrunning, producing, directing, cinematography, acting, sound recording, lighting, composing, podcasting, LED virtual stages, distribution, props, stunt work and more.

"One of the positives of this last year, for the Creative Conference, is our all-virtual format. The freedom to pre-record conversations has allowed otherwise impossible to get professionals from around the country to share their personal experience, career advice and industry knowledge. This virtual format also allows anyone from anywhere in the world to access our programming, and we couldn't be more excited to engage and empower artists and audiences in this new way,” said Linda Burns, a 30-year industry veteran and Creative Conference programmer.

The three Masterclasses will feature revealing conversations with some of the most admired and sought-after artists in their respective fields. Wayne White, a three-time Emmy-winning artist and subject of the documentary “Beauty is Embarrassing,” will divulge to local puppeteer, filmmaker, and fabricator Sam Carter, where he finds inspiration, what gets him out of bed every day and what responsibility he thinks artists have as creators and mentors.

Ty Franck, Hugo Award-winning author, Executive Producer and Co-Creator of the hit Amazon Prime show “The Expanse,” will sit down with Georgia filmmaker Raymond Carr to discuss the show’s journey – from tabletop role-playing game to award-winning novel series and eventually to its current stellar television show about to begin its sixth season.

Finally, Daveed Diggs (Hamilton, The Little Mermaid, Snowpiercer, Soul) and Rafael Casal (The Good Lord Bird, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Bad Education, Def Poetry), co-writers and co-stars of the 2018 film “Blindspotting,” will talk about the film’s inspiration and upcoming TV adaptation with one of the show’s directors, Atlanta-based Angela Barnes. They will also dive into the origins of their friendship in high school, their collaborative process and challenges they’ve faced throughout their careers.

In addition to the Masterclasses, ATLFF will expand on the industry knowledge presented during the Creative Conference with 13 one-on-one discussions and 7 roundtables covering a vast array of topics. Panelist credits for this year’s lineup include: “WandaVision,” “Dexter,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “The Walking Dead,” “Criminal Minds,” “Stranger Things,” “Ozark,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Black Panther,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “The Gifted,” “Watchmen,” “Harriet,” and many more celebrated television series and films.

In an additional Creative Conference element new for 2021, local independent filmmakers will moderate another 15+ panel discussions with filmmakers from around the world who were accepted into this year’s festival in the documentary, animation, narrative, and experimental short categories, as well as the episodic, music video, and virtual reality programs. The exact details and participants on these panels will be announced closer to the festival.

“Casual conversations revolving around the art and business of filmmaking between Atlanta-based professionals and their friends and colleagues offer virtual festival goers a unique and much more intimate experience than ever before. In addition, local indie filmmakers moderating roundtables with some of the directors accepted into our festival program gives these creatives from across the globe the chance to interact and connect with one another when in-person networking isn’t an option,” Burns added.

Previous Creative Conference Masterclass hosts have included actors William H. Macy, James Franco, Amber Nash and Romany Malco; a panel of producers from Pinewood Atlanta Studios and Marvel Studios; filmmakers and showrunners Damon Lindelof, Jason Reitman, James Ponsoldt, Victor Nunez and Tom Luse; and Broadway veteran Schuler Hensley.

2021 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL + CREATIVE CONFERENCE REVEALS OFFICIAL SELECTIONS FOR 45TH ANNUAL EVENT

ATLANTA, GA (March 12, 2021) — The Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) announced the lineup of selected works from submissions today for the 45th annual event, which will take place Thursday, April 22 through Sunday, May 2, 2021. Including three previously announced titles, there are 170 total works currently scheduled to play at ATLFF 2021’s virtual, drive-in and in-person screenings. There were a record-breaking 9,400 combined films and screenplays submitted to the 2021 festival.

Today’s announcement comprises 25 feature-length films, 119 short films and 26 creative media that will be showcased during the 11-day festival. A forthcoming slate of Marquee screenings, including Opening and Closing Night presentations, will be revealed in the coming weeks. Five winning screenplays from the screenplay competition will also be announced at a later date.

“The past year brought ambiguity and a loss of connection for so many across the globe, but it also clearly showed that empowering and amplifying our voices, particularly those that have been underrepresented, can bring us closer than ever. 2021 marks an important milestone for not only the Atlanta Film Festival, but the city of Atlanta and the nation as we come together in recovery. While we celebrate our 45th annual event, we also celebrate the resiliency of our community, both locally and worldwide, and the diverse voices represented in our outstanding slate of selected works,” said Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of ATLFF.

Among the highlights of this year’s selected films include “Akilla’s Escape,” a narrative feature starring Morehouse College alumnus Saul Williams, which examines the cycle of generational violence; “A Fire Within,” a documentary that tells the incredible true story of three women who immigrate to the US after experiencing torture in Ethiopia, only to discover that the man responsible is working at a hotel in Midtown Atlanta; and “Moon Manor,” a narrative feature with a star-studded cast making its world premiere at ATLFF.

Diversity in programming has long been a cornerstone of ATLFF’s mission, and the 2021 selections demonstrate this once again. Approximately 53 percent of the selected works are helmed by women and gender non-conforming directors, and roughly half are from BIPOC directors. Artists from 122 different countries submitted works for the 2021 festival, and 52 countries are represented in the selected works.

The 11th annual Creative Conference, the festival’s educational programming that features Masterclasses, roundtable discussions, one-on-one conversations and workshops with up-and-coming indie filmmakers, professional actors and industry experts from around the country, will return in a virtual format to the 2021 event.

The full Creative Conference lineup will be announced in the coming weeks. The highlights include Masterclasses from Wayne White, a three-time Emmy-winning artist; Ty Franck, Executive Producer of “The Expanse”; and Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, stars of the film “Blindspotting” and co-creators of its upcoming TV adaptation.

The Atlanta Film Festival is the annual centerpiece of educational and enriching film programming that is provided year-round by its parent organization, the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS). Now in its fifth decade, ATLFF is one of only a handful of film festivals worldwide that is Academy Award-qualifying in three or more categories.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, ATLFF 2021 will be presented via a mix of drive-in, virtual and socially distanced in-person screenings. As in 2020, the Creative Conference events will all be virtual. Drive-in screenings will be held at the Plaza Drive-In (1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE) and Dad’s Garage Drive-In (569 Ezzard St SE), while the in-person screenings will take place at the Plaza Theatre.

Festival passes are on sale now at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. Tickets for individual events will go on sale to ATLFS members on March 18 and to the public on March 25. Drive-in screenings will cost $15-50 (depending on the number of people in the vehicle), virtual events will be $9.99 and tickets to in-person screenings will be $20. All virtual screenings and events will be presented via Eventive.

ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL + CREATIVE CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF FILMS FROM 2021 LINEUP



The annual festival and series of educational events will take place  

from April 22 to May 2, 2021 

 ATLANTA, GA (February 2, 2021) — The Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) is pleased to announce the first wave of films programmed for the upcoming 45th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF), slated for April 22 through May 2, 2021. Each year, this first wave announcement acts as both the earliest glimpse at the upcoming festival as well as a representation of the exciting programming choices to come.  

 “This past year, as we’ve faced a period of isolation and loss, many of us have turned to film as a source of comfort and as a means to connect,” said ATLFF Programming Director Alyssa Armand. “We look forward to elevating the work of filmmakers who have continued to create art against all odds and celebrating the immense value that their work brings to our lives.” 

 The first wave of films includes two documentary features and one narrative feature, and are representative of the bold, creative, and compelling breadth of stories to be found across ATLFF’s 2021 programming. The Pattiz Brothers’ CARTERLAND lends a keen and thoughtful lens to reexamining the impact of a misunderstood president whose work shaped generations to come. In José Permar’s OFF THE ROAD, a group of young musicians vibrantly narrates the highs and lows of a quiet and isolated community awaiting the “Baja 1000” race to come speeding past them. Mari Walker’s SEE YOU THEN centers on a former couple intimately revisiting their past life, before old feelings and unresolved matters propel the night into a captivatingly raw confrontation. 

These three films will join an upcoming lineup of over 150 additional works selected from 7,092 film submissions. 

CARTERLAND 

directed by Jim Pattiz & Will Pattiz 

USA, English, 120 minutes 

In their feature film debut Carterland, the Pattiz Brothers examine the tragic,  yet inspiring story of America's most misunderstood president. While leading the nation through a series of unprecedented crises, Carter also confronted climate change and fought for social justice at home and abroad. This groundbreaking film draws on archival footage, experts, and insiders to reveal how Carter's selfless leadership and moral integrity ultimately cost him the presidency. 

#DocumentaryFeature, #Georgia 

OFF THE ROAD  

directed by José Permar 

Mexico/USA, Spanish, 77 minutes 

A group of young musicians sing the deeds of three men who live in the most isolated region of the Baja California Sur desert. As the “Baja 1000”, the world’s largest annual all-terrain car race, takes place crossing the Mexican-US border, these men look for an opportunity to be a part of it and escape the apparent monotony of their small communities. 

#DocumentaryFeature, #Cinemás 

SEE YOU THEN 

directed by Mari Walker 

USA, English, 74 minutes 

A decade after abruptly breaking up with Naomi, Kris invites her to dinner to catch-up on their complicated lives, relationships, and Kris' transition. Over the course of a one night encounter, they engage in a series of increasingly intimate and vulnerable conversations, before a shocking revelation is unveiled. See You Then focuses on the universal truth that no matter how much you change, a part of you will always stay the same. 

#NarrativeFeature, #NewMavericks, #PinkPeach 

In 2020, ATLFF successfully adapted to the on-going pandemic by shifting from in-person screenings and events to a drive-in and digital format. The pivot in formats allowed the festival and educational conference to reach audiences safely across the globe. The 2021 format is expected to incorporate both drive-in and virtual screenings again, with announcements on the full schedule forthcoming.  

Currently, ATLFS is partnering with the Sundance Film Festival in presenting 12 films—all making their world premieres at Sundance—in Atlanta as part of Sundance’s Satellite Screens initiative. These films are playing at the Plaza Theatre, both indoors and drive-in, and at Dad’s Garage Drive-In. For a full schedule, visit https://www.atlantafilmsociety.org/sundance-schedule.