Chad Hartigan, Sherri Shepherd, Erica Ash, Taylour Paige and Stella Meghie to Walk the ATLFF '16 Red Carpet for Closing Night!

We have a star-studded red carpet planned for Saturday night, April 9th. Don't forget to get your tickets for JEAN OF THE JONESES and Closing Night Presentation, MORRIS FROM AMERICA now!

Writer/director Stella Meghie (winner of the 2011 ATLFF Screenplay Competition) and stars Sherri Shepherd, Erica Ash and Taylour Paige will walk the red carpet after the 5:15 PM screening of JEAN OF THE JONESES. Writer/director Chad Hartigan will walk the red carpet prior to Closing Night presentation MORRIS FROM AMERICA at 7:30 PM. Hartigan also stars in HUNKY DORY, which screens on Sunday, April 10th. Get your tickets to see these stars now!

JEAN OF THE JONESES

directed by Stella Meghie
Canada/USA, 2016, English, 82 minutes

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 5:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

Writer-director Stella Meghie's feature revolves around the troubled Jones family, one of whom dies at the start of the movie. When the paramedic who answers their 911 call falls for rambunctious Jean, the courtship goes south during a calamitous Jones funeral. This screenplay won the 2011 ATLFF Screenplay Competition.

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MORRIS FROM AMERICA

directed by Chad Hartigan
USA/Germany, 2016, English/German, 91 minutes

Saturday, April 9, 2016, 7:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

A heartwarming and crowd-pleasing coming-of-age comedy with a unique spin, “Morris from America” centers on Morris Gentry (Markees Christmas, in an incredible breakout performance), a 13-year-old who has just relocated with his single father, Curtis (Craig Robinson), to Heidelberg, Germany. Morris, who fancies himself the next Notorious B.I.G., is a complete fish-out-of-water—a budding hip-hop star in an EDM world. To complicate matters further, Morris quickly falls hard for his cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin. Morris sets out against all odds to take the hip-hop world by storm and win the girl of his dreams.

After Party: Every ticket purchased comes with admission to our opening night party, located at Music Room. Live entertainment, superb libations, and catering will be provided.

ATLFF '16 Encores announced! Here's what gets a second screening on Sunday, April 10th...

Don't miss second screenings of these ATLFF '16 sold-out hits! "The Arbalest," "Frankenstein Created Bikers," "In Pursuit of Silence" and the COTTON shorts block join our Award-winning Short Films for Encore Sunday, made possible by Film Festival Collective presented by XFINITY.

These screenings already sold out once, so don't hesitate to get your tickets in advance!

AWARD-WINNING SHORTS

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 12:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre

Catch the Oscar-qualifying winners of the Narrative Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short Jury Prizes, plus the Filmmaker-to-Watch Award Winner and other winning short films.

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IN PURSUIT OF SILENCE - Encore

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 2:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre

As much a work of devotion as it is a documentary, “In Pursuit of Silence” is a meditative exploration of our relationship with silence and the impact of noise on our lives. In our race towards modernity, amidst all the technological innovation and the rapid growth of our cities, silence is now quickly passing into legend. From causing aggressive behavior to hundreds of thousands of heart attacks around the world, there is no aspect of human life that noise does not infringe upon. Silence as a resource for respite and renewal from the sensory onslaught of our modern lives is now more important than ever before.

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COTTON Shorts Block - Encore

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 5:00 PM — 7 Stages Theatre

Hardy and tight-knit. Presented in partnership with Homespun, a series crafted by Atlanta Film Society Filmmakers-in-Residence Jon Watts & Brantly Watts. Featuring "Hotel Clermont," "The New Orleans Sazerac" and "Eat White Dirt."

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FRANKENSTEIN CREATED BIKERS - Encore

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 7:30 PM — 7 Stages Theatre

An outlaw biker finds himself addicted to a diabolical substance and hunted by a grenade-tossing femme fatale, bounty hunters, law enforcement, a rival motorcycle gang, mutations and a topless stripper hit squad.

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THE ARBALEST - Encore

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 7:45 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs

"The Arbalest" is a confessional recount of the reclusive private life of Foster Kalt, the world-renowned inventor of the Kalt Cube. The strange reflection pieces together strange events and romantic obsessions that compound in a disturbing invention despite his ten-year vow of silence. —My Nguyen

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Pinewood Atlanta Presents A Conversation with William H. Macy and Production Panel on Sunday, April 10th

Pinewood Atlanta Studios Presents the Production Panel and A Conversation with William H. Macy at the 40th Anniversary Atlanta Film Festival

The 40th Anniversary Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Pinewood Atlanta Studios (Pinewood) that will bring key educational Creative Conference programming to the 2016 event. On Sunday, April 10, 2016, ATLFF and Pinewood will host A Conversation with William H. Macy. Immediately following, Pinewood Atlanta Presents the Production Panel will feature four established filmmakers with previous or current productions on the Pinewood lot. Pinewood Atlanta Studios is a full service film and entertainment studio complex comprised of 11 sound stages on 700 acres in Fayetteville, Georgia USA, just south of Atlanta.

“It is an incredibly exciting time for the Atlanta film industry as we experience rapid growth in both independent and big-budget studio production. With four decades of experience, the continued mission and responsibility of the Atlanta Film Festival is to provide enriching programming that will support our film community in sustaining this growth,” said Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of the Atlanta Film Festival. “We are pleased to have the support of esteemed community partners like Pinewood Atlanta Studios to share in this goal. Our partnership with Pinewood will bring two distinctive educational opportunities to the 2016 Creative Conference that provide exclusive glimpses into filmmaking at the prestigious studio complex.”

“We are proud to support the Atlanta Film Festival and thrilled to be supporting the growth of the film industry in Georgia. There has never been a better time to film in Atlanta” said Kevin Bar, Sales Executive for Pinewood Atlanta Studios.

ATLFF and Pinewood will present A Conversation with William H. Macy at 10:00AM on Sunday, April 10 at 7 Stages Theatre, located at 1105 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. Pinewood Atlanta Presents the Production Panel will also take place on Sunday at 7 Stages at 11:00AM. ATLFF 2016 festival badges (prices range) and individual tickets to both Creative Conference events ($10) are available now.

Pinewood Atlanta Studios is part of the Pinewood Studios Group, one of the leading providers of studio and related services to the worldwide film and television industries. Synonymous with world class British and international productions, Pinewood’s studios have an impressive heritage and have been home to some of the most successful features films and TV shows ever made.

In 2014, Marvel’s Ant-Man was the first production to shoot on the newly constructed Atlanta lot. The film went on to open at #1 at the box office and grossed more than $519 million worldwide the following year. On May 6, 2016, the second Marvel production made at Pinewood Atlanta, Captain America: Civil War, will be released in theaters around the world. Sony’s Passengers, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, wrapped up production at Pinewood Atlanta in early 2016; making way for production of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which is currently underway.

The Atlanta Film Festival kicked off 10 days of events on Friday, April 1, 2016 that will continue through Sunday, April 10, 2016. In addition to more than 150 film screenings and over a dozen special events, the 40th Anniversary event will feature nearly 40 Creative Conference educational events. Previously announced Creative Conference programming includes the Master Class Series featuring discussions with Oscar-winning documentary producer James Moll (Foo Fighters: Back and Forth, ATLFF 2016’s Mully), Broadway vet Shuler Hensley, director Victor Nunez (Ulee’s Gold, Ruby in Paradise) and director James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour).

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Pinewood Atlanta presents: A Conversation with William H. Macy

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 10:00AM — 7 Stages Theater

William H. Macy is an Oscar® and Golden Globe nominee, a SAG and Emmy Award–winning actor, and a director and writer in theater, film and television. He currently stars in the Showtime series “Shameless”. His many film credits include Seabiscuit, The Cooler, Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Jurassic Park III and Fargo. Macy is currently prepping for production of his 3rd directorial project, Krystal, on the Pinewood Atlanta lot.

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Pinewood Atlanta presents: The Production Panel

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 11:00AM — 7 Stages Theater

Join a panel of filmmakers assembled by Pinewood Atlanta Studios for an educational discussion on filming at the Atlanta studios in Fayetteville, Georgia. Expected participants include:

• Camille Friend – Hair Designer ("The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2," "Miles Ahead," "Captain America: Civil War")

• Simon Hatt – Associate Producer (Marvel’s "Guardians of the Galaxy," Marvel’s "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2")

• Christopher Townsend – Visual Effects Supervisor (Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Iron Man 3," "Captain America: The First Avenger") 

• Will Greenfield – Producer/Production Manager ("Krystal," "Loving," "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea") 

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James Gunn and Michael Rooker to bring GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to ATLFF '16!

Directed by James Gunn
USA, 2014, English, 121 minutes

Sunday, April 10, 2016, 4:00PM — Plaza Theater, Main

JAMES GUNN

A presentation of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be immediately followed by a Q&A with James Gunn and Michael Rooker.

From Marvel, the studio that launched the epic franchises of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Avengers, comes an unlikely new team—the Guardians of the Galaxy.  The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands into the cosmos when brash space adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) steals a coveted orb and becomes the object of a relentless bounty hunt. To evade his enemies, Quill forges an uneasy truce with Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon; Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid; the deadly assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana); and the revenge-driven Drax (Dave Bautista). But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb, he must rally his ragtag band of misfits for a desperate battle that will decide the fate of the galaxy.

Filmmaker James Gunn began making movies at the age of twelve growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. While attending Columbia University in New York, Gunn wrote the screenplay for his first cult hit, the feature-film Tromeo & Juliet. He went on to write and direct dozens more including The Specials, Slither and Super. In March of 2004 Gunn became the first screenwriter in cinema history to write back-to-back #1-for-the-weekend box office hits, with the critically-acclaimed, re-imagined Dawn of the Dead (3/19/04). Slither, Gunn’s feature-film directorial debut starring Nathan Fillion and Elizabeth Banks, is currently featured on Rotten Tomatoes as one of the “Top Ten All–Time Best Reviewed Horror Films.” The film, which he also wrote, was named “The Best Horror film of 2006” by Rue Morgue Magazine, and Gunn won a Saturn Award and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his work. In 2008, Gunn launched the “PG Porn” web series for Spike.com. The series paired mainstream actors and porn stars in comedy shorts and has since become one of the most profitable web series of all time. Gunn wrote and directed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which grossed over $750 million dollars worldwide making it one of the top grossing and best reviewed films of 2014.  He is currently directing the sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, from a script he also wrote. 

Michael Rooker portrays blue-skinned alien ‘Yondu Udonta’ in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and is known as the character fans loved to hate on AMC’s “The Walking Dead”, as ‘Merle Dixon.’ Rooker has thrilled fans for decades with complex portrayals of characters audiences can’t help but cheer on despite their dark personas. He made his film debut in 1986 playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, a film based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. He has since appeared in numerous films including Mississippi Burning, Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger, Tombstone, Mallrats, Rosewood, The 6th Day, and Jumper. He and Gunn have been a longtime collaborators on productions including Slither, Super, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and the upcoming sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.  

Production on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is currently underway at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios.

Rob Burnett's THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING Opens the 40th Atlanta Film Festival TONIGHT!

Make sure you have your tickets or festival badge ASAP, so you don't miss out on Opening Night presentation, THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING, tonight, April 1st! Five-time Emmy winner Rob Burnett will be here for his film which stars Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING

directed by Rob Burnett
USA, 2016, English, 93 minutes

Friday, April 1, 2016, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main

Having suffered a tragedy, Ben's life is on hold. In need of work, he becomes a caregiver, where he is put through his paces by his first client, Trevor, a hilarious 18-year-old from England with muscular dystrophy. Instead of bowing to Trevor's irreverent tactics, Ben treats Trevor in a way no caregiver has ever done before: without kid gloves. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, the two bond through humor in a way only broken people can. They hit the open road on a trip that takes them through the majestic pines of the Pacific Northwest, the foothills of Idaho and Montana, and finally through the open plains of the American Southwest. Along the way, they find some other lost souls, including a 21-year-old runaway who is the sexiest girl Trevor has ever seen in person and not on TV. Ben and Trevor’s journey is a touching, laugh-out-loud tale of two unlikely friends finding hope against all odds.

After Party: Every ticket purchased comes with admission to our opening night party, located at Paris On Ponce. Live entertainment, superb libations, and catering will be provided.

ATLFF '16 Opening Night Presentation and Party is Presented by SIM Digital.

Big Freedia to Headline Free SOUND + VISION Event at Ponce City Market

We are excited to announce that Big Freedia will headline SOUND + VISION at Ponce City Market on April 7th. The New Orleans-based performer and star of Fuse's "Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce" is a high profile addition to the already wildly-popular event.

Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, Culture Culture, Wrenn and Sam Burchfield are also set to perform. Additionally, Jason Drakeford and Thomas Nybo's virtual reality short film "Interrupture" will have its World Premiere at SOUND + VISION.

Though the Atlanta Film Festival is celebrating a 40th anniversary this year, SOUND + VISION has reached a benchmark of its own—this being its 5th year. Moving from The Goat Farm Arts Center for the first time, SOUND + VISION is ATLFF's signature mid-week event that joins together live music, art installations and experimental film for one larger-than-life experience. The newly opened Ponce City Market will host the event that is presented in partnership with Flux Projects and sponsored by MailChimp.

This event is FREE and open to the public! It all starts at 7:00 PM.

All-Access, Filmmaker, Industry and Producer Badge-holders will have access to a private VIP lounge on the roof.

Atlanta Film Festival Announces Spanx® and The Sara Blakely Foundation Sponsorship Honoring Female Filmmakers

The Atlanta-based company and foundation will present the New Mavericks Award at the 40th Anniversary Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is proud to announce Atlanta-based SPANX® and The Sara Blakely Foundation’s sponsorship of the Atlanta Film Society’s New Mavericks program. This key sponsorship funds the New Mavericks Award that will be presented at the 40th annual event next month, and also provides support for year-round programming aiming to encourage women involved in various aspects of Atlanta’s film community.

“Spanx is celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of women in film, especially those behind the lens who shine a light on strong female characters,” said Sara Blakely, the company’s founder and owner. “The inspiring work created by the New Mavericks is a perfect example of what happens when women fulfill their potential and we are super excited to be a part of it.”

The Atlanta Film Society’s New Mavericks program was launched as a short film block in 2013, celebrating female-directed films featuring strong female leads. At ATLFF 2015, New Mavericks grew to include feature films that met the same criteria. Last year, the program grew beyond festival boundaries to include monthly networking events and the first-ever New Mavericks Film Series, which is expected to return in summer 2016. SPANX® and The Sara Blakely Foundation will present a New Mavericks Award to a female filmmaker at the 2016 festival. This award will come with a $5,000 cash prize.

"We are overjoyed to have the support of Sara and the Spanx team, whose mission directly aligns with that of the New Mavericks program,” said Kristy Breneman, ATLFF Creative Director. “Female filmmakers are female entrepreneurs in a male-dominated industry, and no one is more familiar with the challenges that accompany this than Sara. Her testament to overcoming professional obstacles with internal confidence is an empowering model we're proud to extend to New Mavericks and female filmmakers everywhere."

As a nonprofit organization, the Atlanta Film Festival and its parent organization, the Atlanta Film Society, rely heavily on the support of corporate sponsors, private foundations and government agencies in order to showcase the best of independent films to the Atlanta community. The 2016 festival will take place from April 1 – 10, 2016, and will feature an eclectic mix of more than 150 narrative and documentary feature and short films, 37 educational conferences and more than a dozen special events and presentations.

Feature-length films showcased in the 2016 ATLFF New Mavericks track that are eligible for the SPANX® and The Sara Blakely Foundation New Mavericks Award are included below. Additionally, 25 short films that represent 13 different countries in this year’s New Mavericks program are listed below.

For more information about the Atlanta Film Festival and full schedule of film screenings and events, visit www.atlantafilmfestival.com. Passes for the festival and individual screening tickets are available for purchase now on the website.

2016 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL NEW MAVERICKS FILMS

Feature Films

collective:unconscious
directed by Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker, Lauren Wolkstein
USA, 2016, English, 81 minutes
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 3:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
When independent filmmakers adapt each other's dreams for the screen, the result is a collective unconscious indeed: A man and his grandmother hide out from an ominous broadcast. The Grim Reaper hosts a TV show. The formerly incarcerated recount and reinterpret their first days of freedom. A suburban mom's life is upturned by the beast growing inside of her. And a high school gym teacher runs drills from inside a volcano. Five new works explore the space between sleep and lucidity. Welcome to their dream state.

Driving With Selvi
directed by Elisa Paloschi
India/Canada, 2015, Kannada/English, 74 minutes
Friday, April 8, 2016, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
This is the story of a young Indian girl's struggle to survive. Forced to marry years ago at the age of 14, Selvi finds herself determined to leave an increasingly destructive situation. Selvi starts a new life for herself by becoming South India's first female taxi driver. Ride along as we observe through ten years in Selvi's eyes the challenges many women living in India face.

Embers
directed by Claire Carré
USA/Poland, 2015, English/Spanish, 86 minutes
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 12:20 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
What do you do when you lose all your memories? In a world reeling from a neurological epidemic and its aftermath, five stories weave through time, space, love, and struggle to reconcile a future with no past.

The Fits
directed by Anna Rose Holmer
USA, 2015, English, 72 minutes
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 9:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Developed and produced through a micro-budget, micro-timeline initiative for first and second-time filmmakers, "The Fits" stars fresh face Royalty Hightower as Toni—an 11-year-old tomboy emboldened by a strong, confident group of young dancers. While the team navigates a sudden, unexplained outbreak of fainting spells, Toni navigates her innocent but furtive desire to fit in.

The Founders
directed by Charlene Fisk & Carrie Schrader
USA, 2016, English, 85 minutes
Monday, April 4, 2016, 9:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
Battling the sexism and stereotypes made sturdy in the 1950s, thirteen women founded the Ladies Pro Golf Association (LPGA). Rare archival footage, historical re-enactments and current-day interviews with surviving founders and leading players present an underdog story never before seen. Despite competing against one another on the greens, these pioneers worked together to keep their dreams of professional golf careers alive. From child prodigy fame to Olympian status, each member left a sports world legacy that lives on today.

The Ground Beneath Their Feet
directed by Nausheen Dadabhoy
Pakistan, 2015, Urdu, 75 minutes
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 5:20 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
After a devastating earthquake north of Pakistan paralyzes Ruquiya and Khalida, the young women fight to fulfill their culture role of becoming wives and mothers. Women make up just twenty percent of the Pakistani workforce, a hindrance that bears a weight that other cultures may never understand. Viewers experience the profound effects of this physically and emotionally-jarring event through the eyes of the courageous women who faced it.

It Had to Be You
directed by Sasha Gordon
USA, 2015, English, 85 minutes
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 7:00 PM — Serenbe
Sonia is a musician approaching her thirties who's terrified upon discovering her laidback boyfriend's intention to propose. Though most of her friends are married parents, she fears she isn’t where she dreamed she'd be by now. When forced to comply with now embarrassed Chris's ultimatum, Sonia's anxiety and uncertainty fuel a three-day crash course in self- realization.

Jean of the Joneses
directed by Stella Meghie
Canada/USA, 2016, English, 82 minutes
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 5:15 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
Writer-director Stella Meghie's feature revolves around the troubled Jones family, one of whom dies at the start of the movie. When the paramedic who answers their 911 call falls for rambunctious Jean, the courtship goes south during a calamitous Jones funeral. This screenplay won the 2011 ATLFF Screenplay Competition.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers
directed by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy & Geeta Gandbhir
USA/Bangladesh/Pakistan, 2015, Bengali/English/Creek, 95 minutes
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 3:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
The world's first all-female, predominantly Muslim peacekeeping unit accepts a Bangladeshi mission to join the United Nations Stabilizing Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Leaving home for Haiti, the women leave behind families and the traditional lives of women in Bangladesh. Although centered around a 160-woman unit, the lives of three foot soldiers and the harsh realities and responsibilities that accompany the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission become the focus of this brave and beautiful profile.

Juanicas
directed by Karina Garcia Casanova
Canada/Mexico, 2015, Spanish/English/French, 78 minutes
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 1:30 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
When Karina Garcia Casanova set out to film her brother, Juan, upon his return from their Mexican birthplace, she knew she wanted a feature debut anchored in more than home footage—but the paranoia and depression into which Juan falls casts a shadow she can't control. "Juanicas" is a transparent, autobiographical portrait of mental health, familial introspection, and the futility of taking one without the other.

A Light Beneath Their Feet
directed by Valerie Weiss
USA, 2015, English, 90 minutes
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:50 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs
High school senior Beth spends every spare moment caring for her sick mother. Burdened by an early onset role of the ‘responsible adult,’ she yearns for the freedom to be a normal teenager. When presented with an opportunity to attend her dream college, she is torn between her own sanity and her mother’s.

Speed Sisters
directed by Amber Fares
Palestine/USA, 2015, Arabic/English, 80 minutes
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 7:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main
The first all-woman race car driving team in the Middle East coined themselves The Speed Sisters. These female professionals are no strangers to headlines, drama, or trophies, but crossing the finish line in a male-dominated industry takes more than experience. Amplified by larger-than-life personalities, this race to become the best while working together wins the hearts of both sport and documentary spectators.

The Wrong Light
directed by Dave Adams & Josie Swantek
USA/Thailand, 2015, English, 80 minutes
Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 9:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre
Thousands of desperate families have abandoned and sold their daughters into Thailand's rampant sex trafficking industry. ‘Activist’ Mickey Choothesa founded a shelter to rescue these young girls from their misfortune. He provides food, education, and family...or at least that’s the story he sells. Upon further investigation, Mickey's story doesn't quite add up. Is he manipulating these vulnerable girls for his own profit? "The Wrong Light" exposes Choothesa and the dark side of misrepresented global aid.
 

Short Films

Affections | directed by Bridey Elliott, USA, 16:00
A comedy about isolation and loneliness, “Affections” follows a young woman adrift and seeking intimacy in the most unlikely places.
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Tin block)

Another Kind of Girl | Directed by Khaldiya Jibawi, Jordan/Syria, 9:29
17-year-old Khaldiya meditates on how the refugee camp has opened up new horizons and given her a sense of courage that she lacked in Syria.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Asunder | directed by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén, Sweden, 17:11
During a family party in the countryside, we follow Nia and her cousin Teo, whose relationship balances on the edge of what is considered normative. A film about power, sexuality, love and the urge to explore.
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 9:35 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs (Pearl block)

Barriers of Separation | Directed by Raghad Al Khatib, Jordan/Syria, 4:25
With a heavy heart, 18-year-old Raghad expresses her desire to reconnect with her father and family in this personal postcard from her new home in Jordan.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Battalion To My Beat | directed by Eimi Imanishi, Western Sahara/Algeria/USA, 13:44
“Battalion To My Beat” is set in the Western Saharan refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, and follows the story of Mariam, a rebellious 13 year old girl who naively envisions herself a Jeanne D'Arc that will free her people from the occupation.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

Carnal Orient | directed by Mila Zuo, USA, 8:34
A dark and strangely surreal snapshot of sexual desire aimed at the exotic.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 12:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main (Wool block)

Children | Directed by Marah Al Hassan, Jordan/Syria, 5:01
15-year-old Marah captures in this verite essay the resilience and creativity of the Syrian children living in Za'atari Refugee Camp.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Dreams Without Borders | Directed by Muna Al Hariri, Jordan/Syria, 4:46
Muna, a romantic 16-year-old girl whose family fled from Syria to Jordan, tries to reconcile her need to express herself and be a normal teenager within the new confines of her family’s situation.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

El Adiós | directed by Clara Roquet, Spain, 14:55
A Bolivian maid attempts to honor the last wishes of her late mistress.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

The Girl, Whose Shadow Reflects the Moon | Directed by Walaa Al Alawi, Jordan/Syria, 5:01
Walaa recounts her terrifying journey as a 14-year-old girl from Syria to Jordan, and how filmmaking has given her hope through the chance to voice her story and reach out to other girls with similar experiences.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Jinju | directed by Crystal Jin Kim, USA, 10:19
A Korean American mother endures a day of her daughter's sulking until it escalates to the breaking of something deeply precious.
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 8:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main (Steel block/WonderRoot)

Join the Club | directed by Eva Vives, USA, 05:05
A writer’s dilemma of whether or not to join a professional networking club takes many interesting turns as it unfolds entirely during one therapy session.
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Tin block)

Land Tides (Marea de Tierra) | directed by Manuela Martelli and Amirah Tajdin, Chile/France, 13:00
Laura, a heartbroken teenager from Santiago, is on holiday in the southern Chilean archipelago, Chiloé, with her friends. As she wanders the lonely island seascapes, she encounters a group of women who are seaweed collectors and shares stories with them.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

The Long Road | Directed by Rafif Al Fadi, Jordan/Syria, 3:57
16-year-old Rafif creates a journey through the landscape and textures of her new life in a foreign place, and her desire to return to and rebuild her country.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Maman(s) | directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, France, 21:03
Life is disrupted for eight-year-old Aida when her father returns with a young Senegalese woman, Rama, whom he introduces as his second wife. Sensitive to her mother's distress, Aida decides to get rid of the new visitor.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

The Man of My Life | directed by Mélanie Delloye, France, 25:33
When Alice sees Eric kissing another girl, she is devastated. To make matters worse, her rival runs with her in the same relay team. Alice might only be 13 years old, but she is not ready to give up her place so easily.
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 9:35 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs (Pearl block)

Ookie Cookie | directed by Francesca Mirabella, USA, 13:35
Five teenagers play truth or dare in the basement of a funeral reception.
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 9:35 PM — Plaza Theatre, Upstairs (Pearl block)

Que Sera | directed by Robyn Hicks, USA, 6:27
The story of a young couple navigating a cancer diagnosis. Inspired by the writer and director’s personal life, the film is an observation of how such devastating circumstances can pull people apart and bring them together.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

The Real American | directed by Darya Zhuk, USA/Belarus/Russia, 13:09
How a Russian exchange student stopped fearing American culture and started shaving her legs.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

Seide | directed by Elnura Osmonalieva, Kyrgyzstan, 14:40
Seide lives in a snowy mountain village with her humble family and her beloved horse. When she's forced into an arranged marriage with a man from a wealthy family, she fights to save her horse from being slaughtered for food for the wedding.
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 12:15 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Ruby block)

The Silence of Nature | Directed by Bushra Al Masri, Jordan, 3:05
18-year-old Bushra remembers her brother, who she lost in the war, and his gentle, humorous ways through observing nature and her new urban setting in this visual haiku.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 1:45 PM — High Museum, Hill Auditorium (Ivory block)

Treeples | directed by Sarah Nolen, USA, 20:00
“Treeples” follows the adventures of everyday girls joining forces with a group of lively forest creatures to rid the woods of monsters.
Thursday, April 7, 2016, 7:00 PM — Center for Puppetry Arts (Wood block)

Violet | directed by Brit Wigintton, USA, 10:39
When Violet finds herself living in a refuge for runaway girls in the Georgia backwoods, she soon realizes that nothing is as perfect as it seems. In order to save her ‘sisters,’ she must make a decision that could change their lives forever.
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 8:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main (Steel block/WonderRoot)

What Doesn't Kill You | directed by Darya Zhuk, Israel/USA, 8:01
After a rare diagnosis, Lily's attempts to flee from war torn Israel are thwarted when the airport shuts down and her zany cousin forces her to party.
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:45 PM — 7 Stages Theatre (Tin block)

Zelos | directed by Thoranna Sigurdardottir, USA, 14:58
A competitive mother orders a clone to outshine her flawless friend, but soon realizes she purchased an unbeatable rival.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 12:00 PM — Plaza Theatre, Main (Wool block) 

This is the Last Week to Support the Atlanta Film Society through Power2Give

ATLFF's Power2Give Campaign Ends on April 1.

For 40 years, the Academy Award® qualifying Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) has been the home to independent filmmakers by leading the community in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.

The 40th Anniversary will be “A Homecoming Year” with invitations extended to ATLFF alum such as Spike Lee, Robert Rodriguez and Ray McKinnon as well as over 125 notable Georgians in the industry. 

Your support of the Atlanta Film Society and the moving image will help the festival increase filmmaker participation and ensure that the 40th Anniversary Homecoming Year is a success! Support the Atlanta Film Festival Family today. Thank you!

Our generous sponsors at the Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs will contribute $1 for every $1 donated to this project up to $5,000!

Q+A with LEGEND OF SWEE' PEA Director Benjamin May

Complete this sentence: “If you liked _____ or ______, you’ll like my film.”
Tyson or Last Days Here

If forced to choose a different role in making this film, what would it have been and why?
Editor. I love pulling the story together.

What's the most challenging part of making a film for you? Do you enjoy that challenge, or is it something to be avoided?
My subject was a big challenge. I enjoyed the challenge because I learned a lot about myself.

What were you doing in 1976?
Just learned to use the toilet.

Of the filmmakers working today, whose talent would you most like to steal?
Rick Alverson

If familiar with the area, what's your favorite place in Atlanta? If visiting, what about Atlanta are you most excited to see?
Little Five Points

Why did you submit your film to the Atlanta Film Festival?
Great city, great people, and home of the Atlanta Hawks!

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LEGEND OF SWEE' PEA screens the first Saturday afternoon, April 2, at 12:30pm at 7 Stages theatre. Benjamin May and Producer Annemarie Lawless are scheduled to attend! Add this true story of the once "next Magic Johnson" NBA star to your personal #ATLFF schedule.

SOUND + VISION to World Premiere Virtual Reality Film

Now in its fifth year, SOUND + VISION—ATLFF’s signature mid-week event—moves from The Goat Farm Arts Center to Ponce City Market. Atlanta’s tastiest eats and best city views accompany the hottest local bands, wild art installations, and for the first time at ATLFF, a virtual reality short film presentation.

"Interrupture" is the true story of an 11-year-old Syrian girl fleeing ISIS and her journey into Europe in search of home. Co-Director Thomas Nybo met her in December 2015 while on assignment for UNICEF covering the refugee crisis. Part of the ATLFF Creative team met Nybo and Co-Director Jason Drakeford in their Elevator Factory workspace and were treated to a sneak preview of this encompassing, mind-boggling film experience. Its relationship to the Ivory block—a collection of seven documentary shorts directed in Jordan refugee camps by Syrian teenage girls—and its contribution to filmmaking advancement and cinematic world development makes us just about as excited as we know how to be.

CO-DIRECTOR THOMAS NYBO

CO-DIRECTOR JASON DRAKEFORD

As always, SOUND + VISION is free and open to the public! Don't miss this groundbreaking evening or your chance to say "Yeah, when it all started? I was there."