CREATIVE CONFERENCE

In-person and virtual panels, workshops, and in-depth conversations with industry experts from Atlanta to Los Angeles

For 15 years, the Atlanta Film Festival has curated a robust lineup of educational programming, known as the Creative Conference, as part of the annual film festival. The Creative Conference offers around 35 in-person panels, workshops, and discussions, as well as 10+ virtual panels and in-depth conversations with industry experts from Atlanta to Los Angeles. These industry experts include attending filmmakers, professionals working in the film, television, gaming, and finance industries, film festival programmers, community organizations, scholars, and many others.

The Creative Conference serves to educate, entertain, engage, and enlighten festival-goers by pulling back the curtain on film and television production, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look at how projects get made. While covering a wide range of topics, our programming often focuses on community, craft, and the future of filmmaking.

Are you ready to share your expertise with Atlanta’s independent filmmaking community? Or do you have a specific topic you’d like to see explored? Submit a pitch for a panel for Creative Conference 2025!

    • The Art of the Pitch & Crowdfunding to Build Independence with Emily Best CEO of Seed&Spark (2024)

    • Lenders, Investors and Other Financial Animals - Sponsored by Fieldpoint Private with President & CEO Russell Holland (Fieldpoint Private), Managing Director Chandler Rierson (Bay Point Media), Partner and Producer Andrew Kotliar (MEP Capital), Freelance Film Production Executive and Producer Deborah Moore (2024)

    • Acting for a Living with Director Angela Barnes (Ironheart, Atlanta, Loot, Killing It), Nelson Bonilla (Sacrifice, Ozark, Buried in Barstow), Mike Pniewski (Hightown, The Good Fight, Madam Secretary), Sharon Conley (Perimeter, NCIS: New Orleans, Rectify), Christina Karis (Law & Order: Organized Crime, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Queen Sugar), Kurt Yue (Will Trent, Haunted Mansion, General Hospital), Donielle Hansley (Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead, BMF, Terror Lake Drive) (2024)

    • Creating Opportunities for Creators in Georgia - Sponsored by People Store with Head of Development Tara Ochs (Dagger Originals), Manager and Producer Jermaine Johnson (3 Arts Entertainment), President and Founder Jeffrey Stepakoff (Content Talent South) (2023)

    • The Business Side of Filmmaking with Head of Production & Services Adam Harris Englehard - Buffalo 8 (2023)

    • People Store Presents Influencers, Gaming, Social Media, and Trends: Navigating the Cutting Edge with VP of Talent, and Development Brian Bremer (People Store), Sr. Industry Engagement Manager Asante Bradford (Georgia Department of Economic Development); Head of Development Tara Ochs (Dagger Originals), Talent Manager China Eastern Whalar (2022)

    • Lovecraft Country Production Designer Kalina Ivanov on Designing for Camera (2020)

    • A Conversation with Producer Tom Luse (2019)

    • Case Study: Development Deals & Optioning Screenplays with Producer Jeff Keating (Follow Me, Fight Night, Living is Winning) (2019)

    • Masterclass with Voice Actor Amber Nash from Archer (2018)

    Watch previous panels on our Youtube channel.

 
 

WATCH PREVIOUS CREATIVE CONFRENCE PANLES