Hi, I’m Monet Goode.

Positioned at the intersection of art, culture, and commerce, the Atlanta Film Festival brings meaning to the moving image by championing the shared community experience of movie-going, fostering the free exchange of ideas, and nurturing the development of a thriving industry.  

The festival dates back to its founding as IMAGE Film & Video Center in 1976, an outgrowth of the need for equipment access, networking, information dissemination, and support among Georgia media artists and producers.

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Thank You to Our 2026 Festival Backers

A C

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Ezell John

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Christopher Edwards

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Rebecca Napier Russell

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Taylor Montalto

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MaKenzie Smith

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Charli Shapiro

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Keisha Champagne

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Salem Turner

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Bret Miller

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Padilla Pedro

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Deborah Hill

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Richard Taylor

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Brian Lonano

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Jack R. Pridgen

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Jason Sheedy

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Auston Kennedy

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A C ✳︎ Ezell John ✳︎ Christopher Edwards ✳︎ Rebecca Napier Russell ✳︎ Taylor Montalto ✳︎ MaKenzie Smith ✳︎ Charli Shapiro ✳︎ Keisha Champagne ✳︎ Salem Turner ✳︎ Bret Miller ✳︎ Padilla Pedro ✳︎ Deborah Hill ✳︎ Richard Taylor ✳︎ Brian Lonano ✳︎ Jack R. Pridgen ✳︎ Jason Sheedy ✳︎ Auston Kennedy ✳︎

Franklin Nate

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Derek Miner

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Zooey Gage

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Shontina Vernon

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Kristen Parker

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VanDerKloot William

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Gladys Edeh

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Luigi Perez

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Maritsa Flaherty

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Emily Dyer

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Aileen de la Torre

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Martin Kelley

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Sari Earl

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G T LMCFilms

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Melissa Haghighat

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John Conway

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Ilya Lavrik

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Ryan Simpson

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O'Brien Harry

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Blackwell Heidi

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Franklin Nate ✳︎ Derek Miner ✳︎ Zooey Gage ✳︎ Shontina Vernon ✳︎ Kristen Parker ✳︎ VanDerKloot William ✳︎ Gladys Edeh ✳︎ Luigi Perez ✳︎ Maritsa Flaherty ✳︎ Emily Dyer ✳︎ Aileen de la Torre ✳︎ Martin Kelley ✳︎ Sari Earl ✳︎ G T LMCFilms ✳︎ Melissa Haghighat ✳︎ John Conway ✳︎ Ilya Lavrik ✳︎ Ryan Simpson ✳︎ O'Brien Harry ✳︎ Blackwell Heidi ✳︎

Madison Hatfield

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Sneha R

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Kyle Muscara

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Benjamin Solovey

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Catapult Acting Studios

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Louis Stancil

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Robyn Hicks

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Vivian Bang

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Win Marks

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Cassie

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P J Hovey

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Joel Arandia

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Victoria K. Warren

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Joan Karpeles

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Matthew McCallister

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Madison Hatfield ✳︎ Sneha R ✳︎ Kyle Muscara ✳︎ Benjamin Solovey ✳︎ Catapult Acting Studios ✳︎ Louis Stancil ✳︎ Robyn Hicks ✳︎ Vivian Bang ✳︎ Win Marks ✳︎ Cassie ✳︎ P J Hovey ✳︎ Joel Arandia ✳︎ Victoria K. Warren ✳︎ Joan Karpeles ✳︎ Matthew McCallister ✳︎

Jd Taylor

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Sandra Mullins

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Linda Burns

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Demi Lehman

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Jeremy Whisenhunt

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Amanda Butt

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Kacie Gordon

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Ash Arnett

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Jonathan Leiter

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Angela Escobar

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James Park

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Michael Pate

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Dustin Jacobs

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Genevieve McGillicuddy

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Jd Taylor ✳︎ Sandra Mullins ✳︎ Linda Burns ✳︎ Demi Lehman ✳︎ Jeremy Whisenhunt ✳︎ Amanda Butt ✳︎ Kacie Gordon ✳︎ Ash Arnett ✳︎ Jonathan Leiter ✳︎ Angela Escobar ✳︎ James Park ✳︎ Michael Pate ✳︎ Dustin Jacobs ✳︎ Genevieve McGillicuddy ✳︎

Daniel Hughes

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Lawrence Carol

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Micah Buckley

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Andy Daniels

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Network Royalty

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Waffl Taco

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Shannon Hutchinson

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Tristan Hallman

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Matt Watkins

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Drew Sawyer

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Alison Falinski

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Forrest Green III

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Shantea Stanford

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Derek Miner

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Hannah Rae

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Daniel Hughes ✳︎ Lawrence Carol ✳︎ Micah Buckley ✳︎ Andy Daniels ✳︎ Network Royalty ✳︎ Waffl Taco ✳︎ Shannon Hutchinson ✳︎ Tristan Hallman ✳︎ Matt Watkins ✳︎ Drew Sawyer ✳︎ Alison Falinski ✳︎ Forrest Green III ✳︎ Shantea Stanford ✳︎ Derek Miner ✳︎ Hannah Rae ✳︎

Benitez Ray

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Maythavee Tjhang

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Justin Stevenson

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Josephwise Adams

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Samuel Botts

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Justin Maine

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William Glen Jones

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Dylan Miller

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Diana

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Patrick Broderick

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Alma Interiano Pavon

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Fatimah

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Cameron Wilson

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Sunday

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Kenny Zaleski

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Destiny Deater

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In Memory Of Melanie Bellavich

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Benitez Ray ✳︎ Maythavee Tjhang ✳︎ Justin Stevenson ✳︎ Josephwise Adams ✳︎ Samuel Botts ✳︎ Justin Maine ✳︎ William Glen Jones ✳︎ Dylan Miller ✳︎ Diana ✳︎ Patrick Broderick ✳︎ Alma Interiano Pavon ✳︎ Fatimah ✳︎ Cameron Wilson ✳︎ Sunday ✳︎ Kenny Zaleski ✳︎ Destiny Deater ✳︎ In Memory Of Melanie Bellavich ✳︎

Phoebe Hester

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Brittany Smith

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Olmert Michael

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Sasha Hatfield

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Jason Kushner

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Danya Levine

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Daniel Jackman

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Chris Schuetz

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Ariel Brown

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Will Collins

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Ryan Jon

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Cat Garmong

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Mezi

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Suzanne Baker

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Justin Hall

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Robert McLeroy

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Phoebe Hester ✳︎ Brittany Smith ✳︎ Olmert Michael ✳︎ Sasha Hatfield ✳︎ Jason Kushner ✳︎ Danya Levine ✳︎ Daniel Jackman ✳︎ Chris Schuetz ✳︎ Ariel Brown ✳︎ Will Collins ✳︎ Ryan Jon ✳︎ Cat Garmong ✳︎ Mezi ✳︎ Suzanne Baker ✳︎ Justin Hall ✳︎ Robert McLeroy ✳︎

Carrie Schrader

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Andrew Salerno

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Liane Hunter

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Emily Best

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Ana Mackenzie

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James Mackenzie

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Robert McLeroy

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James Cook

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Trevor Peck

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Lindsey Cartwright

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Clayton Moores

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Jason Bremermann

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Colette Verner

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Carrie Schrader ✳︎ Andrew Salerno ✳︎ Liane Hunter ✳︎ Emily Best ✳︎ Ana Mackenzie ✳︎ James Mackenzie ✳︎ Robert McLeroy ✳︎ James Cook ✳︎ Trevor Peck ✳︎ Lindsey Cartwright ✳︎ Clayton Moores ✳︎ Jason Bremermann ✳︎ Colette Verner ✳︎

Betsy Lockhart

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Frazer Lockhart

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Barbara Swint

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Michael McKinney

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Gaines Taylor

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Daisy Pareja

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Leslie Gordon

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Susan Moss

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Colson Peacock

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Victor-Alan Weeks

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Elizabeth Ingram & Alton Brown

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Julie Kendall

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Betsy Lockhart ✳︎ Frazer Lockhart ✳︎ Barbara Swint ✳︎ Michael McKinney ✳︎ Gaines Taylor ✳︎ Daisy Pareja ✳︎ Leslie Gordon ✳︎ Susan Moss ✳︎ Colson Peacock ✳︎ Victor-Alan Weeks ✳︎ Elizabeth Ingram & Alton Brown ✳︎ Julie Kendall ✳︎

1968

1976

1979

1984

1987

1991

2001

2008

2013

2015

2020

Present

Before ATLFF….

There was the Atlanta International Film Festival (AIFF), which ran from 1968 to 1974. Unfortunately, the organization was unable to access the necessary funding to continue supporting Atlanta’s media and entertainment industry.

Although a short run, the Atlanta International Film Festival contributed greatly to putting Atlanta on the map. It screened one of Jim Morrison’s early works and is the first film institution to recognize and award Steven Spielberg through his film, AMBLEN (1968).

The same year as AIFF’s closure, Atlanta established its Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), which would go on to help arts organizations across the city create programming that improves local quality of life and economy.

With the influence of the MOCA and Jimmy Carter’s daring investment into Georgi’s Film and Tv industry…

ATLFF was Born….

…under another name. In 1976, the Independent Media Artists of Georgia, Etc. (IMAGE) was founded by a group of cinephiles and educators who realized the lack of centralized resources available to local filmmakers and film lovers creating incredible films and media.

In 1977, the organization was incorporated with the Georgia Secretary of State. and was the very first media arts center in the state. Ambitious, the founders held the very first Atlanta IMAGE and Video Festival out of the peidmont park bathhouses.

“It was the first time the bathhouse had been used as anything but a bathhouse. So there we were, showing these films and videotapes in a place that smelled like old tennis shoes.”
— Gayla Jamison, founding member of IMAGE’s board of directors

First Public Screening of a Spike Lee Joint

Without a major Hollywood name behind its inception, the festival was able to program films with raw talent and grit. In 1979, A young, Atlanta-born, Brooklyn-bred student at Morehouse University, Spike Lee, submitted his first-ever film, LAST HUSTLE IN BROOKLYN (1979).

This moment is Lee’s life, inspired him to take film beyond a few elective courses at Clark Atlanta University for his Mass Communications degree to a full-time filmmaker and now, global icon.

This wouldn’t be the last of Spike Lee at the festival, In 1982, we screened the film, “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.”

A Name Change

In 1984, the festival’s name was truncated to Atlanta Film & Video Festival.

While the name changed several times over the years, the quest for discovery and drive to showcase innovative new voices never did. In 1980, the festival screened the feature film debut of Victor Nunez, “Gal Young ‘Un.” The film was critically acclaimed, and Nunez would go on to direct several features, all of which would screen in Atlanta—including 1997’s Oscar-nominated “Ulee’s Gold.

Making Queer History

In 1987, the Atlanta Film & Video Festival took a bold new step and created Out On Film, a film festival exclusively for queer mediamakers. Out On Film became the first LGBTQIA+ film festival in Georgia. After two decades of stewardship, the festival was established as its own entity in 2008.

Out On Film is one of the largest and oldest LGBTQIA festivals in the United States. The Atlanta Film Festival continues to honor queer filmmaking through its Pink Peach spotlight program.

Identifying Notable Talent

In the 1990s, several acclaimed filmmakers saw their debut works screen at the Atlanta Film Festival prior to seeing immense career success in the following years. In 1991, Stephen Gyllenhaal’s Georgia-lensed “Paris Trout” opened up the festival before going on to receive five Emmy Award nominations. In 1993, Robert Rodriguez stormed Atlanta with his breakthrough film “El Mariachi.” 1994 brought us “Spanking the Monkey,” our Opening Night presentation from writer-director David O. Russell, who has since gone on to be nominated for five Academy Awards for mammoth hit films like “The Fighter,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.

Officially, The Atlanta Film Festival

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Atlanta Film Festival opened with a screening of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (2001). The 2000s marked an influential time for the orginization as more of its programmed films racked up national achievements.

Throughout the 2000s, winds of change blew through both the organization and the independent film world. In addition to the final name change to Atlanta Film Festival in 2002, IMAGE experienced leadership changes, as well as a renewed effort in its membership program and educational offerings year-round.

In 2002, Georgia-born Ray McKinnon won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film after his film, “The Accountant,” qualified for the award by winning the Narrative Short Jury Prize at the 2001 Atlanta Film Festival. Since then, McKinnon has starred in and created several renowned works, including his acclaimed television series “Rectify,” which had its world premiere at the 2013 festival.

Taking Form

2008 was a transformative year for the Atlanta Film Festival. The organization separated from its trailblazing queer festival, Out On Film, and dove headfirst into starting the inaugural Screenplay Competition. Among the first cohort of Screenplay Competition winners was Athens, Georgia-born James Ponsoldt, years before his feature films would win awards at Sundance.

Unique indie voices like David Gordon Green and Joe Swanberg would also come into mainstream view in the 2000s, after their early works were featured at the Atlanta Film Festival. Additionally, several ATLFF films would go on to receive Oscar nominations and wins, such as Zana Briski & Ross Kauffman’s “Born Into Brothels” in 2004, Craig Brewer’s “Hustle & Flow” in 2005, Olivier Dahan’s “La Vie en Rose” and Sean Fine & Andrea Nix’s “War Dance” in 2007, Tom McCarthy’s “The Visitor” in 2009 and Debra Granik’s “Winter’s Bone” in 2010.

The Atlanta Film Festival would continue to grow to meet the local industry’s needs. In 2011, The Creative Conference was started to foster open conversation and skill sharing amognst filmmakers from Georgia and across the globe.

Partnering with the Plaza Theatre

After six years of using Landmark Midtown Art Cinema as the main festival venue, the festival moved the base of its operations to the historic Plaza Theatre in 2013. Additionally, venues such as 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points, Hiland Theater, Dad’s Garage, and Druid Hills Presbyterian were also primary venues, making the Atlanta Film Festival a largely walkable event for many years.

In 2013, we also welcomed a new activation: SOUND + VISION at The Goat Farm, a night of live music, daring virtual reality films, unforgettable art installations, and rockin’ music videos and Airport Shorts in collaboration with the Hartsfield Jackson Airport Art Program.

More Ways to an Oscar

In 2015, we emphasized our year-round education and programming by establishing our parent organization, The Atlanta Film Society, which hosts screenings of local filmmakers and cultivates community. Along with our additional title, The Atlanta Film Festival elevated its value to filmmakers by making Narrative and Documentary shorts competitions Academy Award Qualifying.

During this time, the number of submissions grew from less than 2,000 to more than 7,600 in 2018, and festival attendance rose from 15,000 to more than 27,000.

Unprecedented Times

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ATLFF hosted the first Atlanta Film Festival Drive-In and subsequently, the world’s first indoor drive-in movie theatre experience. In the following year, we hosted Sundance Satellite, bringing the Sundance Film Festival programming to Georgia in collaboration with The Plaza Theatre.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ATLFF hosted the first Atlanta Film Festival Drive-In and subsequently, the world’s first indoor drive-in movie theatre experience. In the following year, we hosted Sundance Satellite, bringing the Sundance Film Festival programming to Georgia in collaboration with The Plaza Theatre.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ATLFF hosted the first Atlanta Film Festival Drive-In and subsequently, the world’s first indoor drive-in movie theatre experience. In the following year, we hosted Sundance Satellite, bringing the Sundance Film Festival programming to Georgia in collaboration with The Plaza Theatre.

Building Something Permanent

Today, amid studio losses and industry strikes, the Atlanta Film Festival is committed to maintaining Atlanta’s media industry. Through its bid for Sundance’s relocation to advocating to city council members on behalf of artists, the organization's leadership is steadfast on keeping film in Georgia.

Battling state and federal funding losses, the Atlanta Film Festival looked towards the community for support and was able to raise nearly 100K for its 2026 festival, exceeding its initial funding request by 160%.