ATLFF Award Winners
2023
Jury Award Winners:
Audience Award (Feature) – LITTLE BROTHERS directed by Sheridan O'Donnell
Audience Award (Short) – SOUND TO SEA directed by Ryan Craver
Best Documentary Feature – DUSTY & STONES directed by Jesse Rudoy
Jury Special Mention – JESSZILLA directed by Emily Sheskin
Best Narrative Feature – HELLO DANKNESS directed by Soda Jerk
Jury Special Mention – THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER directed by Bomani J. Story
Best Animated Short – REST IN PIECE directed by Antoine Antabi
Jury Special Mention – ROSEMARY, A.D. (AFTER DAD) directed by Ethan Barrett
Best Documentary Short – BREAKING SILENCE directed by Amy Bench & Annie Silverstein
Best Narrative Short – SCOTTY’S VAG directed by Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz
Jury Special Mention – NO OTHER GODS BUT ME directed by Alex Spott
Best Cinematography (Presented by Panavision and Light Iron) – THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN directed by Petter Ringbom
Jury Special Mention – RED EARTH directed by Georg Koszulinski & Kate E. Hinshaw
Georgia Feature Film Award – FENOM directed by Kayla Johnson
Jury Special Mention – THE ONLY DOCTOR directed by Matthew Hashiguchi
Georgia Short Film Award – YOUNG KINGS directed by Jonathan Banks
Jury Special Mention – CONTENT: THE LO-FI MAN directed by Brian Lonano & Blake Myers
Audience Award Winners:
Audience Award (Feature) – LITTLE BROTHERS directed by Sheridan O'Donnell
Audience Award (Short) – SOUND TO SEA directed by Ryan Craver
Special Career Award Winners:
Phoenix Award – Vincent D’Onofrio, director of NIGHT OF THE COOTERS
Innovator Award – Rainn Wilson, actor/writer/host
Originator Award – George R.R. Martin, writer/author
Ossie David Award for Innovation in Filmmaking – Keke Palmer, actor/producer/musician/director
IMAGE Film Award – President Jimmy Carter (accepted by Francis Ford Coppola)
IMAGE Film Award – Bronze Lens Film Festival
IMAGE Film Award – Trioscope Studios
IMAGE Film Award – Governor Nathan Deal
Screenplay Winners:
Feature Screenplay Awards:
CHANCE BY UNFATHOMABLE FATE directed by Dmani Williams
FREAKNIK directed by Jon Vaude
THE SHIMMERS directed by Brendan Vogel & Ruth Sabin
Pilot Screenplay Award – THE SPACE SUITS directed by Landon Ashworth
Short Screenplay Award – I SEE YOU directed by Faith Dismuke
2022
Best Documentary Feature – “After Sherman”, directed by Jon-Sesrie Goff
Best Narrative Feature –“Hékate”, directed by Nadia Benedicto
Georgia Feature Award –“Refuge”, directed by Din Blankenship and Erin Levin Bernhardt
Best Animated Short –“Night of the Living Dread”, directed by Ida Melum
Best Documentary Short –“Chilly & Milly”, directed by William D. Caballero
Best Narrative Short –“Moshari”, directed by Nuhash Humayun
Narrative Short Special Jury Mention for Acting –“The Bond,” performance by Ashley Wilkerson film directed by Jahmil Eady
REEL SOUTH Short Award – “Winn”, directed by Joseph East and Erica Tanamachi
Georgia Short Award – “Glitter Ain’t Gold”, directed by Christian Nolan Jones
Georgia Short, Special Jury Mention – “Winn,” directed by Joseph East & Erica Tanamachi
Best Cinematography – “Do Not Hesitate,” cinematography by Nadim Carlsen, film directed by Shariff Korver
Cinematography, Special Jury Mention – “Master of Light” cinematography by Jurgen Lisse , film directed by Rosa Ruth Boesten
Special Career Award Winners:
Phoenix Award – George Anthony Morton, Painter and subject of documentary, “Master of Light”
Southern Documentary Fund Filmmaker Award – Feature: “A Homecoming I’ll Remember”, directed by Jasmine René McCaskill
Filmmaker to Watch Award – Esteban Bailey, "El Extrano en la Casa Rivera"
Audience Award Winners:
Virtual Exclusive Audience Award (Feature) – “Daughter of a Lost Bird” directed by Brooke Pepion Swaney
Virtual Exclusive Audience Award (Short) – “The Bond” directed by Jahmil Eady
Audience Award (Feature) – “Refuge” directed by Din Blankenship & Erin Levin Bernhardt
Audience Award (Short) – “Glitter Ain’t Gold” directed by Christian Nolan Jones
Screenplay Winners:
Feature Screenplay Awards:
“Gordito”, by Miguel Castillo
“Ruby Safeway” by Amanda Biggs
“St. Louis Superman” by Jon Alston and Ron McCants
Pilot Screenplay Award: “Spesh” by Jeff Locker
Short Screenplay Award: “Black Butterflies” by Tamara S. Hall
Special Jury Mentions:
”You Resemble Me” directed by Dina Amer
”Outta The Muck” directed by Bhawin Suchak & Ira Mckinley
”F1-100” directed by: Emory Chao Johnson
”My Grandmother is an Egg” directed by: Wu-Ching Chang
2021
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
2020
Best Narrative Feature – THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS, (dir. Robert Machoian)
Special Jury Award - Narrative Feature – NAFI’S FATHER (BAAMUM NAFI), (dir. Mamadou Dia)
Best Documentary Feature – OVERSEAS, (dir. Sung-A Yoon)
Best Narrative Short – ARABIAN ALIEN, (dir. Meshal Aljaser)
Best Documentary Short – WATER CHILD (MIZUKO), (dir. Kira Dane, Katelyn Rebelo)
Honorable Mention - Documentary Short – COBY AND STEPHEN ARE IN LOVE, (dir. Carlo Nasisse, Luka Yuanyuan Yang)
Best Animated Short – KAPAEMAHU, (dir. Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson)
Honorable Mention - Animated Short – THE KITE (POUSTET DRAKA), (dir. by Martin Smatana)
Honorable Mention - Animated Short – SH_T HAPPENS, (dir. Michaela Mihalyi, David Stumpf)
Best Cinematography – Sam Ellison (LOOKING FOR LIFE) (CHÈCHE LAVI)
Honorable Mention - Cinematography –Juan Carlos Gómez (MALPASO)
Georgia Film Award – BEAST BEAST, (dir. Danny Madden)
Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Rachel Harrison Gordon (BROKEN BIRD)
Audience Award Winners:
BEAST BEAST, dir. Danny Madden
CURTIS, dir. Chris Bailey
DADDIO, dir. Casey Wilson
BEST SELLER, dir. Nora Kirkpatrick
2019
Best Narrative Feature – GREENER GRASS (dir. Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe)
Narrative Feature Special Jury Prize – AFTERLIFE (HIERNAMAALS) (dir. Willem Bosch)
Best Documentary Feature – THE FOURTH KINGDOM (EL CUARTO REINO) (dir. Adán Aliaga, Alex Lora)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Award – JONATHAN AGASSI SAVED MY LIFE (dir. Tomer Heymann)
Best Narrative Short - SIRENE (dir. Zara Dwinger)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention – FEATHERS (dir. A.V. Rockwell)
Best Documentary Short – KAMALI (dir. Sasha Rainbow)
Documentary Short Jury Honorable Mention – LISTEN (LUISTER) (dir. Astrid Bussink)
Best Animated Short – HENRIETTA BULKOWSKI (Rachel Johnson)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention – CARLOTTA’S FACE (dir. Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld)
Best Cinematography (presented by Panavision & Light Iron) – Lowell A. Meyer (GREENER GRASS)
Cinematography Jury Honorable Mention – Ezequiel Salinas (JULIA AND THE FOX (JULIA Y EL ZORRO)
Feature Film Audience Award – THE FAREWELL (dir. Lulu Wang)
Short Film Audience Award – EVELYN X EVELYN (dir. Eric Pumphrey)
Georgia Film Award – RECKONING (dir. Ruckus Skye & Lane Skye)
Originator Award – Joe Berlinger
Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Kalu Oji (BLACKWOOD)
Programmers Award – CRYSTAL SWAN (Хрусталь) (dir. Darya Zhuk)
2018
Best Narrative Feature — RESTOS DE VIENTO (WIND TRACES) (dir. Jimena Montemayor)
Special Jury Prize, Narrative Feature — DISAPPEARANCE (dir. Ali Asgari)
Best Documentary Feature — MAN MADE (dir. T Cooper)
Special Jury Prize, Documentary Feature — NOS LLAMAN GUERRERAS (THEY CALL US WARRIORS) (dir. Jennifer Socorro, Edwin Corona Ramos, & David Alonso)
Best Narrative Short — FOR NONNA ANNA (dir. Luis De Filippis)
Best Documentary Short — ZION (dir. Floyd Russ)
Best Animated Short — 基石 (FUNDAMENTAL) (dir. Shihchieh Chiu)
Audience Award - Feature — MAYNARD (dir. Sam Pollard)
Audience Award - Short — COLOR BLIND (dir. Daniel Oramas)
Filmmaker-to-Watch Award — Connor Simpson for KUDZU
Georgia Film Award — STILL (dir. Takashi Doscher)
Rebel Award — Jason Reitman
Phoenix Award — Kiersey Clemons
Innovator Award — Daveed Diggs
WonderFilm Award presented by WonderRoot — WALLS OF HOPE (dir. Elisabeth Pritchett)
2017
Narrative Feature Jury Award – CORTEZ (dir. Cheryl Nichols)
Narrative Feature Special Jury Award – LA SOLEDAD (dir. Jorge Thielen Armand)
Documentary Feature Jury Award – RAT FILM (dir. Theo Anthony)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Award – RAISING BERTIE (dir. Margaret Byrne)
Narrative Short Jury Award – IN THE HILLS (dir. Hamid Reza Ahmadi)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention - SUBMARINE (dir. Mounia Akl)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention - IL SILENZIO (THE SILENCE) (dir. Ali Asgari, Farnoosh Samadi)
Documentary Short Jury Award – VICTOR & ISOLINA (dir. William D. Caballero)
Documentary Short Jury Honorable Mention - DISTRIBUTION (dir. Sam Ellison)
Animated Short Jury Award – ONCE A HERO (dir. Xia Li)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention - THE WRONG END OF THE STICK (dir. Terri Matthews)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention - "THE TALK" TRUE STORIES ABOUT THE BIRDS & THE BEES (dir. Alain Delannoy)
Music Video Jury Award - "Soy Yo" performed by Bomba Estéreo (dir. Torben Kjelstrup)
Music Video Jury Honorable Mention – “Oh Elise” performed by VIECH (dir. Arne V. Nostitz-Rieneck)
New Mavericks Award – THE NINE (dir. Katy Grannan)
Georgia Film Award – BORN RIVER BYE (dir. Tim Hall)
Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Malcolm Washington for BENNY GOT SHOT
Audience Award, Feature Film - HOLDEN ON (dir. Tamlin Hall)
Audience Award, Short Film - BIRTHDAY CAKE (dir. Brantly Jackson Watts)