2022 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL — Creative Conference
April 21st - May 1st, 2022

Welcome to the 12th Anniversary of the Atlanta Film Festival's Creative Conference

The educational workshops, panels and conversations taking place virtually and in person from April 21 - May 1 will feature industry experts with credits including “Mare of Easttown”, “Stranger Things”, “The Walking Dead”, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and more. 

The 46th annual Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) announced its lineup of Creative Conference panels, workshops and conversations that will take place during the 2022 event from April 21 – May 1, 2022. This will be the 12th year that ATLFF has curated a robust lineup of educational programming, known as the Creative Conference, as part of the annual film festival. This year, the Creative Conference will offer more than 25 events, including five in-person panel discussions and more than 20 panels and one-on-one, in-depth virtual conversations with industry experts from Georgia to New York and Los Angeles. 

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, this year’s programming will focus on screenwriting. Additional topics will include showrunning, directing, producing, acting, cinematography, pitching, podcasting, editing and post-production sound mixing. 

"The Creative Conference is more accessible than ever this year,” said Linda Burns, a 30-year industry veteran and Creative Conference Director. “We are so excited to be able to share this incredible programming with audiences both in person and virtually. Festival-goers will get the unique opportunity to hear from some of the brightest minds in film, television, podcasting, and more in order to better understand the behind-the-scenes aspects of how projects get made and how the creative process works from start to finish.”

The panels will feature revealing conversations with some of the most admired and sought-after artists in their respective fields. Most notably, Gotham and Independent Spirit Award-nominated writer, producer and director Cherien Dabis will lead a discussion on directing for television. With directing credits including “Ozark”, “Ramy” and “Only Murders in the Building”, Dabis has also been nominated for the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize twice and won the coveted FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, Emmy-nominated director, writer, and producer Craig Zobel (“Mare of Easttown”) will dive headfirst into the craft of screenwriting during his panel on directing and writing for film and television, as well as some of the boundary-pushing projects he has created and been a part of throughout his decades-long career.  Antonia Gentry, star of Netflix’s hit show “Ginny & Georgia” and a recent graduate of Emory University, will participate on a panel featuring Atlanta's own rising stars, talking through how they got started in acting and their first major roles.

As with the lineup of 160+ selected works and Marquee screenings, 2022 Creative Conference programming will highlight underrepresented filmmakers and stories. Panel topics that will explore diversity, equity and inclusion in film and television include: “Creating Stories and Opportunities for a Female, Brown, and Muslim Community”; “The Future of Television Writing: Bigger, Black and More Women!”; “The Need for More AAPI Representation in Film, Music, and Journalism”; and “Voices of Color Above the Line.” 

Additional participants in this year’s Creative Conference panels include actors Danielle Deadwyler (“Station Eleven,” “The Harder They Fall”), Priah Ferguson (“Stranger Things,”) and Luke David Blumm (“The Walking Dead,” “Where the Crawdad Sings”); writers and directors LaToya Morgan (“Shameless,” “Parenthood,” “The Walking Dead”), Stacey Muhammad (“First Wives Club,” “Harlem,” “Black-ish”), Alessando Tanaka (“Animal Practice,” “Dice”), Rochée Jeffrey (“SMILF,” “Woke”); editors Inëz Czymbor (“Black Panther,” “WandaVision”), Barry Murphy (“Spider-Man: No Way Home”), Alexandra Fehrman (“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “CODA”), Bryan Parker (“Julia,” “The Underground Railroad”) and more. 

All Creative Conference content, other than in-person panels, will be available for streaming worldwide during the entire 11 days of the festival. In-person panels will not be offered virtually. Festival passes are on sale now at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com. Creative Conference individual virtual and in-person event tickets are currently $9.99-$12 or $85 for unlimited virtual access. Prices will increase on April 21, 2022.

The full list of programming for this year’s Creative Conference can be found below.  As previously announced, ATLFF’s 2022 lineup of more than 160 films, presented in person or virtually, can be found on the festival’s website here.

2022 Creative Conference Lineup 

IN-PERSON ONLY: Kodak Film Lab ATL Presents The 100 Feet Of Film Project 
April 25th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm at The Plaza
Current and former participants of The 100 Feet of Film Project speak with Kodak Rep Michael Brown to discuss what it was like shooting on film, how they learned to put a team together, and the limited constraints of working with 100' of film to communicate a story of moving images in 2:45 seconds.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelists: Michael Brown - VP of Sales, Southern Region, US&C; Writer and Director Crystal Jin Kim; Producer and Director Giovanni Tortorici; Writer, Producer, and Director Camilo Diaz

IN-PERSON ONLY: Georgia Grown Shorts - Festival Filmmaker Roundtable, Sponsored by IATSE 479
April 26th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm at The Plaza
The Georgia-based narrative, music video, and experimental shorts Directors from the Georgia Stories shorts block discuss their projects, the challenges encountered while making the films and tips to help other short filmmakers tell their southern stories.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelists: Nina Lee (“Artistic”); Giovanni Tortorici (“Leasing Space”); Jard Lerebours (“Pandrog”); Madison Hatfield (“Post-Citrus”); Joshua Cleveland (“Count It All”); Allison Radomski (“How to Behave at a Party”); Camilo Diaz (“A Deer Lost in the Woods”); Christian Jones (“Glitter Ain’t Gold”)

IN-PERSON ONLY: Media Services Presents ShowBiz Budgeting, ShotLogic, & Yamdu Production Management
April 27th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm at The Plaza
Whether working on commercials, music videos, docs, shorts, new media, web series or indie features, you need to not just budget the shoot, but reconcile that budget, be able to make scheduling changes easily, and communicate all changes quickly and efficiently. Media Services software can help.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelist: Steve Bizenov - Vice President, Sales & Software

IN-PERSON ONLY: People Store Presents Influencers, Gaming, Social Media, and Trends: Navigating the Cutting Edge
April 28th from 3:30pm - 5:00pm at The Plaza
Heavy hitters from the expanding worlds of Gaming, Influencer Marketing and Endorsements, Social Media, and Content Development explore new and emerging trends blazing across Georgia and the Entertainment Industry.
Moderator: Brian Bremer - VP of Talent, and Development, People Store
Panelists: Asante Bradford - Sr. Industry Engagement Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Tara Ochs - Vice President of Development, Picture It Productions; China Eastern, Talent Manager, Whalar

IN-PERSON EVENT ONLY: In My Hometown - Festival Filmmaker Roundtable, Sponsored by Monarch Private Capital
April 29th from 4:00pm - 5:00pm at The Plaza
The Georgia-based documentary and experimental shorts Directors from the In My Hometown shorts block talk about their project's journey and discuss the challenges and happy accidents that occurred while making their films.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelists: Joseph East (“Winn”); Cydney Tucker (“Rebyrth”); Camilo Diaz (“Bad Dream”)

Programming Presented Virtually Throughout the 11-day Festival

Collaboration, Creativity, and Experimentation with Ebony Blanding and Danielle Deadwyler
Ebony Blanding and Danielle Deadwyler have worked together for years, and both were part of the ATLFS Artist-in-Residence Program. They discuss directing and acting, indie vs commercial work, retaining your voice, and so many other rich topics about creativity that you just need to watch it to learn more. This conversation is joyful and full of incredible insight into what it means to be creative while celebrating sisterhood, blackness, collaboration, community, and experimentation.
Moderated by: Actress and Performance Artist Danielle Deadwyler (“Till,” “Station Eleven,” “The Harder They Fall”)
Panelist: Writer and Director Ebony Blanding (“Jordan,” “Levitate Levitate Levitate,” “Talk to Plants”)

Comedy Writing and the Writers Room with Robert Peacock
Comedian and TV Writer Robert Peacock discusses the writers room, writing comedy for television, cancel culture in comedy, and his career path in the industry from actor and stand-up comedian to staff writer and showrunner.
Moderated by: Jordan Foxworthy
Panelist: Writer and Comedian Robert Peacock (“The Haunted Hathaways,” “Blue Collar TV,” Mad About You”) 

Creating Stories and Opportunities for a Female, Brown, and Muslim Community
The production team and talent from the yet to be released indie webseries A Version discuss the challenges of being brown, female, and Muslim from the lack of authentic roles and roles that aren't related to their race, ethnicity or religion to struggles financing projects and creating opportunities for themselves and their communities.
Moderated by: Co-Creator, Writer, Director, and Actor Asad Farooqui (“A Version,” “Mabrook,” “Cow Dung Cakes”)
Panelists: Actress Rabinder Campbell (“Mabrook,” “The Hare,” “Misperception”); Producer / Co-Creator Annam Rizwan (“Mabrook,” “Broke”); Actress Shivani Persaud (“Soul to Keep,” “Entitled,” “The Game”); Actress Nasim (“Covenant,” “Creepshow,” “Doom Patrol”); Cinematographer Alaa Zabara (“Omnes Murmur,” “Clown Town,” “Selahy”)

Developing and Pitching Projects with Crazy Legs Productions, Sponsored by State Tax Incentives
Executives at ATL-based Crazy Legs Productions walk us through a pitch package and sizzle reels for projects they produced or that are currently in production. We dive into the development process, packaging, and pitching projects to networks, studios, and streamers.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelists: President and Executive Producer Tom Cappello and Vice President of Development Alana Goldstein of Crazy Legs Productions (“Inside the Madness: Kentucky Basketball,” “I Bought a Dump,” “Flipping Out with My Dad”) 

Directing for Television with Cherien Dabis
Born in Nebraska to Palestinian immigrant parents and raised between small town Ohio and Amman, Jordan, Cherien earned her MFA in film from Columbia. She had 2 world premieres at Sundance, won the coveted International Critics Prize at Cannes, was nominated for a Best Picture Gotham Award, 3 Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture and more. Dabis then transitioned from features into television. We dive into all this and more.
Moderated by: Writer, Director, and Actor Asad Farooqui (“A Version,” “Mabrook,” “Cow Dung Cakes”)
Panelist: Writer, Producer, Director and Actor Cherien Dabis (“Ozark,” “Ramy,” “Only Murders in the Building”)

Ebo Twins and the Sundance hit Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., Sponsored by SAGIndie.org
It started as a short film. Then the sibling duo known as the Ebo twins expanded the story into a full length script, workshopped it at a Sundance Lab, shot it in Atlanta during the pandemic, and had their feature debut at Sundance this year. Focus Features, Peacock, and Jordan Peele’s MonkeyPaw Productions acquired the worldwide rights to the megachurch satire starring Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall. We discuss the film, their Sundance experience, and where they’re headed next.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelists: Writer and Director Adamma Ebo (“Fishing:The Series,” “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.,” “C.R.E.A.M and Butter”); Writer, Director, and Producer Adanne Ebo (“Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.,” “The Terrorist,” “American Bodies”)

From School of Humans to Trioscope and Beyond with L.C. Crowley
L.C. Crowley shares how he moved from the commercial space to the long-form space, how School of Humans started, how their unique brand drives their pitches and content, and how School of Humans moved into high tech animation and high level investment with the creation of Trioscope.
Moderated by: Filmmaker Raymond Carr (“Moon and Me,” “Earth to Ned,” “Joyriders”)
Panelist: Co-founder and President of School of Humans, and Co-Founder and CEO of Trioscope Studios L.C. Crowley (“The Liberator,” “Dirty Jobs,” “Stuff You Should Know”) 

From Writer to Creator with Nick Antosca
Born in New Orleans and raised in Maryland, Nick began writing short stories at a very young age. His love of movies and television drove his interest into screenwriting. After college, while crafting short stories and spec screenplays, he worked a day job to support himself. Once he made the move to LA and got an agent, he finally landed a staff writers gig in 2012. The TV series "Teen Wolf" opened up the world of television and allowed his passion to finally pay the bills. We chat about his career, how he worked his way from staff writer to showrunner, the hierarchy of the writers room, and what it takes to be a writer in television.
Moderated by: Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Panelist: Showrunner and Writer Nick Antosca (“The Act,” “Channel Zero,” “Brand New Cherry Flavor”) 

Make a Decision - Do the Work - How I Sold My First Screenplay
Former Atlantan Lenoré Coer talks about decisions - her career path from actor to writer, how she produced her first project, and how that experience helped her get representation and sell her first screenplay.
Moderated by: Director Jan Mullins (“Soulfire,” “Elijah,” “Sure Feels Good Anyway,” “Amy Ray”)
Panelist: Writer Lenoré Coer (“Stepford Sidechix,” ”Moments Before Tomorrow”) 

My Path to the Writers Room with Shaye Ogbonna
Shaye Ogbonna found his filmmaking tribe at AFI, and they still collaborate today. His new film, God’s Country, which he co-wrote with fellow AFI grad Julian Higgins, stars Thandiwe Newton and premiered at Sundance this year. He shares how his indie work opened doors and helped chart his path to the writers room.
Moderated by: Producer Jeff Keating (“Living Is Winning,” “Fight Night and the Million Dollar Heist,” “Pee Wee Gaskins Was Not My Friend”)
Panelists: Writer Shaye Ogbonna (“Boomerang Kids,” “Lowlife,” “God’s Country”)

People Store presents The Big Break - Spotlight on Success
This panel highlights the careers of Atlanta's home-grown success stories featuring actors who have made it big in the brave new world of GA Film and TV. They discuss the moment they knew they'd "arrived" and the blood, sweat, and tears that go into a "meteoric rise", or a long, slow climb.
Moderated by: Brian Bremer - VP of Talent & Development at People Store 
Panelists: Actress Antonia Gentry (“Candy Jar,” “Raising Dion,” “Ginny & Georgia”); Actor Atkins Estimond (“How to Get Away with Murder,” “Lodge 49,” “Hightown”); Actress Priah Ferguson (“Stranger Things,” “Daytime Divas,” “Boo!”); Actor Luke David Blumm (“The Walking Dead,” “Where the Crawdad Sings,” “The King of Staten Island”)

Podcasting is the New Pilot Brought to You by WABE
This panel explores where storytelling is today, diverse platforms & channels, and cultivating inspiration. Hear from podcasters turned filmmakers and filmmakers turned podcasters as they discuss how podcasting is the new pilot, and how to get from podcast to pitching IP.
Moderated by: WABE Director of Podcasting Sierra Reed
Panelists: Podcaster Marc Sollinger (Radio and Podcast Producer of “The Moth,” “Archive 81”); Producer Jeff Keating (“Living Is Winning,” “Fight Night and the Million Dollar Heist,” “Pee Wee Gaskins Was Not My Friend”); Writer, Producer and Director Bret Wood (“The Control Group,” “Those Who Deserve To Die,” “The Unwanted”)

The Basics of Editing, Sponsored by Light Iron, A Panavision Company
Two Atlanta-based Assistant Editors talk creativity, limitations, technology, software, hierarchy, mentorship, networking, job descriptions, dailies tech work, working remotely, receiving notes, union work, and what it takes to make it as an editor no matter where you live.
Moderated by: Assistant Editor Inëz Czymbor (“Black Panther,” “The Oval,” “WandaVision”)
Panelist: VFX Editor and Assistant Editor Barry Murphy (“Ruthless,” “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “1883”)

The Future of Television Writing: Bigger, Black and More Women!
This conversation breaks down how a writers room works, what to expect when you're in one, how to network, how to break story, mistakes writers make, writers programs, how to navigate the different personalities in a room, how to get your second job as a staff writer, pet peeves, zoom writers rooms, how to move up to showrunner and run a room, and so much more. It's a wonderful discussion on writing, being a writer in Hollywood, and the future of television.
Moderated by: Actor, Producer, and Creator of First Fifteen Jamila Webb (“Jane the Virgin,” “Superstore,” “A.P. Bio”)
Panelists: Writer LaToya Morgan (“Shameless,” “Parenthood,” “The Walking Dead”); Writer and Producer Rochée Jeffrey (“Step Up: High Water,” “SMILF,” “Woke”) 

The Heart of the Craft
A director, a cinematographer, and a producer discuss where they are in their careers, how they got there, where they want to be, and what they're doing to advance their careers.
Moderated by: Director Jan Mullins (“Soulfire,” “Elijah,” “Sure Feels Good Anyway,” “Amy Ray”)
Panelists: Director and DP Chris Anthony Hamilton (“Doc McStuffins: The Doc Is In,” “Body and Son,” “Broken Branches”); Producer Harim Leon (EP of Red Baron Digital LLC)

The Need for More AAPI Representation in Film, Music, and Journalism
This discussion revolves around representation and the challenges of being an Asian-American creative, which was tough enough in the South and elsewhere before Covid. Learn how to find support and build community on-line, the state of representation in media, and what can be done to recruit and improve not only participation, but understanding.
Moderated by: Filmmaker Jeremy Thao (“Wokman”)
Panelists: Actress and Singer Jennifer Chung (“The Resident,” “Saints & Sinners,” “Lovecraft Country”); Hmong American Writer Phillipe Thao (Netflix.com, Teen Vogue, Catapult Magazine, and podcast co-host of “What's the Bubble Tea?”)

The Path to Directing with Takashi Doscher
An up and coming ATL-based Asian writer and director interviews a more seasoned former ATL-based Asian writer and director about his career path, journey as a storyteller, and self-confidence as an artist, as well as mentorship needs in the Asian community, and the need for more AAPI representation.
Moderated by: Filmmaker Jeremy Thao (“Wokman”)
Panelist: Writer / Director Takashi Doscher (“Still,” “Hear Us,” “Only”)

The Power of Sound - Post Production Sound Mixing
Former post production supervisor Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther) sits down with post sound mixers and re-record artists to discuss the power of sound mixing to storytelling, as well as the hierarchy of the post sound world, career paths, what led them to sound, mistakes made on set and how to avoid them, and how to create the perfect mix of dialogue, sound effects, background noise, and music.
Moderated by: Producer Sue-Ellen Chitunya (“Team Marilyn,” “Juneteenth with Open Mike Eagle,” “Breasties”)
Panelists: Sound Designer and Re-Record Mixer Alexandra Fehrman (“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “CODA,” “NCIS”); Sound Designer and Re-Record Mixer Bryan Parker (“Julia,” “Power Book II: Ghost,” “The Underground Railroad”)

Voices of Color Above the Line
As these DPs and Directors navigate through commercial, television, and feature markets, they discuss the challenges of being a person of color in a mostly white above the line space, how they move forward as creatives to tell stories in their unique voice, and the importance of supporting the need for more voices of color in the marketplace.
Moderated by: Director and DP Chris Anthony Hamilton (“Doc McStuffins: The Doc Is In,” “Body and Son,” “Broken Branches”)
Panelists: DP Daniel Patterson (“She's Gotta Have It,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Woke”); Director Stacey Muhammad (“First Wives Club,” “Harlem,” “Black-ish”)

Writing for Film and Television with Alessandro Tanaka
Alessandro Tanaka writes for film and television, and has multiple projects in development at the same time. He discusses collaborating with a writing partner, working in the writers room, accepting notes, advice for up and coming screenwriters, and his general approach to writing, pitching, and storytelling.
Moderated by: Writer, Director, and Actor Asad Farooqui (“A Version,” “Mabrook,” “Cow Dung Cakes”)
Panelists: Writer and Producer Alessandro Tanaka (“Animal Practice,” “Dice,” “Sharper”)

Writing and Directing for Film and Television with Craig Zobel, Sponsored By The MPAA
Craig Zobel wrote and directed films which premiered at Sundance and other major festivals, and has directed many successful television shows. He seems to navigate easily between these two worlds from the accolades - he won or has been nominated for multiple awards including a Gotham, Film Independent Spirit, Sundance, PGA, and Primetime Emmy. This conversation will dive headfirst into the craft of writing, as well as some of the boundary-pushing projects Craig has created.
Moderated by: Writers, Producers, and Directors Lake and Ruckus Skye (“Becky,” “The Devil to Pay,” “Rattle The Cage”)
Panelist: Writer and Director Craig Zobel (“Mare of Easttown,” “The Hunt,” “Compliance”)