Atlanta Film Festival: Your Guide to One of the City’s Signature Events 🎬

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is one of the city’s most important cultural events and a major highlight of Atlanta’s spring calendar. If you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or just want to understand how this festival works locally, this guide walks you through what to expect, where it happens, how to attend, and how to get the most out of it.

What Is the Atlanta Film Festival?

The Atlanta Film Festival is an annual, multi-day celebration of film and storytelling, typically held in the spring (often April). It brings together:

• Independent filmmakers from Atlanta, the Southeast, and around the world
• Local film lovers and casual moviegoers
• Industry professionals who live and work in Georgia’s booming film and TV scene

You can expect:

• Feature films, short films, documentaries, animated films, and experimental work
• In-person screenings, Q&As, panel discussions, and workshops
• A mix of local stories and international cinema

For Atlanta residents, ATLFF is both a signature festival and a chance to see how the city’s “Hollywood of the South” reputation plays out on the big screen.

When and Where the Festival Happens

Typical Timing

The Atlanta Film Festival usually:

• Runs for about 10 days
• Takes place in spring, often in April

Exact dates change each year, so it’s best to check the current festival calendar when planning.

Main Venues

The festival often centers around Little Five Points and nearby neighborhoods, with screenings and events spread across several locations. Common anchor venues include:

• Plaza Theatre
  1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
  Atlanta, GA 30306
  A historic art-house cinema that often serves as a primary screening venue.

• Additional neighborhood cinemas and performance spaces
  Depending on the year, ATLFF programs screenings in other theaters and event spaces around Midtown, Poncey-Highland, and surrounding intown areas.

Some years also feature outdoor screenings or special events at partner venues, giving the festival a citywide feel.

What You’ll Experience at the Atlanta Film Festival

Types of Films Shown

The lineup is intentionally diverse. You’ll usually find:

• Narrative features – independent dramas, comedies, genre films
• Documentaries – local, national, and international non-fiction stories
• Short films – including Georgia-made and student shorts
• Animated films – from family-friendly to avant-garde
• Experimental and boundary-pushing work – for those who like something different

There is a strong emphasis on:

• Southern and Atlanta-based filmmakers
• Underrepresented voices (including Black, LGBTQ+, and international creators)
• Films that reflect current social, cultural, and community issues

Beyond Screenings: Events and Activities

In addition to movies, ATLFF often includes:

• Filmmaker Q&As after screenings
• Panel discussions on topics like writing, directing, producing, and distribution
• Workshops and labs (often under the festival’s educational arm)
• Networking events and mixers for people working or aspiring to work in the industry

Even if you’re not a filmmaker, these events can deepen your understanding of how film gets made in Atlanta and why the city is such a hub for production.

How to Attend: Tickets, Passes, and Access

Ticket Basics

The festival typically offers:

• Single screening tickets – for one film or program
• Festival passes – multi-day or all-access options that cover a range of screenings and events

Common options can include:

• General admission tickets – for individual screenings
• Day passes or multi-day passes – if you want to binge a few days in a row
• All-access badges – for serious festival-goers or industry professionals

Prices and structures change year to year, so it’s helpful to look at:

• The current year’s program and pricing
• Any early-bird discounts if you’re planning ahead

How Locals Typically Approach It

If you live in Atlanta, people often:

• Pick a few highlighted films plus a shorts block
• Choose screenings that fit around work and family schedules
• Take MARTA, rideshare, or walk between intown venues to avoid parking headaches

Visitors might plan:

• A weekend anchored around the festival
• Time to explore nearby neighborhoods like Little Five Points, Poncey-Highland, Inman Park, and Midtown between screenings

Getting Around: Transportation and Parking Tips

Using MARTA and Transit

For many festival-goers, transit is easier than driving:

• MARTA Rail:
  • The Inman Park/Reynoldstown and Midtown stations are often practical jumping-off points, depending on the venues used that year.
• Buses: Several MARTA bus lines run near Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Moreland Ave NE, and surrounding intown corridors.

Check current MARTA routes and schedules when you plan your trip, especially for evening screenings.

Driving and Parking

If you prefer to drive:

• Expect busy street parking near major venues like the Plaza Theatre and Little Five Points.
• Paid parking lots and decks may be available in nearby commercial areas.
• Plan to arrive early, especially on weekend evenings, to allow time to park and get in line.

Locals often combine:

• Street parking a bit farther away with a short walk
• Or use rideshare to avoid circling for spots

Atlanta Neighborhoods to Explore During the Festival

One of the advantages of the Atlanta Film Festival is its walkable intown setting. Between screenings you can easily explore:

Little Five Points

• Known for its independent shops, street art, and relaxed vibe
• Lots of casual food options, bars, and coffee shops
• Great for people-watching between afternoon and evening screenings

Poncey-Highland & Ponce de Leon Corridor

• Near the Plaza Theatre
• Access to local restaurants, bars, and dessert spots
• Close to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail, where you can walk or bike between neighborhoods

Inman Park & Old Fourth Ward

• Tree-lined streets, historic homes, and parks
• Good for daytime strolls and grabbing a meal before or after a movie
• The BeltLine connects these neighborhoods to others used by festival venues

These areas help the festival feel more like a citywide experience rather than a single building event.

If You’re a Filmmaker: Submissions and Industry Opportunities

The Atlanta Film Festival is a notable stop for filmmakers, especially those in the South or based in Georgia.

Submitting a Film

Common submission categories often include:

• Narrative features and shorts
• Documentary features and shorts
• Animation
• Experimental work
• Student films (including local university and film school work)

Deadlines and rules vary each year, so filmmakers typically:

• Review the festival’s submission guidelines carefully
• Note different deadline tiers (early, regular, late)
• Make sure they understand eligibility, run time, and format requirements

Industry and Education

The festival is closely associated with film education and local industry development, often via:

• Classes, labs, and workshops aimed at emerging filmmakers
• Conversations with local producers, writers, and crew who work on Georgia-based productions
• Networking opportunities that can be especially valuable if you’re trying to break into Atlanta’s film and TV scene

For locals, it’s one of the more accessible ways to connect with the professional side of Atlanta’s creative industry.

Atlanta Film Festival vs. Other Atlanta Events

Within Atlanta’s signature festivals and citywide events, ATLFF stands out because it:

• Is film-focused but strongly tied to local culture and stories
• Attracts both Atlanta residents and out-of-town visitors
• Reflects the city’s status as a major film production hub

Compared with big outdoor festivals or music and food events, the Atlanta Film Festival:

• Is mostly indoors, making it a good option regardless of weather
• Encourages longer, more reflective experiences (full-length films, Q&As)
• Works well as a flexible commitment: you can see just one film or dive in for days

Quick Planning Guide for Attending ATLFF

Here’s a simple snapshot to help you plan:

Practical Tips for a Smooth Festival Experience

A few Atlanta-specific pointers:

• Book early for popular time slots
  Evening and weekend screenings in smaller venues can sell out.

• Account for Atlanta traffic
  If you’re coming from outside the Perimeter or across town, interstate congestion can make weekday evening arrivals tight. Give yourself buffer time.

• Layer up for venues
  Some older theaters can be on the cooler side with strong air conditioning; a light layer can make long screenings more comfortable.

• Try at least one shorts program
  These often highlight Atlanta and Georgia filmmakers and are a good way to sample different voices in a single sitting.

• Look for local and regional spotlights
  Programs focused on Southern or Georgia-made films can give you a unique lens on the city and state you live in or are visiting.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

• The Atlanta Film Festival is a major annual arts event that showcases independent film while reflecting Atlanta’s role in the global film industry.
• It typically runs for about 10 days in the spring, with screenings centered around intown neighborhoods like Little Five Points, Poncey-Highland, and nearby areas.
• You can attend casually with a single ticket or immerse yourself with multi-day passes and industry events.
• For locals, it’s one of the easiest ways to plug into Atlanta’s creative community; for visitors, it’s a rich, city-focused cultural experience that fits naturally into a trip.

If you’re in or coming to Atlanta during festival season, building even one or two Atlanta Film Festival screenings into your schedule is an accessible way to experience how the city lives up to its reputation as a film capital.