Atlanta Film Festival: Your Guide to One of the City’s Biggest Cultural Events

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is one of the city’s signature arts events and a major draw for movie lovers, filmmakers, and creatives. 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 participate, and how to make the most of it.

What Is the Atlanta Film Festival?

The Atlanta Film Festival is an annual, multi-day film festival that typically takes place in the spring. It showcases a wide range of films:

• Independent features
• Shorts and documentaries
• Animated films
• Local and regional projects
• International films

It’s known for being accessible to the public, not just industry insiders. You can buy individual tickets, passes, or attend some free or lower-cost community-focused events, depending on the year’s programming.

The festival is organized by the Atlanta Film Society, a long-standing nonprofit that supports local filmmakers and film education year-round.

When and Where the Festival Happens

While exact dates change each year, the Atlanta Film Festival is usually held over roughly 10 days in the spring (often around April).

Main Venues and Locations

Programming can be spread across several Atlanta venues, but some commonly involved locations include:

• Plaza Theatre – A historic cinema in Poncey-Highland

  • 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

• Midtown and Old Fourth Ward areas – Often used for screenings, panels, and special events at various theaters and arts spaces

Because venues can shift year to year, it’s wise to:

• Check the official festival schedule before you go
• Note which screenings are at which venues
• Allow enough travel time between locations, especially if you’re relying on Atlanta traffic or MARTA

What You Can Do at the Atlanta Film Festival

The festival is more than just watching movies. It’s a multi-layered event with opportunities for different types of attendees.

For Film Fans and General Audiences

Most Atlantans experience ATLFF as audience members, enjoying:

• Film screenings – Narrative features, documentaries, shorts blocks, and genre-specific programming
• Q&As with filmmakers – Many screenings include post-film discussions with directors, actors, or producers
• Spotlight and gala screenings – Higher-profile events that often sell out quickly
• Themed blocks – For example, shorts grouped by topic, region, or style

If you’re just visiting Atlanta, you can easily build a day or weekend around the festival, combining a film block with meals and exploring nearby neighborhoods like Virginia-Highland, Midtown, or Poncey-Highland.

For Local Creatives and Film Students

The Atlanta Film Festival is also known for its educational and networking events, which often include:

• Panels and talks on topics like directing, producing, screenwriting, and distribution
• Workshops for emerging filmmakers, sometimes linked to local film schools or organizations
• Industry meetups where writers, actors, crew, and producers can connect

These events are especially useful if you:

• Work in Atlanta’s growing film and TV industry
• Are studying film at local institutions
• Are trying to break into production, writing, acting, or editing

Ticket Options, Passes, and How to Attend

You do not need to be in the industry to attend the Atlanta Film Festival. It’s open to the public, but planning ahead helps.

Common Ways to Attend

While options can change slightly each year, most lineups include:

• Individual screening tickets

  • Good for locals who just want to see 1–2 films
  • Often the most budget-friendly way to sample the festival

• Day passes or multi-day passes

  • Helpful if you’re visiting from out of town and want to pack in multiple screenings

• All-access or VIP-style badges

  • Typically aimed at serious film fans or industry professionals
  • May include priority seating, access to more events, or special functions

Practical Tips for Buying and Using Tickets

• Buy early for popular screenings. Opening night, special premieres, and buzzy titles often sell out.
• Arrive early. Even with a ticket, seating may be general admission. Arriving 20–30 minutes before showtime is usually wise.
• Build a schedule. Screenings at different venues can overlap. Mapping your day out ahead of time helps you avoid long gaps or rushed travel.
• Check for rush lines. When screenings show as “sold out,” there is sometimes a standby or rush line at the theater in case seats free up.

How to Submit a Film to the Atlanta Film Festival

Atlanta is a major production hub, and ATLFF is a respected showcase for filmmakers from Georgia and beyond.

Who Can Submit?

Submissions are generally open to:

• Independent filmmakers worldwide
• Georgia-based and Atlanta-based creators
• Students (including local film students)
• Short and feature-length projects across narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental categories

Typical Submission Process (Overview)

1. Prepare your film

   • Final cut or strong festival-ready cut
   • Subtitles if needed
   • Correct aspect ratio and sound

2. Choose your category

   • Narrative feature
   • Documentary feature
   • Short film
   • Animated film or shorts block
   • Other special categories that may vary each year

3. Submit by the deadline

   • The festival usually has early, regular, and late deadlines
   • Fees tend to increase the later you submit

4. Wait for notification

   • If selected, you’ll receive details on deliverables, schedules, and publicity material

For Atlanta-based filmmakers, screening at ATLFF can be a strong calling card within the local industry and a way to connect with peers, press, and audiences.

Atlanta Neighborhoods and Logistics for Festival-Goers

Because the Atlanta Film Festival uses multiple in-town venues, understanding local geography and transit helps.

Getting Around

• Driving and parking:

  • Many venues have limited parking. Street parking and paid lots are common.
  • Traffic can be heavy, especially around rush hour and on weekends in Midtown and Poncey-Highland.

• MARTA (public transit):

  • The MARTA rail system serves Midtown and Downtown well.
  • For venues further east (like around Poncey-Highland), a combination of MARTA rail + walking or rideshare is often used.

• Rideshare and taxis:

  • Commonly used for late-night screenings or when hopping between venues quickly.

Nearby Food and Amenities

Festival locations are typically surrounded by restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, making it easy to:

• Grab a quick bite between screenings
• Meet friends for a pre-film coffee or post-film drink
• Explore local spots like Ponce City Market, the BeltLine, or neighborhood dining along Ponce de Leon Ave and in Midtown

Who Organizes the Atlanta Film Festival?

The festival is produced by the Atlanta Film Society, a nonprofit organization focused on:

• Supporting the local film community
• Providing education and workshops
• Running screenings and programs throughout the year, not just during festival season

They often operate out of central in-town locations, and their events tend to be accessible to both professionals and the general public.

Why This Matters for Atlantans

If you live in Atlanta and want to:

• Work in film or TV
• Learn filmmaking skills
• See more independent cinema year-round

the Atlanta Film Society and ATLFF can be practical entry points, offering a mix of screenings, training opportunities, and networking.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Film Festival at a Glance

Tips for Making the Most of the Festival in Atlanta

A few practical pointers if you’re planning to go:

• Plan your top picks first. Choose 3–5 “must-see” films or events before adding extras.
• Factor in Atlanta traffic. Allow buffer time between screenings in different neighborhoods.
• Mix big titles with discoveries. Some of the most memorable festival experiences come from smaller, lesser-known films.
• Stay for Q&As. These are especially valuable in Atlanta, where many cast and crew are local and open about their process.
• Use it as a city experience. Pair screenings with local dining, walks along the BeltLine, or stops at nearby landmarks to turn it into a full Atlanta outing.

The Atlanta Film Festival is one of the city’s most distinctive annual events, blending local culture, global storytelling, and a strong sense of community. Whether you’re a longtime Atlantan, a new resident, or a visitor planning your trip, it’s a compelling way to experience the city’s creative side.