The Atlanta Film Festival, now in its 44th iteration, veers off in a new direction this year, as it adjusts to the pandemic world.
Originally scheduled to take place last spring, but postponed because of COVID-19, the organizers announced Thursday that the festival will run from Sept. 17-27, and movies will be streamed online and in ādrive-inā presentations.
Drive-in screenings will primarily take place at the Plaza Theatre (1049 Ponce de Leon Ave.) and Dadās Garage (569 Ezzard St.), with additional venues to be announced later. According to the festival website, āHealth protocols and social distancing will be followed to ensure safe and comfortable events for all attendees.ā
Itās the first time that the festival, which is presented by the Atlanta Film Society, has streamed movies online.
The festival lineup announced last spring consists of 38 feature-length films, 86 short films and 24 examples of ācreative media,ā including music videos.
Spokesperson Lindsay Corley said the festival hopes to keep the same lineup announced in March but added that they are still talking with filmmakers and developing agreements about the new digital/drive-in format for the festival.
The festival organizers āexpect that majority of the selected lineup will still play,ā Corley said in an email.
Credit: Atlanta Film Festival
Credit: Atlanta Film Festival
Among the films that have been confirmed is the paranormal comedy ā15 Things You Didnāt Know About Bigfoot,ā and the documentary āOnce Upon a Time in Venezuela,ā which follows the decay of a small village, Congo Mirador, and traces the parallel decline of the country itself.
Moving from an in-person group of events to the digital world is the Creative Conference, a five-day series of more than 40 educational events, featuring professionals in the entertainment industry. The list of presenters will be announced in September. Past presenters have included William H. Macy, James Franco, Jason Reitman, Tom Luse and Shuler Hensley.
Women and filmmakers of color are behind more than half the films in this yearās festival, and the festival features specialty tracks highlighting the work of women, LGBT issues and Latin filmmakers.
According to the festival, tickets for individual drive-in screenings are $15-$50, depending on the number of people in each car.
Tickets for individual digital screenings or events are $9.99 per feature, shorts block or virtual conference session. Unlimited digital access will be available for $50 for either film or the Creative Conference ā or for $75 for unlimited access to both.
For more information, visit atlantafilmfestival.com.
FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Atlanta Film Festival
Sept. 17-27
$15-$50 drive-in screenings
$9.99 per feature, shorts block or virtual conference session for individual digital screenings or events
$50 unlimited digital access for either film or the Creative Conference ($75 for unlimited access to both)
Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave., and Dadās Garage, 569 Ezzard St., with other venues announced later.
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