2018 Atlanta Film Festival announces opening, select films

Many of the events and screenings for the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival take place at the historic Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon.

Many of the events and screenings for the 2018 Atlanta Film Festival take place at the historic Plaza Theatre on Ponce de Leon.

Filmmakers, movie buffs and talented actors will soon descend on the city for the 42nd Atlanta Film Festival. Over 10 days, the annual event will present about 150 films at multiple venues across Atlanta.

Organizers recently unveiled the event’s opening night film, along with select marquee programming. The festival — which takes place from April 13 to April 22 —will kick off with “Blindspotting,” the feature film directorial debut from Carlos López Estrada.

The movie, in which a pair of childhood best friends are forced to watch their old neighborhood become a trendy spot in the rapidly gentrifying Bay Area, stars Daveed Diggs. Diggs co-wrote the film with his lifelong friend Rafael Casal.

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Casal and Diggs will attend the April 13 red carpet screening, and Diggs will receive an ATLFF Innovator Award.

Select film titles announced by the festival include: “Lean on Pete,” “Leave No Trace,” “A Prayer Before Dawn,” “RBG,” “Tully,” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”

See the the first 15 films announced from the 2018 lineup here.

EVENT PREVIEW

The Atlanta Film Festival. April 13-April 22. Ticket price $10-$750. Multiple venues. atlantafilmfestival.com

Opening night. "Blindspotting." April 13. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave.

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