The Atlanta Film Festival, which will take place Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 14, will bring us movies from around the world and from our own backyard.
The 11-day festival will present 31 feature length films, 98 short films and 36 “creative” events that will includes experimental happenings, music videos, virtual reality and episodic pilots.
A sizable portion of the films were made in Georgia, or came from Georgia filmmakers, or both.
Movies will be screened at the Plaza Theatre, the Hilan Theatre, Dad’s Garage Theatre and Seven Stages Blackbox Theater.
The festival’s directors received 8,410 submissions from 120 countries, and this year’s programming will include movies from 45 countries.
Half of the selected films were directed by a woman, and 40 percent by a person of color.
In a throwback tradition, this year’s festival will begin on April 3 with the Image Awards Gala, returning to the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre after a 10-year absence.
The short films include a block from Georgia artists in a grouping called “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Local Shorts A medley of Georgia makers and minds.”
(That group includes a 20-minute film from Atlanta resident self-taught artist Lonnie Holley called “I Snuck off the Slave Ship.”)
Among the documentaries is “You Are Here: A Come From Away Story,” the real tale of the Newfoundland village that took care of the many travelers stranded by 9/11 -- a story that turned into a hit Broadway musical.
The feature films will include movies from Russia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina and Malaysia.
Marquee films -- the movies that will open and close the festival -- and the name stars who plan to attend, are to be announced later.
Tickets for individual screenings are $12 in advance and will go on sale near the end of March. Prices for festival passes range from $100 for basic membership to $400 for an all-access pass. A producer’s pass for $750 will offer access to festival screenings, educational programming and parties.
In addition to movies, the festival offers musical events, master classes and appearances by noted filmmakers and actors.
Among those who have attended previous festivals is Jason Reitman, Kiersey Clemons, Regina Hall, Romany Malco, Elsie Fisher, Bo Burnham, Chris Tucker, James Gunn, Michael Rooker, William H. Macy, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Rob Burnett, Jack McBrayer and Spike Lee.
For details on the movies, venues and tickets, go to the Atlanta Film Festival website.
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