First Ten Features from 2015 Atlanta Film Festival All Directed by Women

Although the 2015 Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is still nearly four months away, the organization has released the first ten feature films selected for the 39th annual festival lineup. This announcement is different from typical festival releases in that the diverse slate of films have one thing in common—all ten films are directed by women.

“Films from female directors composed nearly half of last year’s feature film program. This first glimpse at the Festival’s 2015 lineup showcases the outstanding quality of work found in submissions from female filmmakers,” said ATLFF Director of Programming Kristy Breneman. Of the ten features in this first wave, six are narrative (fiction) and four are documentaries.

Georgia filmmakers stray from home in Atlanta Film Festival documentaries: "Limo Ride" (****), "Mayan Blue" (****)

Georgia filmmakers travel near and far for these ATLFF selected documentaries;
"Mayan Blue" (top) filmed in Guatemala, "Limo Ride" (bottom) filmed in Alabama.

As is usually the case with the Atlanta Film Festival, Georgia independent film is featured with an especially high visibility. This year, there are two documentary features, two narrative features and a host of short films from Georgia filmmakers. To go beyond that, several films are 'Georgia connected,' meaning they come from a filmmaker that grew up in Georgia, have a producer from here or some other connection that makes them slightly less of a Georgia production—but still something we can claim as our own.

This year's two local documentary features—"Limo Ride" and "Mayan Blue"—are anything but 'local.' "Limo Ride" comes from Atlanta filmmakers and ATLFF alumni Gideon C. Kennedy and Marcus Rosentrater (also a Senior Animator on the excellent Georgia-made television show "Archer"), but was set and shot in Alabama. The film tells the tale of a group of friends who rented a limo to take them to-and-from a crazy New Years Day party and wound up with a little more adventure than they bargained for. "Mayan Blue" was directed by Atlanta-born, Athens-based director Rafael Garcia from Standoff Studios, but showcases Guatemala's beautiful Lake Atitlán. The film explores the recent discovery of the underwater Mayan city of Samabaj and the implications of the city's destruction on Mayan society.

2014 Georgia Independent Film Survey Results

Editor's Note: Credit for this exceptional piece must go to our partner Charles Judson at CinemATL. If anyone has their finger on the pulse of Georgia's independent film scene, it's this guy. We look forward to continuing and further developing our partnership with CinemATL in the future. -CM

The results of CinemATL and Reel Georgia's first survey of the Georgia Film Scene are in. All submitted survey responses can be found at the end of this post.

We asked 9 questions:

• How do you define an Independent Film?
• What are the benefits when a film is identified being an indie/independent?
• What are the negatives when a film is identified as being an indie/independent film?
• How seriously--how much respect--does the community/industry at large treat the indie films on your resume?
• How confident are you about the future of Georgia's Independent Film Scene?
• Of the independent films you've worked on in Georgia, how you would rate your experience?
• How aware is the rest of the country of Atlanta and Georgia's Independent Film Scene?
• If you had to grade Georgia's presence at the major festivals in the United States (Sundance, SXSW, etc.), what would you give it?
• How would you grade Georgia's Independent Film Scene?

There will be those who will agree with the picture the answers create of independent film in Georgia. With Georgia's film boom well into it's 6th year, some will vehemently disagree. Whatever side you may fall on, this should be a catalyst to discussion. We'll be following up with a more detailed reactions from our own contributors and from the community in a week or so.

A few things to note as we dive in.

There are 48 total responses. We posted, tweeted and emailed as often as we could to get the word out.

Our biggest push were two boosted Facebook posts we created. Through keywords and audience, we aimed those posts specifically at the film community, targeting Atlanta up to a radius of 50 miles. That's 7,800 square miles that stretches just shy of Athens.

Why target Atlanta and not the entire state? Research shows the concentration of online activity by the film community is in this area. Going further out would just dilute our reach. 

As a result, our first boosted post reached 11,288 potential respondents. The second reached 5,360. Including email and our additional social media channels, we hit about 30,000 people total (how much overlap we don't know). 

We're including this information to highlight that we wanted to give as many as possible a chance to answer. 

The V.H.S. Film Festival is open for submissions!

Short for "Videographer's Hella-Big Short," the V.H.S. Film Festival has been giving amateur, aspiring and professional filmmakers a chance to showcase their original work on the big screen in Athens for several years.

Submissions are now open! You must submit your film by 11:59 PM on Friday, March 14th to be eligible. The next festival will be held March 27th at Ciné Athens. 

Georgia productions at the Savannah Film Festival: "The Spectacular Now" (****), "Last Vegas" (**), "The Sacrament" (***)

In addition to a host of Georgia-lensed SCAD student work, this year's Savannah Film Festival screened an assortment of Georgia productions. James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now," both set and shot in Athens, already closed out the Atlanta Film Festival earlier this year and went on to a successful theatrical run over the summer, but Savannah hosted a special screening of the film with director Ponsoldt, writer Michael H. Weber and star Miles Teller (a frequent attendee and former Discovery Award recipient) in attendance for a Q&A. Jon Turteltaub's "Last Vegas" served as one of the special gala presentation films and despite not being set anywhere near the Peach State, most of the movie was shot here. Horror film dynamo Ti West filmed his latest, "The Sacrament," in the Savannah area during the duration of last year's film festival, so it only made sense for him to come back to the Hostess City for a special premiere. Plenty of cast and crew members were on hand for the unveiling. In addition to these narrative features, documentary jury contender and Audience Award winner, "Mayan Blue," has Georgia ties as well. The film showcases Mayan ruins beneath Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, but comes from Athens-based Standoff Studios. (A review for "Mayan Blue" will be featured later.)

A Conversation with James Ponsoldt, director of "The Spectacular Now"

James Ponsoldt walks the red carpet at the
Atlanta Film Festival for his film,
"The Spectacular Now"

In the past two years, James Ponsoldt has not only seen two of his films show at Sundance, but both have competed for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. The Athens native now lives in Los Angeles, but when it came time for his latest feature, Georgia beckoned him back.

Proclaiming himself as a writer first and foremost, "The Spectacular Now" marks the first of Ponsoldt's six films (three shorts and three features) where he doesn't have a writing credit. Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, the screenwriters behind hipster mega-hit "(500) Days of Summer," adapted Tim Tharpe's award-winning novel. Upon reading the script, Ponsoldt approached the two with both enthusiasm and his own plans in mind.

"'I want to set it in Athens, Georgia and I want to film it on anamorphic 35mm.' And they said, 'alright.'" Tharpe's novel takes place in Oklahoma, a setting that the first version of the screenplay kept. Luckily, the story's ties to the Sooner state are loose enough. But what else made Ponsoldt want to film in his hometown?

The V.H.S. Athens Film Fest is March 6th!

The "Videographer's Hella-Big Show" puts on a quarterly film festival showcasing local, independent short films in Athens. The next event takes place Wednesday, March 6th at Ciné. If you are looking to submit your film, do so by Sunday at Midnight. The directors, screenwriters and actors showcasing their work will be there by 7:30 PM, screenings start at 8:00 PM. Get more information here and here.

James Ponsoldt's "The Spectacular Now" to close Atlanta Film Festival

Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller star in "The Spectacular Now"

The Atlanta Film Festival will officially announce its lineup any moment now. Earlier this week, news broke that on March 15th, Jeff Nichols' "Mud" will kick off the festival. Now, it has been confirmed that Georgia-filmed "The Spectacular Now" will close out the fest on March 23rd.

Director James Ponsoldt's film was shot in Athens last summer and stars Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kyle Chandler, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bob Odenkirk. The film was a huge success at Sundance last month, with Teller and Woodley taking home acting awards. Adapted from a Tim Tharp novel by Michael H. Weber and Scott Neustadter, A24 picked up distribution rights for the film at Sundance and aims to get "The Spectacular Now" in cinemas sometime this summer. Personally, I am thrilled to see this as an ATLFF selection, but not surprised!

In addition to "Mud" and "The Spectacular Now," we do know a few other movies to look forward to. Documentary titles include "As Goes Janesville," "Blood Brother," "Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp," "The Institute," "La Source," "Losing Lebron," "Magic Camp," "Mohammed to Maya," "Scarred but Smarter: Life n Times of Drivin n Cryin," "Submit the Documentary" and "Zipper: Coney Island's Last Wild Ride." Narrative titles include "A Band of Rogues," "Cinema Six," "Claire's Cambodia," "Congratulations!" "euphonia," "Faces in the Mirror," "Hank and Asha," "Moral Sleaze" and "The Suicide Kid."

Georgia filmed "The Spectacular Now" to premiere at Sundance

Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller star in "The Spectacular Now"

Last summer, as James Ponsoldt was still riding the wave of acclaim he received for his Sundance hit, "Smashed," he began work on a new film in his hometown of Athens, Georgia. "The Spectacular Now" is adapted from Tim Tharp's much beloved novel by screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber ("500 Days of Summer"). Upon reading the book and being reminded of his own hometown, Ponsoldt set out to change the setting from Oklahoma to Georgia. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Kyle Chandler, Brie Larson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Mary Elizabeth Winstead all star in this promising teen romance. The world premiere is Friday, January 18th. I'd love to see this film come back to Georgia for the Atlanta Film Festival in March.

Check out some images (courtesy of The Playlist) and a brief word from Ponsoldt after the jump.

Review: "Trouble with the Curve" (****)

John Goodman, Amy Adams and Clint Eastwood star in "Trouble with the Curve"

Some of the productions that I report on here may shoot in several different states; some using Georgia to double as wherever else they need it to. I delight in the fact that "Trouble with the Curve" is set in and was shot exclusively in my state. Georgia dutifully plays the part of Western North Carolina for some of the story's elements, but without a doubt, this is a Georgia film. Athens, Atlanta, Dawsonville, Decatur, Dunwoody, Jasper, Macon and Young Harris all serve as backdrops for this charming father-daughter tale set in the world of baseball recruiting.

"GROW!" Athens screening

There is a good chance many of you have already seen or heard of this documentary film by Christine Anthony and Owen Masterson, as "GROW!" has already played at the DocuFest Atlanta, the Macon Film Festival, the Rome International Film Festival and the Savannah Film Festival. A true Georgia production, "GROW!" has also screened at several festivals around the world and racked up many awards in the process (including some from Atlanta, Macon and Rome).

"GROW!" will be screening at CINE in Athens on April 4th, a week from today. The filmmakers will be in attendance and this event will serve as the premiere for a new, longer edit of the film. Previously screening at 50 minutes, the filmmakers have upped the film's runtime to a full hour in preparation for future screenings and a DVD release. Seating is limited, so get your ticket today!

I will be posting a review of "GROW!" soon.

Check out the official trailer and synopsis after the jump.

03/21 Star spotting: Amy Poehler, Clint Eastwood, Justin Timberlake, Melissa McCarthy

Clint Eastwood star vehicle "Trouble with the Curve" is still filming here in Georgia. Currently being shot at the Amicalola Falls Lodge in Dawsonville, the film also stars Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman. Previous filming has taken place in Athens, Atlanta, Conyers and Macon.

Jason Bateman and recent Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy will begin filming a comedy titled "Identity Thief" in Atlanta next month. The film is currently searching for extras.

"A.C.O.D." ("Adult Children of Divorce") is on its second week of filming in Atlanta. Starting out in Castleberry Hill, the comedy starring Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Jane Lynch, Jessica Alba, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Catherine O'Hara has since moved the set to Decatur. Stu Zicherman will make his directorial debut with the film. Two Q&As with Adam Scott have taken place at Atlanta's Midtown Art Cinema recently after screenings of his film "Friends With Kids."

Kevin Bacon has been in Smyrna for the past couple of weeks filming an untitled pilot by Kevin Williamson. Not much more information has been released on the project.

USA Network show "Necessary Roughness" is filming in Macon this week. The show films mostly in Atlanta. Also on USA, "Royal Pains" is currently filming in coastal Georgia for a couple of weeks before moving the set back up to New York. They are shooting in St. Marys and Jekyll Island through the end of March.

MTV's "Teen Wolf" is currently shooting on location between Decatur and Avondale Estates.

Spotted any celebrities around the state? Email us at reelga@gmail.com with the details and we'll post it here.