Macon Film Festival: Recapping the Sundance Institute Master Class

The Macon Film Festival welcomed us with open arms and kicked off the weekend with a Sundance Institute Short Film Master Class with Mike Plante and James Ponsoldt.

Plante, Sundance Short Films Senior Programmer, wove his tale to an eager crowd. Beginning his festival journey in 1993, he is no stranger to the inner workings of getting films into festivals, and he started with rule number one—'Don’t be a dick.' Simple enough, just treat every single person you meet along the way well. The positivity will read through the work and more people will sign on to help you make a great film.

14 Films to See at the 2016 Macon Film Festival

Middle Georgia's main film event returns for its 11th edition on July 21-24. While the festival focuses on music and Southern documentary, there's something for everyone.

A 30th anniversary presentation of John Hughes' classic "Pretty in Pink" with star Andrew McCarthy is a good hook. So is a Sundance Master Class with Georgia-born director James Ponsoldt. So are special screenings of Ponsoldt's critically-acclaimed hits "The Spectacular Now" and "The End of the Tour." But the 11th annual Macon Film Festival has a whole lot more to offer!

A couple of years deep into Macon's focused effort to spotlight music-themed films and Southern non-fiction, the festival is bursting with promising offerings in both categories. Pepper in loads of Georgia-lensed shorts, some festival circuit hits, diverse international offerings and quality workshops—you have yourself a dynamite 4-day event.

We've highlighted 14 films from this year's Macon Film Festival that you must check out!

Macon Film Festival and Sundance Institute Join Forces for Short Film Master Class with James Ponsoldt & Mike Plante

The 11th annual Macon Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, July 21st and runs through Sunday, July 24th. Through a partnership with Sundance Institute, Middle Georgia's largest film organization is kickstarting this year's festivities with a high profile Master Class from acclaimed, Georgia-born filmmaker James Ponsoldt and long-time Sundance Short Film Programmer Mike Plante.

The 2015 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition Deadline Has Been Extended

We’re nearing the end of 2014, which means that the 2015 spring festival season is closely upon us. If you’ve polished your screenplay to the point of perfection and are looking for a place to submit, the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) has extended its deadline for feature length screenplays to December 15, 2014. ATLFF is offering a limited time 50% discount to anyone who submits before the deadline.

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.)

Alexander Payne, Natalie Dormer, Terence Stamp among honorees at 2013 Savannah Film Festival

The 2013 Savannah Film Festival honorees (from left):
Alexander Payne, Natalie Dormer, Terence Stamp

Later this month, the Savannah Film Festival will continue the star parade it began 16 years ago. Last year, the festival celebrated the careers of Matt Dillon, Geoffrey Fletcher, John Gatins, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Michelle Monaghan and Stan Lee; so it is no surprise to hear a solid mix of revered filmmakers, acting legends and promising newcomers lined up for this year's honors. Alexander Payne, Natalie Dormer and Terence Stamp are the first honorees announced for this year's events. The festival kicks off on Saturday, October 26th and runs through Saturday, November 2nd.

Atlanta Film Festival: 2013 award winners

Deragh Campbell stars in Best Narrative Feature award winner,
"I Used To Be Darker"

Though I'm a bit behind in my ATLFF coverage so far this year, hopefully you've at least been able to gather from Twitter, Facebook and the few reviews posted so far that this year has been an incredible, transformative experience for the 37-year-old circuit staple. The festival 'closes out' tonight with James Ponsoldt's Georgia-produced "The Spectacular Now," but tomorrow's schedule features plenty of special presentations, encores and second chances to catch this year's award winners. Matthew Porterfield's "I Used To Be Darker" takes home the Best Narrative Feature award. Porterfield previously won the same award in 2010 for his film "Putty Hill." Kalyanee Mam's quietly powerful study of Cambodia's surging cultural and economic change, "A River Changes Course," won the Best Documentary Feature award. One of my personal favorites of the festival, "Congratulations!" by Mike Brune, takes home Best Georgia Connected Film honors. Check out the full list of winners after the jump.

Filmmakers and stars to walk the red carpet at the 2013 Atlanta FIlm Festival

From left: Ray McKinnon, Abigail Spencer, James Ponsoldt and Joseph Morgan
are all set to walk the red carpet at various ATLFF screenings.

Kicking off with "Mud" tomorrow night, the Atlanta Film Festival couldn't properly begin without rolling out the red carpet at the Plaza Theatre. Actor Ray McKinnon will be in town representing "Mud," which also stars Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard and Tye Sheridan.

The ATLFF red carpet has always been more of a filmmaker's event than a showy A-lister ordeal, shining the proper light on the talent and passion behind the projects. Plenty of pretty faces and actors make their way down the press line, however, and this year is no different. McKinnon will appear again Saturday (March 16th) for "Rectify," his new Georgia-lensed Sundance Channel original series. He is bringing along a few of his stars, too. Abigail Spencer ("Mad Men," "Oz the Great and Powerful"), Clayne Crawford ("24," "The Glades," "Justified"), Kim Wall ("American Reunion"), Sharon Morris ("The Blind Side") and Adam Fristoe ("Teen Wolf") are all set to appear. Joseph Morgan of "The Vampire Diaries" will walk the red carpet for the screening of his short film "Revelation." For the closing night film, "The Spectacular Now," native Georgian and director James Ponsoldt is scheduled to appear (March 23rd).

More stars and filmmakers could very well make their way to the fest, especially with all the in-town filming taking place.

What to see at the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival

At nearly 40 years old (37, to be exact), the Atlanta Film Festival has earned the distinction of Georgia's foremost festival event. The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is a more sprawling, ticket-selling extravaganza. The Savannah Film Festival hosts bigger stars and showcases 'higher profile' films. The Macon Film Festival and Rome International Film Festival are famously friendly and tremendously resourceful. But the years have been kind and the decades of extra experience have paid off for the ATLFF. For a long time, the festival floundered to find its niche– not knowing whether to focus on Southern film, independent film, LGBT film or to just pick up scraps from other, more established festivals. Last year, under the leadership of new executive director, Chris Escobar, and recently crowned festival director, Charles Judson, the festival made great strides towards a unique, truly Atlantan voice. This year, that voice rings out with an uninhibited clarity.

Just as Georgia's film industry, both commercially and independently, has taken off and continues to move at a break-neck speed, the ATLFF has managed to become a destination film fest for international filmmakers while placing a huge emphasis on our locally-grown work. This year's lineup is the most solid, cohesive yet. While we see a few all-stars from this season's earlier festivals (Sundance, SXSW, Toronto); a slew of unique programming enters the race here, including dozens of Georgia-made features and shorts. Congratulations to Judson and company for all your hard work paying off!

Now, what should you see this year? The correct answer would be, 'as much as you can.' The ten day event features plenty for anyone and everyone. Saturdays and Sundays are jam-packed with programming, but you won't have to worry about leaving work to catch a film as weekday screenings are set in the evening. If you can get away during the weekdays, though, please do. The Cinformation seminar series is going to be well worth your time.

I simply can't wait for the big kickoff this Friday. After the jump, I've highlighted this year's most promising fare– including the big names, the buzzed titles and all the homegrown good stuff.

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.