The 41st Annual Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) will kick off on Friday, March 24, 2017, with 10 days of offerings that extend far beyond the fest’s robust film screening slate to include educational workshops, talent and filmmaker appearances, and special music, food, and art-focused presentations. The 2017 fest is expected to attract 27,000 attendees to more than 150 events from Friday, March 24 – Sunday, April 2, 2017. Of these happenings, ATLFF is excited to announce seven can’t miss events taking place throughout the festival that are free and open to the public.
From the foodie-favorite Food On Film grits-themed after party to a special appearance by Papa and Hefty Smurf from the all-new film SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE, the free events at ATLFF 2017 will welcome thousands of attendees over the course of the festival to experience the best of what Atlanta’s arts, food, music and film communities have to offer.
In addition to the free events, the final lineup of the 41st annual fest includes 47 feature-length films and 116 short films, representing 40 countries – with 53 percent of selected submissions directed by a female and 40 percent from filmmaker(s) of color. The ten-day event will be highlighted with Opening and Closing Night presentations and galas, eight Marquee screening events, 37 Creative Conference events, and a more than a dozen unique Special Presentations and events.
For more information about the Atlanta Film Festival and full schedule of film screenings and events, visitwww.atlantafilmfestival.com/films. Passes for the festival and tickets to individual screenings are available for purchase now on the website.
Stay connected with ATLFF on Twitter: @AtlantaFilmFest & Instagram: @AtlantaFilmFest #ATLFF
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FREE EVENTS AT THE 2017 ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL
Events are listed in chronological order
ATLFF Screenplay Competition: Table Read
Friday, March 24, 2017, 4:00 PM
Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge, 644 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306
Join us for a script read of selections from each of the three 2017 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition winners, featuring local SAG-AFTRA actors.
#SpecialPresentation
Free admission with advance RSVP at http://atlantafilmfestival.com/2017/table-read/.
“Planet of the Children” Short Film Presentation
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 12:15PM
Towne Cinema, 106 N Avondale Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
A series of seven children’s shorts, featuring animation, narrative and pilot films. This family-friendly short film block will run for approximately 70 minutes.
Free admission for children under 12 with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets for adults can be purchased at: http://atlantafilmfestival.com/2017/planet-of-the-children.
Meet and Greet with Papa and Hefty Smurf
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 1:15PM
Appearance immediately follows the “Planet of the Children” screening, which starts at 12:15 PM
Towne Cinema, 106 N Avondale Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002
In support of their return to the big screen in Sony Pictures Animation’s all-new, all-animated adventure SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE (in theaters everywhere Friday, April 7th), Papa and Hefty Smurf will be stopping by the 41st Annual Atlanta Film Festival to greet fans of all ages. Papa Smurf and Hefty Smurf will be making an appearance at the conclusion of one of ATLFF’s kid-friendly programming blocks, “Planet of the Children”, comprised of seven kid-friendly short films or TV shows.
The Smurfs Meet and Greet is free for attendees of all ages. No RSVP required. You do not have to attend the “Planet of the Children” screening to meet the Smurfs; however, if you wish to come early and view the screening, please see above for “Planet of the Children” ticketing information.
DreamWorks Animation’s THE BOSS BABY
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 2:15PM
Plaza Theatre Main, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Directed by Tom McGrath
Meet a most unusual baby. He wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin, and stars in the animated comedy, DreamWorks’ THE BOSS BABY. THE BOSS BABY is a hilariously universal story about how a new baby’s arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7-year-old named Tim.
#Animation #FamilyFriendly
Free admission for children under 12 with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets for adults can be purchased at: http://atlantafilmfestival.com/2017/boss-baby.
Food On Film Grits-themed After Party
Sunday, March 26, 2017, 2:00PM
Immediately following Food on Film’s 25th Anniversary Presentation of MY COUSIN VINNY at the Plaza Theatre, which starts at 12:00 PM
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30306This is the fifth year that ATLFF has hosted the foodie-favorite Food On Film event, which pairs a food-themed movie with a delicious after party. Following the 12:00PM film screening of the Academy Award-winning MY COUSIN VINNY at the Plaza Theatre, ATLFF will shine the spotlight on grits, the film’s scene-stealer and a cuisine staple of any “self-respecting southerner,” at the after party at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. The Federal will serve up their take on grits and other beloved southern dishes at the after party. MY COUSIN VINNY was directed by Jonathan Lynn, and stars Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio and Marisa Tomei. The 1992 film was primarily produced in Georgia. Chef Shaun Doty’s The Federal, which opened in Midtown in late 2016, was recently announced as a semifinalist for the 2017 James Beard Award for “Best New Restaurant”.
Admission to the after party is free with purchase of individual ticket to the screening or festival badge. Tickets to the MY COUSIN VINNY screening can be purchased at http://atlantafilmfestival.com/2017/schedule/. Festival badges can be purchased at http://atlantafilmfestival.com/badges.
FSU College of Motion Picture Arts Presents: Selected Keylight Films
Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 6:45PM – 8:30PM
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
The FSU College of Motion Pictures Arts presents a showcase of eight short student films followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the college. Ranked by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top 25 film schools in the country, FSU Film’s students have won more than 2,000 awards since the school opened in 1989 and in the last five years, FSU Film graduates have collaborated on four ‘Best Picture’ nominated films at the Oscars®. In the last two years alone, FSU Film alumni Adele Romanski (MOONLIGHT) and Jonathan King (SPOTLIGHT) were producers of the ‘Best Picture’ winner. Other notable FSU Film alumni include directors Barry Jenkins (MOONLIGHT), Greg Marcks (11:14), and David Mitchell (IT FOLLOWS, MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER), screenwriters Ron Friedman (CHICKEN LITTLE and OPEN SEASON) and Matthew Lopez (RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN and THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE). ATLFF and FSU Film are pleased to host an evening of cinematic entertainment to showcase this year’s selected Keylight Films.
Free admission with advance RSVP at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com/2017/fsu
The Art Institute of Atlanta Presents CREATIVITY for LIFE
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 5:30 PM
7 Stages Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
The Art Institute of Atlanta presents a showcase of short films created by their senior level students.
#SpecialPresentation #Georgia
Free admission with advance RSVP at http://atlantafilmfestival.com/2017/aiga/