The 49th annual Atlanta Film Festival + Creative Conference (ATLFF) revealed key programming highlights, including the full lineup of selected works from over 6,000 submissions. The 11-day film festival and educational conference will take place Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, May 4, 2025, with screenings primarily held at the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre in Atlanta.
“In its 49th year, the Atlanta Film Festival is not only a global celebration of storytelling with 35 countries of origin represented in selections but also a powerful showcase of Atlanta’s growing impact on the film industry. This year, we’re especially excited to spotlight 40 films with ties to Georgia, including our Opening Night presentation of “Color Book,” which was shot entirely with a local Atlanta crew—demonstrating the incredible talent and creativity thriving right here in our city,” said Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of the Atlanta Film Festival. “It’s a thrilling time to be part of this vibrant, artistic community, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences back to the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre and further solidify Georgia as a hub for film and innovation.”
On Opening Night, Thursday, April 24, Atlanta’s own film scene shines as “Color Book,” directed by Atlanta native David Fortune, kicks off the Marquee programming for the festival at the Plaza Theatre. This heartwarming story follows a father and his son with Down syndrome on their journey to an Atlanta Braves game. Recognized as one of Variety’s 2025 Directors to Watch, Fortune is expected to attend along with cast members Will Catlett and Jeremiah Alexander Daniels, who received an NAACP Image Award nomination for his work in the film.
In a Special Presentation, the documentary “The Games in Black & White” will debut at the festival on Saturday, April 26 at the Rialto Center for the Arts. It tells the story of University of Georgia football hero-turned Atlanta real estate attorney Billy Payne, who proposed bidding for the 1996 Olympics, and Mayor Andrew Young, the civil rights icon who supported the vision. Both are expected to attend the screening event. The documentary features over 40 prominent figures from Atlanta and beyond, including Olympians, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Martin Luther King III.
Atlanta Film Festival is presented by Rendezvous and will again offer a mix of in-person and virtual screenings. Screenings will be primarily held at the Plaza Theatre (1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE) and The Tara Theatre (2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324), with additional screenings at events held at The Rialto, The Supermarket, and Scout Atlanta. Most official selections will be available to watch virtually following the in-person events; the virtual screenings and events will be presented via Eventive.
The full lineup of selected films is available for preview here. The schedule is expected to be released on Monday, March 24, and will be available at www.AtlantaFilmFestival.com and through the ATLFF 2025 app. Festival badges are on sale now, and individual screening tickets will be available starting Wednesday, March 26 here.