The 2025 Atlanta Film Festival has officially begun, and I’ve spent the past week combing through shorts and episodic content to compile a list of my favorites. There’s still plenty to sift through, but right now, these are my early favorites for you to look for at this year’s festival.
There’s a combination of documentary shorts, narrative shorts, and episodic content to whet that cinephile whistle. You can learn more about the film and its corresponding screening information via the links below each section.
Eli & Noah Eat a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich (7 out of 10)
There’s no better time to make odd decisions than in college. Once you turn 18, you have a little less than a decade to make mistakes and blame it on youthful naivety. If you’ve ever wanted to drop what you were doing and drive across the state, a boring day in college is the right time to do so. Here? Two guys playing video games in the middle of the night get hungry and want a viral sandwich. Random? Yes. But relatable? Absolutely.
Eli (Caleb Métissier) & Noah (Austin Richardson) are doing absolutely nothing. It’s 3:00 AM, they’re playing Street Fighter on PlayStation 4, and all of a sudden, hunger kicks in. It was just six years ago that Popeye’s introduced a chicken sandwich that would flood the internet and social media. On this night, it was the subject of crispy desire as the coveted sandwich was sought out to such a degree that Eli had to rely on a hookup.
“Dude is the Pablo Escobar of white meat,” Eli said before making the call. This is the type of humor that worked best and flowed organically. Within the first two minutes, the pair seemed very high-strung, and the vulgarity seemed extreme and unnecessary. By the time they made the call, everything seemed to smooth itself out and was easier to digest.
Hell nah, he gives me Jonestown vibes, I’m not tryna drink that Kool-Aid”
Noah
Having a chicken sandwich hookup sounds crazy, but that was life not long ago. As for crazy decisions, going to a person’s house you don’t like just because they have what you want sounds terrible and superficial. But when you’re hungry, bored, and have your mind fixed on a sandwich, you’re going to get that sandwich.
Now, you might think, “Why would anyone do this?” That’s simple, because they can. When my roommate and I were bored in college (oh so long before smartphones), he, in a very similar fashion, suddenly had a desire for White Castle. “You’ve never had it? It’s the best!” Before you know it, I’m driving out-of-state to Nashville, Tennessee, with him as the navigator with the Yahoo Maps directions printed out, to try a slew of mini burgers. So yeah, a 3:00 AM ride to find a Popeye’s chicken sandwich totally tracks.
At the house party, we’re introduced to Hampton (Alex Seidner) and Brittany (Emma Marie Cryer). From here, Hampton pretty much steals the show. Anyone who has ever partied, literally anywhere, has met a white guy exactly like Hampton: some people like him, some people don’t, but he’s harmless and, for better or worse, can’t read a room to save his life. His lack of discernment led to plenty of uncomfortable yet hilarious exchanges.
With a few tweaks, I could see this becoming a series that the masses would really enjoy.
Red Clay (8 out of 10)
In Red Clay, the film opens with a brief narration from ATL-favorite Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps. The story takes place in early 2000s Atlanta, with a young man in a tan Dickies suit walking the aisles of a corner store. Cigarettes, juice, and a scratch-off are all he needs as he exits the store to Young Jeezy’s “Get Ya Mind Right”.
The 22-minute short tells a story of pain and addiction. Nook (Christopher A’mmanuel) and Bub (Jaylan Ragin) are best friends who rely on each other during a tumultuous time. Nook’s father, O.C. (Omar Epps), is in jail while Bub’s is nowhere to be seen. Two young boys at a pivotal time have only their mothers to depend on. In an environment where bad habits are the norm, they aspire for better, hoping one day, they’ll be in a better situation.
The film feels extremely authentic, with attire, topics, and visuals to match what some consider Atlanta’s peak (2000-2010). It’s no surprise the writers chose this era to lay the framework for the film. The Chevy Impala, the lingo, and the soundtrack only lend credence to its authenticity.
A’mmanuel and Ragin shared amazing chemistry onscreen. They reflected what most would remember during that time in ATL, in two young people paired up for better or worse. Roasting each other for distaste in sports teams or a lack of game, the two young actors accurately reflected the highs and lows of that era. Elements of the “trap” are what first came to mind, and its accompanying music rang triumphant. The silver lining in all of the muck that surrounded them was the fact that they had each other.
The maternal overseers, V (Rutina Wesley) and Eileen (Vanna Pilgrim), were present but had their struggles. Smoking was commonly seen around the cast, but “what” they were smoking came into question later. When we’re first introduced, a foursome of women around a table is laughing and playing cards (possibly spades). Verbal jabs are exchanged until they start to notice the boys (Nook and Bub) haven’t arrived yet. So, since they were the topic at hand, the conversation shifted to roasting them. “They’re like ebony and ivory,” Eileen says, laughing as the boys come through the front door. For the film to address a matter so serious, it really does have a nice sublayer of humor sewn into it.
Red Clay has that rags-to-riches potential if it went full feature, and a local story from a local hero like 2 Chainz would be well received.
Spice Frontier: Escape From Veltegar (9 out of 10)
While searching the galaxy for long-lost Earth spices, the crew of the Serrano crash-lands on a dangerous desert planet.
Directed and written by Jalil Sadool, the gang at Steamroller Animation delivers this beautiful episode filled with action, adventure, and, of course, trouble. This 30-minute, action-packed adventure is worth your time. Since it’s a single episode, the characters do a nice job of wrapping things up toward the end while also informing us of upcoming events.
When you first read about a spice planet, don’t think about Dune, because this isn’t it. We have aliens, robots, and humans on an epic adventure that should be available to us already (yes, it’s that good). The smooth look and animations felt like I was watching an animated series on Netflix.
This is an awesome cartoon. Trust me.
The Sweater (8.5 out of 10)
Hailing from Canada, eh? We have a film aboot two people living together that are attempting to rectify a problem. The boyfriend, Maz (Maziyar Khatam), has a habit of leaving his clothes everywhere and cluttering up their living space, while his girlfriend, Anya (Anya Chirkova), has had enough of it. After her repeated pleas to clean up the mess are ignored, he’s forced to donate a large amount of his clothing, including a sweater of sentimental value.
The way humor is conveyed here is beautiful. Through dialogue and actions, he’s in a tough spot, trying to keep his things and please his girlfriend. After donating his clothes, he runs the entire fiasco by two of his friends (played by Dylan Ray Hatton and Jake Shannon) after they meet for drinks. His friends convince him to take a stand and draw a line in the sand now before things get worse in the future. It’s the two interactions with his friends that show the risk you take in heeding advice from the wrong people.
It’s poignant, funny, and a true sight to behold (and Maziyar Khatam is hilarious).
Queen of Samba (9.5 out of 10)
This extremely powerful short deals with the harmful effects of colorism and beauty standards. A Black Brazilian named Nayelis (Maya Bello) wants to be the first dark skinned Samba Queen in a contest that has long held preferential treatment for fairer-skinned women. Her mother, Fabricia (Ciomara Andrade), bought into the hype that fairer is better and wasn’t much of an inspiration for Nayelis.
The short film takes a hard look at expectations and self-image as a whole. What is a girl to do when everything and everyone around her pressures her to drop her morals and assimilate? Colorism has long been a problem in the Western Hemisphere, and especially in Brazil. This eurocentric view of beauty is ingrained so deeply in society that even Black people comment on people who look exactly like them.
The film reminds me of a real story that was published in 2016 with Nayara Justino, a dark skinned Brazilian who was voted Globeleza carnival queen in 2013. There had never been a dark skinned queen in the history of the competition, so when it finally happened, she was greeted with massive racism. Even though she won by the vote of the public, the organization caved to societal pressure and revoked her title, giving it to a light-skinned woman in response.
Colorism is a serious problem, and it’s one most Black households end up addressing at one time or another. Nayelis’s setting was the worst-case scenario because she was receiving it from all sides. Her mother’s pressure, the skin lightening cream having a heavy presence in the house, the marketing for that cream, and hearing her mom receive compliments because of her lightened skin. The other part of the problem is the audacity of deniers saying, “we’re all the same,” but then othering people of color in competitions and overall predominantly white space.
Just two years ago, American Fiction put this subject matter into focus after Jeffrey Wright’s character was compartmentalized because he was Black. If a group of people writes about Greek mythology, it should be categorized as mythology. If one of those people happens to be Black, their book shouldn’t suddenly be labeled “Black” or “Ebony” simply because of who wrote it. Here, Nayelis walked into competition day confidently, but her self-assurance was affected after the host called her “The Ebony Queen”.
This is a terrific film with a great lesson. The difficult decision of whether to cave to peer pressure or stand tall was a hard watch, but a nod to great writing and acting.
At See (9.5 out of 10)
After being welcomed by the soothing voice of Nefertiti Matos Olivares, we’re jetted to the deck of a Carnival Cruise Ship. Nefertiti is a blind audio description narrator who sets the tone for viewers to experience this documentary short in the shoes of someone visually impaired.
At See follows a group of blind travelers on a cruise through the Caribbean. Along with their guide dogs, they share their experiences of travel, daily happenings, and what it takes to do something so many of us take for granted.
The short doc is the first to feature Open Audio Description as part of its story and offers a fresh perspective on accessibility. They have great conversations about independence and the importance of guide dogs that will shatter preconceived notions and change perspectives. The best part of the film is when the blind travel group and the rest of the passengers mix and mingle. Yes, part of the draw was the guide dogs, but they were just the catalyst. Great exchanges were had and guests were able to give first-person accounts of how their conversations provided them greater appreciation for independence.
The film is directed by Serena Dykman, and the trip was organized by All Paws On Deck. Professionally shot and loaded with great information, it’s easy to get comfortable too soon. It’s long enough to send its intended message, but trust me, you’ll wish you had more than 15 minutes of this.
Kids of Immigrants (9.5 out of 10)
One of the best projects I’ve seen in the episodic category, KOI (Kids of Immigrants) longtime friends who are traversing their new season into adulthood. It’s Will’s birthday, and his friends, Jihoon, RJ, and David, plan on celebrating him with Korean BBQ. That plan is derailed after Jihoon cancels on account of work. As the bros clash philosophically, a deeper message is conveyed about the complexities of work and relationships in an immigrant’s sphere.
“Sup hoes?!” is how we’re introduced to RJ. The cast represents an array of personalities with the common bond of friendship. RJ’s fear of talking to women hinders his dating and makes him adorably awkward. David is the one friend who seemingly has the most balance in his life, but also sidesteps social and physical confrontation. David is the jock of the group. Swole and sex crazed, his one-liners are a continuous well of humor. Jihoon hasn’t yet mastered the art of work-life balance, as his competitive internship sees him working through the weekend. Together, they face roadblocks in their love life, friendships, and identify generational frustrations.
The entire cast was phenomenal: David A. Chang, Jihoon Ha, Royce Gunawan, Paulo Chun, and Michelle Whang. Michelle’s (Michelle Whang) conversation with RJ sparked the conversation about expectations from immigrant parents. Oftentimes, the children clash philosophically when they go against their parents’ wishes, and it’s usually their career choice. This is where we see Jihoon struggle.
The writing, editing, and camera work are top tier. These are the types of shows that are missing from TV and streaming right now. There’s “some” coarse language, but just enough not to feel overdone. There are plenty of references that come to mind after watching this, but I feel like Friends and Silicon Valley are the closest two. The extra layer of complexities that come with being “kids of immigrants” makes for an entertaining and thought-provoking watch.
A group of friends in the Bay Area navigate love, life, and friendship after college, and they just happen to be Asian? Hooray for fresh ideas and diversity. Sign me up!
The festival is just getting started, so engage as much as you can and attend a screening whenever possible. I’ll have more reviews in the coming days.