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Atlanta Film Festival begins today and runs through April 25
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Each year, the Atlanta Film Festival gets bigger and better, or so I’m told. Admittedly, I’ve never been, but then again I’ve only been in the city a little over a year. So for my first year at the festival, I figured I would do one better: I’m a volunteer.
I’ll be doing some camera work and video production for them, as that is my chosen profession. But I’m also going to get an inside look at what it takes to put together such a massive event. Even though I’ll be working, I’m also going to try to make it to a few showings. I’m going to give you a brief run-down of the festival, as well as my picks for screenings and parties.
First of all, the Atlanta Film Festival, also known as ATLFF, isn’t free. Festival Passes start at $275 and includes admission to all regular screenings, the closing night extravaganza, the filmmaker and hospitality lounge, and other official festival parties and receptions. There are other less expensive options available including passes for opening weekend, April 17-19, and daytime passes, and there is also the more expensive option of obtaining an All Access Pass.
However, if you’re like me, you don’t have the time or the money for any of these options. That’s why I suggest purchasing tickets for individual screenings, which are $10 to the general public. And believe it or not, some areas of the ATLFF are free! The Coffeehouse Conversations, which will take place daily starting Friday, April 17 at the Starbuck’s located 931 Monroe Dr. They will feature a Q & A with the filmmakers featured in the festival. There is also the Teen Screen section, which will screen films made by or for teenagers. Free is good.
There are 191 films being shown this year, with genres ranging from narrative, documentary, animation, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, experimental and short films. Unless otherwise noted, all screenings will be at the Landmark Midtown. Here are my picks for screenings for this year’s festival:.
Gone With the Wind 70th Anniversary, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre
- Showing Sunday, April 19, at 12:30pm and 7:00pm, $15 premium seating, $10 reserved
Blood River, Director: Adam Mason, USA, 103 minutes, Horror
- Friday, April 17, 9:45pm
- Wednesday, April 22, 2:15pm
Blood River is a psychological horror and suspense thriller about a married couple, Clark and Summer, that are driving across California when they get stranded in a place called Blood River, a ghost town. They are alone until a drifter named Joseph seems to appear out of nowhere.
The Death of Alice Blue, Director: Park Bench, Canada, 86 minutes, Horror
- Saturday, April 18, 2:45pm
- Friday, April 24, 4:15pm
Alice Blue goes to work for an advertising agency where some of her coworkers might literally be blood-sucking vampires. She joins a group of coworkers who call themselves “The Resistance” to try to get to the bottom of what is going on at the agency. According to the ATLFF website, it is “filled with dark dry humor and a pleasant quirkiness that is evident from the acting to the costumes to the set design, it finds new life in the old story of the world’s most famous undead.” As I have a propensity towards all things vampire, I highly recommend this film. And plus, the director's name is Park Bench.
I am the Bluebird, Director: Thomas Verrette, USA, 111 minutes, Drama
- Friday, April 17, 7:30pm
- Tuesday, April 21, 1:00pm
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this film because it was filmed right here in the Atlanta area. After an experimental surgery performed by his neurologist father, Ethan Galloway is suffering from temporary memory loss. Unable to remember parts of his past, he is also coping with major life changes. His father is now remarried, and his mother is an alcoholic. While trying to remember his past, Ethan runs across on old photo of himself with a beautiful girl who he cannot remember. He begins his journey to find this mystery girl, and give his life a new direction. Think Memento meets The Truman Show (meets Vanilla Sky). Check out the trailer!
Moon, Director: Duncan Jones, USA, 97 minutes, Sci-fi
- Saturday, April 18, 7:15pm
In the near future, Sam Bell lives on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earth’s primary source of energy. At the end of his contract, Sam’s health begins to deteriorate. While recuperating back at base, he meets a younger version of himself whom he suspects is his clone. Think Total Recall meets The 6th Day.
Deadland, Director: Damon O’Steen, USA, 107 minutes, Drama
- Saturday, April 18, 9:30pm
- Monday, April 20, 1:30pm
This post-apocalyptic film takes place after WWIII. Everyman Sean Kalos only cares about one thing: finding his missing wife in the newly formed United Provinces which is ruled by martial-law. He finds himself the catalyst in what could be the revolution the survivors have been waiting for. Check out the trailer!
Killer Movie, Director: Jeff Fisher, USA, 91 minutes, Horror
- Monday, April 20, 9:50pm
- Tuesday, April 21, 4:30pm
A campy and parody-esqe horror movie about a reality TV shoot that goes awry when the crew finds itself stranded in a remote Northern town with a killer on the loose. Bonus points: it pokes fun at our celebrity-obsessed culture. Check out the trailer!
Idiots and Angels, Director: Bill Plympton, USA, 80 minutes, Animated
- Saturday, April 18, 4:45pm
- Thursday, April 23, 2:45pm
Angel, who is a selfish and morally bankrupt man, awakes one morning to find that wings have grown on his back. He makes numerous attempts to remove and hide them, but he is eventually exposed to the public. It seems that the wings also have a mind of their own, wanting him to do good deeds. Animated dark comedy about a man’s battle for his soul.
Los Campeones de la Lucha Libre, Director: Eddie Mort ,USA, 72 minutes, Animated
- Tuesday, April 21, 7:25pm
- Wednesday, April 22, 4:45pm
An animated tale about Mexican Luchadores. Need I say more?
Squeezebox, Directors: Steven Saporito and Zach Shaffer, USA, 91 minutes, Documentary
- Friday, April 17, 11:00pm
- Thursday, April 23, 2:00pm
During the '90s while Mayor Giuliani was on his mission to clean up Times Square, there was a brief moment when drag queens owned the NYC nightlife. The epicenter of that time was Squeezebox, a weekly pansexual rock and roll party at Don Hill’s night club. What began as a refuge for gay rock and rollers who felt like outcasts in both the gay and rock worlds, grew to become a landmark event in nightlife history. By bringing the two seemingly contractor worlds, Squeezebox embodied a sense of universal acceptance for everyone that walked through its doors. Fans of Hedwig and the Angry Inch will want to see where it all began.
Women in Boxes, Directors: Harry Pallenburg and Phil Noyes, USA, 80 minutes, Documentary
- Monday, April 20, 7:20pm
Former magician’s assistants break their silence in this documentary. The women of magic reveal the secrets of their workload, and the reasons behind their devotion to the art and the men they served. Expect an insider’s look behind the curtain and inside the magician’s box.
Animation Extravaganza I, 96 minutes, multiple submissions organized into a collection of short animated films
- Friday, April 17, 10:30pm
- Monday April 20 5:00pm
I’m especially excited about Cikorja An Kafe (Chickory ‘n’ Coffee) by Dusan Kastelic of Slovenia. It'sbased on a poem by Iztok Mlakar. This short follows a simple peasant couple from marriage to death.
Animation Extravaganza II, 100 minutes
- Sunday, April 19, 8:30pm
- Wednesday, April 22, 1:45pm
I can’t wait to see Sebastian’s Voodoo by Joaquin Baldwin, USA. It's about a voodoo doll who must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death. I'm also looking forward to Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death, and The Cave: An Adaptation of Plato’s Allegory in Clay by Michael Ramsey, USA.
Comedy Shorts, 105 minutes
- Friday April 24 9:45pm
There will be a lot of laughs in this screening. I am most looking forward to Begravelsen (The Funeral), from Peter Baekkel of Denmark, about a family funeral is interrupted by sounds of knocking from inside the coffin, and Caption Coulier (Space Explorer) by Lyndon Casey from Canada, about a space caption struggles with his robot crew during an intergalactic mission. I can't help but think of Futurama’s Planet Express with a ship full of Benders!
There will also be several parties through the festival. I recommend:
Beer Pong! Friday, April 17, 9:30pm-1:00am at Lab 601. (I'm working this event! Come say hi! I'll be the one with the video camera.)
Secret Party, Friday, April 24. Follow ATLFF on Twitter for details. twitter.com/AtlantaFilmFest
Closing Night Extravaganza, Saturday, April 25, 9:30pm to 1:00am at Guillotine Post.
Hope to see you there!
For more info: go to the Atlanta Film Festival's website at www.atlantafilmfestival.com
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