Atlanta Film Festival 2020 Combines Virtual, Drive-In Movie Experience

Photo credit: Atlanta Film Festival

Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is taking place this weekend at the Plaza Theatre Drive-In at 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306. The festival this year runs from Sept. 17-27.

This year, things are a little different because of COVID-19, but just as exciting. You can enjoy the films via drive-in tickets or virtual tickets. But there’s also some FREE events (see below).

Atlanta Film Festival 2020: Dates, Time, Info

The conference schedule is packed with screeners as well as an actors roundtable as well as production and filmmaking workshops.

See all the ATLFF festivities and don’t miss some groundbreaking movies. Or head to their Drive-in schedule or view the virtual catalog.

5 Virtual Free Events At The AtlantaFilm Festival

If youwant to check out some programming at no cost, here are five free virtual events being put on by the Atlanta Film Festival.

COVID Testing and Film Production
Panelists: Producers Patricia Taylor & Gabrielle Pickle
Moderator: Producer and Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Description: Panel: Speed, affordability and accuracy continue to pose a challenge to productions gearing up for fall, especially indies. Fresh off a Georgia film shoot, producers share what they learned about COVID testing, results lags and test efficacy.
 
Casting in the Age of COVID
Panelists: Regional Set Representative Susan Moss (SAG/AFTRA), Casting Director Jessica Fox-Thigpen & Actor Mike Pniewski
Moderator: Producer and Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Description: Panel: A casting director and SAG representatives discuss common questions and concerns, as well as what actors should expect from casting and contracts, PPE protocols and how to report non-compliance anonymously.
 
Actors Roundtable – Truly Vulnerable
Moderator: SAG / AFTRA Actress Karen Ceesay
Description: Panel: Atlanta-based actors share what it’s like being back to work, from the benefits of being local, occasionally managing their own props and wardrobe tweaks, to crews covered in PPE and managing their own COVID fears.
 
COVID and the Crew
Panelists: Freelance Commercial COVID Compliance Coordinator Keith Pearson, Turner Broadcasting Manager of Production Safety Megan King & Cinematographer and AC Trish Solyn
Moderator: Producer and Creative Conference Director Linda Burns
Description: Panel: Atlanta-based crew members and COVID compliance coordinators share stories from shooting during COVID, the benefits of being local, the challenges of wearing PPE in the Georgia heat, and what’s working and what isn’t.
 
Remote Post-Production in the Age of COVID
Panelists: Sound Designer Chris Nicholson, Assistant Editor Inëz Czymbor, Composer Ben Holst, Post Production Supervisor Drew Sawyer & ADR Mixer Greg Crawford
Moderator: Georgia State University’s CMII Project Manager Lisa Ferrell
Description: Panel: Georgia’s post-production professionals from various departments discuss working remotely, how coordination, communication and planning are even more important, and the challenges they’ve had to overcome to ‘make it work.’
 
With more than 900 movie and TV projects just in the last few years, the film industry has generated more than $9 billion for the state of Georgia.
There are so many movies filmed in Atlanta these days that it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest movie casting calls, celeb sightings and Atlanta happenings delivered to your inbox.

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CJ Johnson: CJ is a longtime Atlantan who has written a book about Atlanta's food scene. He has also fallen in love with the city's music and sports scenes. He writes about Food, Restaurants, Travel, Sports and Atlanta Culture. Check out the book. https://amzn.to/3RPmbZM