Atlanta Film Festival Executive Director Chris Escobar Previews This Year’s Virtual And In-Person Events
This year’s Atlanta Film Festival runs April 22-May 2.
Atlanta Film Festival
This year’s Atlanta Film Festival and Creative Conference run from April 22 through May 2. The ATLFF is the annual centerpiece of educational film programming provided year-round by its parent organization the Atlanta Film Society. This festival is one of only a few worldwide that is Academy Award qualifying in three or more categories.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes talked with ATLFF Executive Director Chris Escobar about the virtual and in-person events.
“There is certainly a lot of reckoning that is present in these films. But there’s also a lot of ‘Let’s take a second to stop and think about these things and either appreciate them, or reflect on them, or reconcile them,’” said Escobar.
He continued, “At the end of the day, not only are we looking at sharing these great works and highlighting them, celebrating them, but we are really looking to make an impact on the life of these works themselves, but even more so the livelihoods and careers of these artists behind them.”
Some of this year’s highlights include:
- Opening night: “Socks on Fire,” from director Bo McGuire that details an estate battle between a homophobic sister and her drag queen brother in Hokes Bluff, Alabama. The film will screen both at the Plaza Indoors and Drive-In on April 23, and the screenings will be preceded by performances from “Rupaul’s Drag Race” season 12 star Rock M. Sakura and local drag performers.
- Will and Jim Pattiz’s documentary “Carterland.” It reexamines the impact of former President Jimmy Carter and why he’s a misunderstood president. It also looks at Carter’s work with the environment and racial justice. The “Carterland” screening will take place at the Carter Presidential Library on April 24 at 8:15 p.m.
- Closing Night on May 1: “The Dry” is a crime mystery starring Eric Bana about a federal agent who begins to connect the dots on two crimes that occurred decades apart. This will be screened at the Plaza Indoors and Drive-In.
- There will also be several virtual masterclasses presented by actors, directors, and creatives in the film industry.
The 2021 film guide and schedule can be found here.
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