Atlanta Film
Festival 2019

chronicles

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Welcome to the recap of my first film festival! 

Shawty had so much fun!

I learned a lot + connected with some dope folk. 

Review my #ATLFF2019 happenings below!

ATLFF History

“Positioned at the intersection of art, culture and commerce, the Atlanta Film Festival brings meaning to the moving image by championing the shared community experience, fostering the free exchange of ideas, and nurturing the development of a thriving industry.  The organization dates back to its founding as IMAGE Film & Video Center in 1977, an outgrowth of the need for equipment access, networking, information dissemination, and support among Georgia media artists and producers.”

Now in its fourth decade, the Atlanta Film Festival—one of only two-dozen Academy Award® qualifying festivals in the U.S.—is the area’s preeminent celebration of cinema.  The Atlanta Film Festival is one of the largest and longest-running festival in the country, welcoming an audience of over 28,000 to discover hundreds of new independent, international, animated, documentary, and short films, selected from 8000+ submissions from all over the world.  It is also the most distinguished event in its class, recognized as Best Film Festival by “Creative Loafing,” “Sunday Paper,” “10Best and Atlanta Magazine.”

Atlanta Film Festival screenings often include in-person dialog with filmmakers, providing audiences, artists and industry professionals with meaningful opportunities to network, interact and engage.  Recent festival guests have included Josh Brolin “No Country for Old Men,” Eddie Vedder “Pearl Jam,” Michael Ealy “Barbershop,” Jasmine Guy “A Different World,” Gary Anthony Williams “Malcolm in the Middle,” Pauley Chris Moore “Good Will Hunting,” Howard Zinn “The Peoples History of the United States,” Ray McKinnon “The Blind Side,” Walton Goggins “The Shield,” Margaret Cho “Drop Dead Diva,” comedian Jeff Foxworthy, Pauley Perrette “NCIS,” Tichina Arnold “Everybody Hates Chris,” John Sayles “Passion Fish,” Hal Hartley “Simple Men,” Carlos Cauron “Rudo y Cursi,” and Patterson Hood “Drive-By Truckers.”

The Atlanta Film Festival is a membership-based 501(c)(3) arts non-profit  with a mission to lead the community, both locally and worldwide, in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.  ATLFF presents a diverse slate of year-round offerings for film-lovers, filmmakers, and industry professionals.  Year round programs —screenings, parties, panels, workshops, and other educational events –provide a forum for building the community of film lovers and film supporters.  By bringing audiences and filmmakers together, the Festival has the opportunity to broaden the perspective of both artists and moviegoers.

Atlanta film festival's
Mission statement

To connect, educate, and engage audiences with the creative industry by supporting artists and providing a platform for their work. We champion cultural discovery, foster artistic growth, and advocate for diverse voices in film and media arts.

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Films I peeped

narrative features

Jian Yongbo, Kmamura Aio, Chen Han, Tzi Ma, Awkwafina, Li Ziang, Tzi Ma, Lu Hong and Zhao Shuzhen appear in a still from The Farewellby Lulu Wang, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Courtsey of Sundance Institute | photo by Big Beach


All photos are copyrighted and may be used by press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and/or 'Courtesy of Sundance Institute.' Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and/or photos is strictly prohibited.

pistachio's
fave of the fest

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THE FAREWELL

After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding-reunion back in China. Headstrong and emotional writer Billi rebels against her parents’ directive to stay in New York and joins the family as they awkwardly attempt to rekindle old bonds, throw together a wedding that only grandma is actually looking forward to, and surreptitiously say their goodbyes.

A heartfelt celebration of both the way we perform family and the way we live it, THE FAREWELL masterfully interweaves a gently humorous depiction of the good lie in action with a thoughtful exploration of how our cultural heritage does and does not travel with us when we leave our homes. Writer/director Lulu Wang imbues THE FAREWELL with warmth and knowing wit, while the uniformly excellent ensemble cast (anchored by a breakout performance by Awkwafina) invites us to share this extended clan’s joy and sorrow and to feel, for the length of this remarkable film, like a part of their family.

The Farewell drops on July 12th, 2019 in theaters! 

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screen

pistachio's
fave of the fest

monos

Belonging to a rebel group called “The Organization,” a ragtag band of child soldiers, brandishing guns and war names like Rambo, Wolf, Lady, and Bigfoot, occupies a derelict ruin atop a remote mountain where they train themselves, watch over a conscripted milk cow, and hold hostage a kidnapped American engineer, Doctora (Julianne Nicholson). But after an attack forces them to abandon their base, playtime is over for the motley young crew.

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best of the fest!

other films I peeped

documentary features

pistachio's
fave of the fest

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a thousand girls like me

When Khatera, a 23-year-old Afghan woman, opposes the will of her family and the traditions of her country to seek justice for years of sexual abuse from her father, she sheds light on the faulty Afghan judicial system and the women it rarely protects. One woman’s obstinate battle to make her voice heard demonstrates the power of action over fear in this harrowing feature documented by a young Afghan director.

I wrote a review for the film for the "atlanta tv and Film" blog

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best of the fest!

A Thousand Girls Like Me IMDb
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pistachio's
fave of the fest

you are here:

a come from away story

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, nearly 40 airliners carrying over 6,500 passengers were forced to land at a tiny airport in Gander, Newfoundland. With thousands stranded and no where to go, the small but mighty Canadian community of Gander came together to house, feed, and care for the passengers or “come from aways” who soon became more like family than strangers.

Through firsthand accounts and real life footage, You Are Here documents the immense kindness, clever resourcefulness, and heartfelt humor Gander showed their unexpected guests. Witness the remarkable true story that inspired the hit Broadway musical Come From Away.

mo' films I peeped

kids shorts

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pistachio's
fave of the fest

ONE SMALL STEP

冲破天际

An ambitious young girl aspires to become an astronaut with the support of her humble father.

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best of the fest!

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pistachio's
fave of the fest

the good, the bad and the puppy

In this homage to spaghetti westerns, a young woman sets out to find her dog who ran away from home to play poker.

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best of the fest!

the last few films
I peeped

animated shorts

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pistachio's
fave of the fest

simbiosis carnal

A poetic journey through the history of desire and sexuality where the female pleasure, long ignored and repressed, takes pride of place.

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best of the fest!

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pistachio's
fave of the fest

sister

妹妹

A man thinks back to his childhood memories of growing up with an annoying little sister in China in the 1990s. What would his life have been like if things had gone differently?

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best of the fest!

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a little more flair

odds + ins

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a gem

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BEST OF
THE FEST

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i missed it 🙁

Upcoming 2019 Festivals

dos

Get a good night’s sleep if you want to watch films all day long. Do not burn the candle at both ends. You will figuratively die. 

Sit with talkers. Periodt.

Take little snack packs or nuts with you for protein for energy—concessions bills accumulate quickly. 

Judge a book by its cover, or judge a film by its advertising poster or synopsis. Have an open mind!

Caffeine TF up! I’m telling you. I’m not a heavy coffee drinker, but it helped a lot throughout the week. 

don'ts

films peeped at #ATLFF2019
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