The Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC), is proud to present its one-of-a-kind Atlanta Indian Film Festival (AIFF) for the sixth year from October 17th to 20th, 2024, at the beautiful Tara Theater in Atlanta, GA.

With an Indian diaspora of approximately 150,000 people, and over 500 companies, including many Indian-owned and operated businesses in the Atlanta region, the Atlanta Indian film festival will showcase popular Indian cinema to Atlanta, as well as introduce visiting Directors, Actors and Producers to potential movie production opportunities in Atlanta and the state of Georgia.

Georgia is now a leading destination in the world for filming with its temperate climate, great variety of locations, the world’s busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport), large crew base, and pro-business focus. In Georgia, you’ll find one of the most competitive tax incentive programs in the country, along with a broad network of production and recording facilities, a large and skilled workforce including actors, the latest production equipment and suppliers, gaming and interactive media developers, and technology and support services. The goal of GIACC is to be a liaison between the Indian diaspora film makers in India/US/Canada and the Georgia film industry/state of Georgia and support the Indian movie industry.

Besides showcasing Officially Selected movies and hosting workshops, the AIFF, for the first time, will host a Pitching competition on selected scripts submitted in the screen writing section of the festival.

We host live workshops on wide ranging topics including but not limited to investing (and money making) in movies and tips in acting for amateurs. We will have casting directors on site so that amateurs' and professionals have opportunities to audition for roles.

Screen writing (Pitching) Competition:
Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar

Atlanta Indian Film Festival is excited to launch its Indian diaspora-focused Atlanta Indian
Film Bazaar (AIFB), September 27-28th, 2025. It is open to Indian diaspora filmmakers creating movies in the US.

The film bazaar will be done along with the 7th edition of the Atlanta Indian Film Festival, a widely recognized Indian film festival in North America. . The Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar aims to provide a platform where the Indian American film industry can find genuine partnerships and financing opportunities for projects in development.

AIFB invites film pitches from the Indian Diaspora to explore partnerships from movie makers to collaborate including investors, and producing partnership. Our session this year includes

PITCHING SESSION [FOR USA & CANADA BASED FILMMAKERS ONLY]

Narrative Feature Films only

SELECTION PROCESS

-The submitted scripts will be sent to readers, who will review and evaluate each film based on certain criteria. The film scripts will be anonymous during the initial round of review.
-Shortlisted filmmakers will pitch their scripts during the Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar
-The winner will be decided by experts and judges with filmmaking and producing backgrounds.
-The selection process will be completely transparent, independent, and non-discriminatory.
-Review criteria include Plot/Story, Characters/Subjects, Dialogue, Indian USP, and ability to produce.
-The film script pitch session will involve a summary, a verbal pitch, a presentation deck, and a Q&A session.

Please submit the follow material to be considered:

**Feature Narrative**
(seeking Investors, Producing Partners, and Distributors)
-Screenplay (1st draft is fine) - first 25 pages for Narrative
One combined PDF including:
-Logline
-Short Synopsis
-Long Synopsis or Story
-Director's Bio
-Producer's Bio

-Director’s Statement
-Visual and Treatment Note, or LookBook
-Estimated Budget Top Sheet
-Partners attached (optional)
-Talent attached (optional)
-Financial Plan (optional)
-Project Timelines

The pitches will take place during the Atlanta Indian Film Festival.

Awards

Cash Prize for the best pitch

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Projects will be evaluated on

- relevance to Atlanta Indian film festival

-Originality and innovation of the concept

-Storytelling quality

-Narrative arch/key characters' journey

-Potential for International production

-Artistic/Design value

-Market Potential/Commercial Value

-Production Value

-Track record of studio/production company

-Pitch quality

Once a project has been selected, at least one project representative must present the pitch at the session

Attending the public pitching sessions is mandatory.

All our Officially Selected films will receive the Official Laurel and will be screened at our 3-Day Annual Live Event.

Winners will be announced at the end of the event and will receive a cash awards (each at $500 and upwards) The following prizes will be awarded at the Festival. This list includes awards granted and the awards will be determined by an independent jury. Awards and prizes are subject to change:

1. Best Film- Feature (All officially selected feature films are eligible for this award)
2. Best Film-Short (All officially selected short films are eligible for this award)
3. Best Director-Feature
4. Best Director-Short
5. Best Pitch (Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar)
6. Critic's Choice Award

Entrants must agree to all entry terms and conditions, which also include deadline and entry material requirements. Please read all Entry Terms and Conditions in their entirety as submission fees are non-refundable.

1) ALL entries must be:
a. a short (running time of less than 40 minutes including all credits) OR
b. a feature film (running time of more than 40 minutes including all credits)
c. Screen Plays (See information below for screenplays (Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar)

2) ALL entries must be:
b. made in India OR
c. made in US/Canada by Directors of Indian Diaspora (subcontinent of India) OR
d. made in US/Canada by Producers of Indian Diaspora (subcontinent of India) with Indian origin actor (s) in lead role OR
e. made in US/Canada having lead actors of Indian Diaspora (subcontinent of India)

3) Release dates of movies must be:
a. Short films must be completed in 2024 or later
b. Feature films must be completed in 2022 or later.

4) Submission Deadlines
Following deadlines must be met without exception:
Early Submission Deadline: April 28, 2025
Regular Submission Deadline: May 18, 2025
Late Submission Deadline: June 9, 2025
Extended Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025
Notification Date: July 25, 2024
Late submissions can only be made with the express approval of festival directors.

5) Submission fees are as follows:
a. Short films are $35
b. Feature films between $80
c. Screen Plays:$35

6) ALL entries must be completed and considered a ‘final release’ before submission into the competition.

7) ALL entries are allowed to screen publicly and to be distributed to other film festivals worldwide.

8) No premiere status required.

9) Please follow the details below in order to submit your Film:

a. ALL projects must be submitted via FilmFreeway as a secure digital downloadable link. By submitting your Film on FilmFreeway, you accept that this document has been read and understood.
b. You must provide a link with a download option. It is the sole responsibility of the Film’s applicant to provide ALL information asked during the registration process via https://filmfreeway.com/AtlantaIndianFilmFestival
c. All of the included fields must be completed, your submission will not be considered complete until they are. If there are any setbacks in your application, AIFF will notify you by email.

10) Each submission is carefully considered solely on its own merit by the AIFF's independent jury.

11) Applicants submitting Films that contain non-English spoken dialogue, please provide on-screen English subtitles. Films without subtitles will be rejected.

12) AIFF will not be liable in any manner for the failure of notification. AIFF will not refund submission fees.

13) It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted Film. AIFF or AIFF sponsors will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of any copyrighted materials within or relating to the submitted Film.

14) AIFF does NOT provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted Film to the Applicant or any other representative of the submitted Film.

15) Upon submission, withdrawal of the Film is not permissible.

16) AIFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission if it does not meet the stated requirements.

17) AIFF holds the right to determine the eligibility of any new or previously submitted film. In the event the film is deemed ineligible, AIFF is under no obligation to refund any or all submission fees previously collected from the Applicant.

18) Applicants are responsible for all insurance and submission costs.

19) It is the Applicant’s responsibility to read and understand the Rules and Terms, which are in place to protect both the Festival and the Filmmaker. By submitting your film on FilmFreeway, you are stating that you have read the Rules and Terms.

20) The AIFF is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition for promotional purposes.

21) Electronic press kits (which should include film stills, director(s) photos, brief director bio, producer(s) photos, brief producer bio, synopsis and production credits) are encouraged and must be submitted by the applicable deadline. In the event they are not, AIFF reserves the right to secure substitute materials from other sources for festival marketing.

22) Filmmaker shall indemnify and hold harmless the AIFF from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the submission materials entered. Selected films and their respective filmmakers agree to participate in the publicity for the festival as well as other promotional opportunities. Festival staff may require a high resolution Quicktime trailer (or 30 second clip) and social media info (i.e., Twitter, Facebook, etc). This media will be used to promote the individual films at the festival.

21) All of the above submission eligibility guidelines and general rules are subject to change by the AIFF without notice.

RULES AND TERMS FOR Atlanta Indian Film Bazaar (AIFB)

1. The filmmaker must identify as a person of Indian descent and be based in North America.

2. The film should take place in North America.

3. At least one primary character must identify as a person of Indian descent.

4. The project must be in the script stage, with no production having started.

5. The script must be anywhere from 90-120 pages in length.

6. Only original FEATURE PROJECTS or original adaptations of literary works with clear options can apply. Plagiarized work or lack of relevant paperwork in the case of adaptations or original projects will be immediately disqualified.
-Submission materials must include bios for the key creative team, artistic statement, artist
career development, logline, synopsis, script, budget, and project timeline.

7. Submission Fees will not be refunded.

8. Decision of the Jury is final.

USE OF SUBMITTED MATERIALS

1. All submitted materials will be used for pre-selection and selection purposes and stored in the AIFB archives. The materials will not be returned.

2. In case a project is selected, the submitted information may be published on AIFB’s website.

3. They will also be used to advertise the 2026 edition of AIFB Open Pitch and subsequent editions.

4. The submission of the form and materials indicates that the participant agrees to all terms and conditions of the AIFB and takes complete responsibility for the materials submitted and the information provided for the market and project guides.

The submission of a project implies the unconditional acceptance of the AIFB Rules and Procedures as well as the acceptance of all decisions taken by the selection committee and/or the Director, which are final.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • A great local fest showcasing a lot of local and international Desi talent.

    January 2025
  • By far one of the most hospitable festivals which was truly geared towards the filmmakers and their films instead of a headlining star.
    The team could not have been more hospitable and available 24/7 with impeccable communication.
    Definitely looking forward to returning to this filmmakers’ festival with another film.
    Highly recommend!

    November 2023