The Atlanta Global Film Festival is a premier celebration of cinema held in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the world's fastest-growing film hubs.

Screenings/Event takes place at the LOOK Dine-in Cinemas in Brookhaven, Ga.

Dedicated to showcasing the power of storytelling across cultures, our festival highlights local, regional, national, and international voices through a diverse lineup of shorts, features, and screenplays.
More than just screenings, the Atlanta Global Film Festival offers a fully immersive experience for filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts. Attendees can connect at exclusive networking parties, gain insights from expert panels and filmmaker Q&As, and enjoy direct access to top studios and decision-makers shaping the future of film.
Whether you are an emerging storyteller seeking exposure, an established creative looking to collaborate, or an audience member passionate about cinema, the Atlanta Global Film Festival is your gateway to new perspectives, opportunities, and unforgettable stories.
Join us in Atlanta as we celebrate the art of film and the power of community; where local voices meet global audiences.

Sponsors:
AutoDCP, LOOK Dine-in Cinemas, Quixote Production Supplies, and TitleFrame.

Festival Jury decisions are made by a panel of judges. This panel is comprised of award winning film directors, producers, screenwriters, and film industry leaders.

Awards & Prizes

**Categories**

• Narrative: all genres - drama, horror, comedy, sci-fi, experimental, and more.

• Documentary: a non-fiction film that aims to document reality, presenting factual information about real people, events, or issues for educational, historical, or persuasive purposes.

• Made in Georgia: films that were produced in the state of Georgia (at least 60% of the film must have been produced in GA), and the director must be a current resident of the state of GA.

• International: films that were produced outside of the United States (tariffs do not apply)

• Animated: films created using various animation techniques, including hand-drawn, stop-motion, and computer-generated imagery (CGI).

• Screenplay competition: all genres welcome.

• Student: current students or recent graduates (within the last 2 years) are eligible. Student ID or other forms of verification may be required.

• Campy B-movie: films that are "so bad it's good" - short films only (max 20 mins)

**Awards**
🏆 Best Feature
🏆 Best Short
🏆 Best International Feature
🏆 Best International Short
🏆 Best Documentary Feature
🏆 Best Documentary Short
🏆 Best Georgia-made Feature
🏆 Best Georgia-made Short
🏅 Best Animated Short
🏅 Best Animated Feature
🏅 Best Screenplay Feature
🏅 Best Screenplay Short
🏅 Best Actress
🏅 Best Actor
🏅 Best Cinematography
🏅 Best VFX
🏅 Best Sound Design
🏅 Best Horror Short
🏅 Best Sci-Fi Short
🏅 Best Drama Short
🏅 Best Comedy Short
🏅⚠︎Best Campy B-movie Short⚠︎

**Honorable Mention Selections**
Some films from each category will receive an Honorable Mention on social media, website, and be acknowledged at the festival.

**Official Selection:** 🎉
These films will be featured on the festival website, social media, receive official selection laurels, and screen at the event. Each film receives two filmmaker badges for all-access to all festival events.

**Winners:** 🏆
One winner will be chosen from each award category. These films will receive winning laurels, a certificate award, and inclusion in the press release article that's distributed to all major news outlets (AP News, Google News, and more).

Winners of Best Short and Best Feature will receive a certificate and the 'Best Picture' trophy, presented in person at the theater screening or mailed to the recipient.

Rules & Terms

By submitting your project, you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to all of the following rules and terms. All projects that have been submitted by our final deadline and that adhere to the following terms will be considered for inclusion.
If you have any questions, please reach out to contact@atlgff.com.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

​Entries must be submitted via FilmFreeway.

Category awards, screenings, and programming are subject to change.

• We consider films in any language, from anywhere in the world. English subtitles are required for non-English language films.
• Short film max duration: 20 minutes
• Feature film max duration: 150 minutes
• We consider films regardless of their premiere status. Even if your film has already premiered at another festival, whether screened at a physical venue or online, it’s still eligible for consideration. We believe filmmakers should have maximum visibility for their art.
• Films must have been completed within two years of the submission date.

SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
The festival directors and our judges make programming decisions. If accepted, we will notify filmmakers by email. After acceptance, the submitter must approve the download request and/or give the ATLGFF access to your screener; it must be submitted to our office two weeks before the festival. Submitting your film does not guarantee inclusion in the film festival.

To be considered, each submission must be accompanied by a paid submission fee and a working screener. Once we have all the necessary materials, the submission will be marked “In Consideration.” It is the submitter’s responsibility to make sure that all submission requirements are met. If your submission is marked “Incomplete” and you are unsure why, please email contact@atlgff.com.

Any submissions that still have an “Incomplete” status on FilmFreeway by our final submissions deadline will be disqualified without a refund of submission fees. Reasons a submission will be considered incomplete include (but are not limited to):
- Screener is missing
- Screener has been deleted, or the password has been changed
- Screener does not have subtitles (if in a foreign language), audio, image, or any feature that prevents us from properly judging it

ATLGFF reserves the right to disqualify any submission without refund, even after a film has been invited or final programming has been announced, at the sole discretion of ATLGFF staff.

ATLGFF reserves the right to decline any submission for consideration for any reason.

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please email us at contact@atlgff.com.
6 Reviews
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  • Shannon Chamlee

    I am so grateful to the Atlanta Global Film Festival for screening our zany film Telephone Trouble! From the moment I walked in, it felt less like a festival and more like a fun, welcoming party filled with filmmakers from all walks of life. The staff was incredibly kind and genuinely knew my film ahead of time, which was such a refreshing and special touch. They made my work feel seen, valued, and celebrated, and that made the entire experience unforgettable. Thank you for creating such a warm, supportive, and joyful environment for filmmakers and film lovers alike! I hope I have the opportunity to screen with them again.

    December 2025
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  • Dylan Miller

    My film received an Honorable Mention at this festival, and I had a great experience overall. While the festival is still growing, it’s clear the team cares about supporting independent filmmakers and giving visibility to diverse voices. A worthwhile experience for filmmakers seeking a welcoming platform.

    September 2025
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  • DJ Laguna

    Blessed to have been a part of Atlanta Global Film Festival. Our film, A Bird in the Hand, took home two awards: BEST DRAMA FILM & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY! Andrew Burn was a fantastic host and the venue was great. Can't wait to attend again next year!

    September 2025
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  • Taz Lake

    Thanks for the Best Picture nod to our short film The Grief Counselor. If you are in Atlanta, this is a must attend event. Cheers.

    September 2025
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  • Andrew Burn

    Thank you to everyone! What an amazing time, both on the Film Mixer ATLGFF kickoff and the screening day! Looking forward to next year!

    September 2025
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