Join us for the 17th Annual Atlanta Docufest held May 27 - 29, 2022.

2022 marks our 17th annual celebration of documentary films and filmmakers, and we will continue to bring you the best in independent documentary films from across the globe. Atlanta DocuFest showcases meaningful life stories which educate and entertain audiences of every demographic.

We encourage talented documentary filmmakers from every country to share your story with our audience. Join us for this very special event, where life-changing documentary films and their creators are celebrated.

Join us and experience a collection of some of the best documentary films of the year!

ATLANTA FILM SERIES:

Atlanta Docufest is held during the annual Atlanta Film Series, a showcase of independent film packed with four unique film festivals designed to spotlight every genre of cinema imaginable.

Events include:
Atlanta Docufest
Atlanta Shortsfest
Atlanta Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Horror Film Festival

Awards & Prizes

Atlanta Docufest presents awards in various categories. Past awards include:

Best Documentary Feature
Best Comedy Documentary Feature
Best Dramatic Documentary Feature
Best Social - Issue Documentary Feature
Best Art Documentary Feature
Best Foreign Documentary Feature
Best Political Documentary Feature
Best Environmental Documentary Feature
Best Local Documentary Feature
Audience Choice Documentary Feature
Judges Choice Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Featurette
Best Documentary Short
Best Experimental Documentary Short
Best Sports Documentary Short
Best Foreign Documentary Short
Best Dramatic Documentary Short
Best Art Documentary Short
Audience Choice Documentary Short
Best Director

Rules & Terms

FORMATS OF SUBMISSIONS COPIES
​We only accept online screeners.

SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
Programming decisions are made by the festival directors and our selection committee. If accepted, we will notify filmmakers by email. After acceptance, the exhibition format will need to be in our office two weeks before the festival. We do not pay rental fees for submitted work that is programmed.

CONFIRMATION OF ENTRY
Feel free to email us if you would like confirmation of entry, or check your FilmFreeway account page.

23 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Luis Jaime Rodríguez Reynoso

    This festival was great. The staff were very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. Communication throughout was fantastic! My team and I had a great experience.

    October 2021
    Helpful
  • Christine Jezior

    I am very honored and thankful that our film was awarded at your festival! It was a rewarding experience to be able to share it with your audience and I am grateful to hear that it was appreciated and enriching for your festival and community as well. Hopefully I will be able to screen at your festival again in the future and this time join you in person as well!

    August 2021
    Helpful
  • Filmes do Gajo

    Our film Circus Movements (2019) was awarded with Best Cinematography at your festival. Thank you very much for presenting it. We had a great time watching films online and follow your multifaceted curation.

    February 2021
    Helpful
  • Hasan Oswald

    We were lucky enough to win Best Director for our feature doc Higher Love. Overall, the festival was well run with great communication. Although it was online this year we look forward to potentially linking up for an in-person version in the future.

    November 2020
    Helpful
  • Susan Morgan Cooper

    Having just returned from screening my film Fatal Distraction at the Atlanta DocuFest, I had to write a review. What a terrific film festival!! The Synchronicity Theatre is an amazing state of the art venue. The staff were very professional, making sure that the sound and projection of my film was perfect. They handled my Q&A exactly the way I had requested, and the moderator's questions were intelligent and incisive. Every step of the process from submission to screening, the staff were pleasant and extremely helpful. My film had a lot of press coverage and the festival was flexible and accommodating around that. Eric Panter was amazing!! This team of people truly cares about promoting the filmmakers and their films!!

    November 2020
    Helpful