The 13th Annual Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival (Atlanta Docufest) is held September 13 - 15, 2018 at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.

2018 marks our 13th 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 five-part showcase of independent film packed with five unique film festivals designed to spotlight every genre of cinema imaginable.

The scorching summer months bring Atlanta's Summer Film Series. Celebrate a collection of music related films at the Music in Cinema (MIC) Film Festival in June. In July, the best shorts in the world are presented at the Atlanta Shortsfest, and the top independent features and shorts are showcased at the Atlanta Underground Film Festival.

Atlanta's Fall Film Series, held September and October, is a showcase of unforgettable documentary films during the Atlanta Docufest, and a terrifying celebration of the best horror films from across the globe at Atlanta Horror Film Festival.

All events are held at The Synchronicity Theatre, a 140-seat theater right in the heart of the Midtown/Uptown neighborhood, on Peachtree St. in the Peachtree Pointe building.

With a great restaurant and bar next door to the theatre, filmmakers and fans can gather after their screenings to connect and collaborate.

Join us in 2018 for all of these events at the Atlanta Film Series, and see why Atlanta has become the top destination for filmmakers and their fans!

Awards & Prizes

Atlanta Docufest will present awards in various categories, including:

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 strongly recommend submission copies submitted through a online screener via a source such as Vimeo. Please be sure to include a password if required.
Hard copies will be considered, but please email us first to let us know you are mailing.

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. Be sure to indicate aspect ratio of your film/video as well as any other special screening/presentation information we might need to know. We do not pay rental fees for submitted work that is programmed.

SHIPPING EXHIBITION COPIES
Cost of shipping exhibition copies to the festival is the responsibility of the entrant. Exhibition copies must be sent to the festival prepaid. The festival can not accept responsibility for damage or loss of materials while in transit. Please use as little packaging material as possible to cut down on trash.

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

10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tracy Bishop

    Atlanta Docufest was the very first festival to award Mercy's Kennel with anything, in this case, a Semi-Finalist in the competition. Since we had been using film festivals to gauge our submission and work it into a viable documentary, HoodPuppy is so grateful to Eric, BJ and everyone at Atlanta Film Series for giving us that vote of confidence we needed when we needed it. Thank You!!!

    May 2018
    Helpful
  • Caroline Cory

    The communication and overall experience were excellent. I am very proud to be part of this festival and will definitely submit again. Thank you so much!!

    October 2017
    Helpful
  • Gleb Torubarov

    Was honored to be listed with other amazing documentaries!
    Great festival and nice communication with the team.

    September 2017
    Helpful
  • Yaron Betan

    Great Film Festival, awesome communication too!

    September 2017
    Helpful
  • Olga and Andrii Andreiev

    I was very glad to participate in this wonderful festival. Thank you. We hope to show our new films to the audience in the future.

    September 2017
    Helpful