The media merger leading into 2026 is a development that excites and inspires international entertainment executive Michael Fisk, and it’s one he’s actively developing as he stirs up a communal concoction of sports, cinema and live entertainment with all of it instantaneously available right in front of you on the big screen.
Georgia Entertainment has announced plans to hold its signature “From Script to Screen” event series during the SXSW conference and festivals to spotlight the state’s resources, infrastructure, world-class studio facilities and incentives.
Across sports, film, music, gaming, immersive entertainment and tourism, we are observing the same repeating pattern. Organizations that were built for one purpose are expanding into new, multipurpose arenas. Facilities designed for production are being reimagined as creator spaces. Stories once confined to a stage or a screen are becoming audience experiences.
As the driving force behind Trilith’s development, Cathy shares his vision for 2026 as the year when all the pieces come together, from new hotels and restaurants to the grand opening of Trilith LIVE, positioning the community as a major player in Georgia’s booming entertainment economy.
Writer, director, and producer Aaron Strand sat down with Georgia Entertainment to discuss his micro-budget feature “Withdrawal,” a raw examination of addiction and codependency that follows a singer-songwriter and her rebellious boyfriend as they attempt to quit heroin cold turkey to avoid rehab. Shot entirely in Athens with a Georgia-based cast and crew, the film premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Atlanta Film Festival.
Commentary from Georgia Entertainment Editor in Chief, Jennifer Reynolds. “The media is no longer fueled by reporting the truth. Now, misrepresentation, political agendas and clickbait are the heartbeat of this industry.”
For nearly two hours, I talked. I bragged about Georgia’s state-of-the-art facilities. I touted its investment in training a skilled labor force—some of the best crews in the world. I celebrated the collaboration across the Department of Education and the University System of Georgia to develop curriculum pipelines from middle school through graduate programs that nurture the next generation of storytellers.
The panel focused on how the United States can continue to champion film production, strengthen local economies and protect U.S. jobs amid increasing global competition. The discussion highlighted the importance of federal, state and local film incentives, as well as the role that collaboration plays in keeping production thriving across the country.
Georgia Entertainment’s From Script to Screen delivered its strongest programming yet during what proved to be a bittersweet occasion: the final Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
When a “writer and editor” from the Wall Street Journal reaches out and says he’s “working on a story,” most people reasonably assume they’re participating in reporting. That was the expectation across Georgia’s film and entertainment community. And it’s why access, time and candid conversations were offered almost comprehensively and in good faith.