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.
SCAD screened 8 of the 10 official Best Picture nominees, demonstrating the festival’s unique role in bringing the year’s most acclaimed films to Savannah. The screened nominees included: Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, and Sinners.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) today announced honorees and programming for SCAD TVfest, taking place Feb. 4–6, 2026, in Midtown Atlanta’s SCADshow theater. The celebration brings together acclaimed creators, performers, and industry leaders with fans and students from SCAD’s top-ranked acting and film and television degree programs for screenings, premieres, conversations, and honors recognizing excellence across the evolving television landscape.
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled “Georgia’s Film Tax Incentive Bombs at the Box Office.” Others are addressing specific factual claims in that piece. What deserves equal attention, particularly for business and civic leaders, is how the article came together — and what it signals about the evolving relationship between institutions, media and access.
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.
Winners of the Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Awards were announced, with two $10,000 grants — one for fiction and the other for nonfiction — awarded to producers Apoorva Guru Charan (Take Me Home) and Dawne Langford (Who Killed Alex Odeh?).
About 400 theaters have closed, which has sent the opening for Amazon MGM Studios‘ Chris Pratt movie to $11.2M, in addition to impacting other titles. Rivals might cry that for a $60M production, this isn’t the ideal start, but then again, they’re not Amazon which as a $2.55 trillion company has no stakes.
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute celebrated the filmmakers selected for the 2026 Merata Mita Fellowship and the Graton Fellowship. The fellows were announced at the Sundance Film Festival’s Native Forum Celebration presented by Merrell during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Innovation economy expert David Sutherland weighs in on the state of Georgia’s dynamic and growing economy.
Reel Friends, an Atlanta-based production company focused on community-driven film experiences founded by Rocco Shapiro, is teaming up with BFF (formerly Bumble BFF) to present a special screening of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement on Tuesday, January 27 at the Tara Theatre.
Film professor Frank Hall Green and freshman Pilot Bunch join forces on ‘Run Amok’, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival Jan. 26.
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup inches closer, counties across Georgia are gearing up for their own taste of the football frenzy.
Oscar®-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman announced the 98th Oscars® nominations today (Thursday, January 22, 2026), live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills via a global livestream on Oscars.org, Oscar.com and the Academy’s digital platforms, ABC’s Good Morning America and ABC News Live, Disney+, Hulu, broadcast media and an international satellite feed.
The Kansas City, Missouri-native landed a position at Columbus State University as an assistant professor for film and production courses, as well as social media. Since moving to Columbus, Bova has found that there’s a lot of potential in the city for local filmmakers, especially due to the support of the Columbus Film Office.
Dunwoody is tapping into its global sensibilities to gear up for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to draw in a whole new crowd and getting creative with how they do it.
The Columbus Film Office is broadening its scope beyond traditional film production to embrace the full spectrum of creative industries, from gaming and music to podcasts and digital content creation.
Karl J. Rouse, associate dean of the School of Film and Acting at Savannah College of Art and Design, champions SCAD’s Atlanta campus as a hub for phenomenal industry projects and student opportunities.
Commentary from Georgia Entertainment President, Jezlan Moyet: The convergence of these worlds is unfolding everywhere. It’s this intersection that defines Georgia’s creative economy. From the court to the concert stage, creative direction itself has become an art form, one that reflects culture as much as it creates it.
On Jan. 16, 150 days out from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Atlanta Host Committee held its monthly press conference. The virtual press conference provides journalists with updates on the city’s preparations ahead of the global soccer event taking place this summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
James Cameron’s Na’Vi sent Sony’s Infected running away from the top spot at the box office as 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash pulled in $17.2M over the four-day fifth weekend while 28 Days Years Later: The Bone Temple came in below its $20M+ tracking projections with a studio-reported $15M (by the way no other studio sees it there).
Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) today announced the appointment of Pam Kaufman as Executive Vice President, Chief Entertainment Officer. In this newly created role, Kaufman will report to Gap Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard Dickson, starting February 2.
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the fellows selected for the 2026 Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive programs, which foster creativity and bold risk-taking, empower emerging voices, and support the development and launch of their first and second features. Selected from over 3,800 submissions, the 11 Screenwriters Lab fellows will convene in a connected community to work under the guidance of esteemed advisors to develop their original scripts.
The 2026 event will present 45 innovative and pivotal companies, hand-selected by the SXSW Pitch advisory board out of 600 applications, within nine distinct categories to a panel of industry experts, including high-profile media professionals, venture capital investors and angel investors.
Tony has all but disappeared, hiding from recruiters promising grand NIL deals and more in his tiny, rural Alabama hometown. Walt — along with every other college coach in the country — descends upon the town to find him.
Earlier this week, Georgia Entertainment co-hosted “Beyond the Spotlight: Investing in Sports and Entertainment” alongside CAIA. The event was presented by Ares Management Corporation and Variant Investments along with other supporting partners including Resolve Media, Hall Booth Smith, PC and Southern Isle Pictures.
Corey Cott, who joined the hit NBC police procedural early this season, has been promoted to a series regular.
The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced the appointment of David Linde as Chief Executive Officer. Linde will assume the role effective on February 17, 2026.
A marquee highlight of the 2026 festival is an intimate celebrity fireside conversation with actor French Stewart and writer/producer Vanessa Claire Stewart, offering rare access to the creative life behind decades of comedy on screen.
One Rock Capital Partners, LLC (“One Rock”) announced today that one of its affiliates has acquired a majority stake in American Furniture Rentals, Inc. (“AFR” or the “Company”).
In her new role, Reynolds will streamline content and operations across Georgia Entertainment’s channels, overseeing editorial strategy, team management and production of The Creative Economy Journal, an annual feature magazine.
Southern Scares is the second feature film put on by director and screenwriter Paul Rowe’s Last Caress Productions, in partnership with producer Andy Carpenter and Trey Walker’s Mud Films. The project debuted on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Springer Opera House in downtown Columbus, which also happens to be one of the locations featured in the project.
Gov. Brian Kemp underscored Georgia’s growing leadership in sports and entertainment innovation in a letter featured in the 2026 edition of “The Creative Economy Journal,” unveiled by Georgia Entertainment at the Signature 100 gala Dec. 11.
Designed specifically for the unique financial realities of creative professionals, CineFi’s tailored digital experience is built upon more than 50 years of entertainment industry expertise. Launched by First Entertainment Credit Union, the premier financial institution for movie and television professionals both above and below the line, CineFi brings a future-ready banking platform to creatives in Atlanta and beyond.
The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the jurors granting awards for artistic and cinematic excellence at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
The spotlight is officially on Tucker as The Brio Theater, a female, Black-owned performing arts and creative hub, celebrates its highly anticipated grand opening with a series of community events and ribbon cuttings this January.
According to Netflix, the series generated over $650 million for Georgia’s GDP, where the show was primarily filmed despite being set in fictional Hawkins, Indiana. The production engaged more than 2,000 Georgia-based vendors and created thousands of jobs across the state’s film, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Even though James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash isn’t as strong as the first two films stateside with an anticipated running four weekend total tomorrow of $342.6M, about -34% behind Avatar: Way of Water, the movie is powerful enough to be the roux of the January box office.
Atlanta’s Office of Technology & Innovation (OTI) is helping move our city forward. From job creation to major investments, we’re ensuring Atlanta remains a place where innovation thrives—and where residents benefit directly from that growth. Atlanta isn’t “building a tech scene.” Atlanta is building a tech engine.
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF), the flagship program of the year-round organization ATL Jewish Film, today announced the official lineup for its 26th edition, taking place in theaters across metro Atlanta February 18–March 3, 2026.
As the state’s legislative session begins, it’s clear that Georgia’s creative industries — film, music, gaming and the broader creator economy — are once again part of the quiet but consequential conversations taking place around the Gold Dome.
The festival, running from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, 2026, in Park City, Utah, is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, attracting more than 120,000 filmmakers, financiers and entertainment executives.
Georgia is at an inflection point. For decades, the state’s growth story could be told in lanes: logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, healthcare, higher education. Each moved largely on its own track, supported by strong institutions and pragmatic leadership.
Ozulumba’s role in the tournament grew directly out of an internship he secured while still a student at Georgia State—an opportunity facilitated through CMII.
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the lineup for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival’s annual Beyond Film talks and events, a series featuring artist conversations and experts from various fields being held Friday, January 23–Friday, January 30.
By Carol Badaracco Padgett He’s fought Denzel Washington and also Jackie Chan—twice. And he’s called Atlanta home for the past…
Discover Dunwoody recognizes Ashley Saunders as the Quarter 4 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Production Associate Award.
Directed by Georgia-based filmmaker Loyd Bateman, “Crimson Cove” follows a group of friends who inadvertently find themselves at odds with a small surfer community while on a bachelor trip. The rising tensions explode, turning a carefree weekend away into a nightmare.
Savannah Regional Film Commission has announced an update to its local film incentive program, introducing a new Tier 1 Local Film Production Rebate aimed at supporting independent filmmakers and locally driven projects.
Commentary from Georgia Entertainment founder and CEO, Randy Davidson on Georgia’s future: “The creative economy is evolving into a full blown innovation economy touching every industry segment. And with thoughtful leadership and continued collaboration, the next chapter of storytelling, across every medium, can be written right here in the Peach State.”
Georgia Entertainment Founder and CEO Randy Davidson sat down with Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Rachel Cohen Noebes to discuss the future of Georgia’s film industry as part of her larger story on the conclusion of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things”.
Trilith LIVE, the region’s newest state-of-the-art entertainment and special event venue, announces its grand opening season, set to ignite Fayetteville with a vibrant slate of concerts, family shows, corporate meetings and community events. The grand opening season begins Jan. 15, 2026, with its first entertainment event.
Each month we bring you a list of ongoing productions in Georgia. This information is provided by Georgia.org and reproduced by Georgia Entertainment to bring you the latest, verified, productions.
Refresh for analysis It’s a very good start to the year with all movies grossing $134.7M this weekend; in fact that’s the best first weekend of a New Year post-Covid, besting 2023’s $104.2M.
The 19-year-old Georgia native stars as Erica Sinclair, the wise-cracking younger sister of Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), on “Stranger Things.” She also graduated from Fayette County High School earlier this year, refusing to miss out on real life teenage experiences.
The weekend opening for James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash is slightly higher both domestic and worldwide respectively with $89M and $347M. Sunday came in better stateside with an estimated $24.5M than the $23M Disney called it at; yesterday holding at -13% from Saturday.
In November, Dunaway Gardens announced via press release that it would be the new home for the Sundance Institute’s Episodic Lab program, bringing a little piece of Sundance to Georgia.
Some metro cities and rural Georgia towns draw so many holiday productions they gain an aka designation, like “Holiday Headquarters” for film-famous Dunwoody or “Hallmark Town” for historic Dahlonega.
LinkedIn and Comcast NBCUniversal are collaborating to provide four nonprofits with marketing support through NBCUniversal’s Creative Impact Lab and LinkedIn Ad Grants, with Atlanta’s film nonprofit RE:IMAGINE being selected as one.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and YouTube signed a multi-year deal that will give YouTube the exclusive global rights to the Oscars®, beginning in 2029 with the 101st Oscars ceremony and running through 2033.
The Woodruff Arts Center—home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art—welcomed five new members to its Board of Trustees during the Arts Center’s Fall Board Meeting on November 17
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is deeply alarmed by President Trump’s Executive Order to sue and investigate state laws which regulate artificial intelligence (AI).
Georgia Entertainment sat down with Close, a 2o12 finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” to learn more about the Earth Harp experience he has taken around the globe and Atlanta’s own upcoming holiday performance.
Georgia Entertainment held the Signature 100 at Trilith LIVE on Dec. 11. The annual gala drew over 800 guests to the exclusive, invitation-only gathering that convened the most influential entertainment industry leaders, including partners, directors, producers and key stakeholders who shape the policies and business landscape of Georgia’s thriving creative industries.
Screening in eight curated Short Film Programs presented by Ketel One Vodka, the shorts represent a variety of genres and styles within fiction, nonfiction, and animation from around the world.
The 50th weekend of the year is ringing up $80M per ComScore, off -13% from a year ago; See the updated Sunday chart.
Georgia Entertainment honored Lisa Anders, Executive Director of Explore Gwinnett, as Creative Champion of the Year at the 2025 Signature 100, the state’s premier annual gathering celebrating leadership across Georgia’s creative industries.
Georgia Entertainment honored Ryan Johnson and Chris Peay, co-founders of Cxmmunity Media, as Georgia’s Entertainment Entrepreneurs of the Year at the Signature 100, the state’s premier annual event celebrating leadership and innovation across Georgia’s creative industries.
The film tells the true story of the late Steve Abbott, a former Atlanta resident who lost his wife in a car accident in 1973 and moved with his daughter to San Francisco so he could live as an openly gay man.
Dynasty Films, an Atlanta-based production company founded by filmmaker and stunt performer Courtney Chen, has officially completed principal photography on its debut feature film, When Hearts Brew, and is now currently in the post-production stage.
Discover Dunwoody is pleased to recognize Annie Davis as the December recipient of the Distinguished Production Associate Award. This program highlights the behind-the-scenes professionals who help keep productions moving and may not always receive public recognition.
Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced 90 feature films and seven episodic projects participating in the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, revealing a selection of entertaining, trailblazing stories from emerging and established global artists for a total of 105 projects in the 2026 edition, including the previously announced Park City Legacy program.
LaQuanda Plantt has built her career at the intersection of precision logistics and creative storytelling, with her current role as production supervisor for CBS’s “Beyond the Gates” representing the culmination of years navigating Georgia’s dynamic entertainment landscape.
Paramount’s strategically and financially compelling offer to WBD shareholders provides a superior alternative to the Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) transaction, which offers inferior and uncertain value and exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash.
Independent film powerhouses Autumn Bailey Entertainment (ABE) and Ty Walker’s Braveheart Entertainment have announced a major production partnership with one of Atlanta’s most advanced and expansive film campuses, Assembly Studios, managed by Universal Production Services.
After just two weekends, Disney’s Zootopia 2 has already reached $915.8M worldwide, including $695.3M from the international box office. The $1B threshold will be crossed within the next week.
The Columbus Film Office is proud to announce the continuation and expansion of its Local Filmmaker Grant Program (LFMGP) for 2026. The program, designed to nurture local talent and support independent filmmakers in the Chattahoochee Valley, has demonstrated significant success in its inaugural year, fostering creative projects that showcase the region’s storytelling talent and production capabilities.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp honored 10 individuals and organizations across the state during their 14th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities.
Are you sick of hearing that it’s been a rough couple of years in Hollywood? Between the bursting of the streaming bubble, the historic WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the pull of global incentives… things are kind of bad.
Following the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the full tournament match schedule is now available and published on FIFA.com—marking a major milestone on the road to the biggest FIFA World Cup™ in history.
Randy Davidson, CEO and founder of Georgia Entertainment recently appeared on the The Martha Zoller Show on WDUN. The interview was conducted at their glassed studio in the town square in the middle of Gainesville.
Earlier this year, Atlanta Pride and Out on Film presented a special screening of Andy Warhol’s film “Lonesome Cowboys” during a two-day community summit at Agnes Scott College. The summit was funded in part by grants from The Community Corps, South Arts, and Larch Creative Fund, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Georgia Council for the Arts.
Founded by writer and entrepreneur Malcolm A. Sullivan, the competition aims to elevate Savannah from a beautiful filming location into a true screenwriter-centric city — one that develops, celebrates, and highlights the voices behind Georgia’s future films and series.
Today, Netflix, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (WBD) announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Netflix will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
Each month we bring you a list of ongoing productions in Georgia. This information is provided by Georgia.org and reproduced by Georgia Entertainment to bring you the latest, verified, productions.
Today, South Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Shipman as the regional arts organization’s next President and CEO. Shipman will officially assume the position on January 20, 2026.
Georgia Entertainment has announced plans to hold its signature “From Script to Screen” event series at the 42nd annual Sundance Film Festival to spotlight the state’s resources, infrastructure, world-class studio facilities and incentives.
This year’s grantees tell a wide range of stories with themes encompassing art, politics, human rights, sports, music, climate change, and issues deep within the American South. In addition to financial support, filmmakers will receive ongoing assistance through SDF’s Mentorship program.
Led by SGPS/ShowRig President Ned Collett, the move combines SGPS/ShowRig’s capabilities with Niscon’s Raynok software and advanced control systems. Niscon will continue to operate from its Ontario headquarters as a division of SGPS/ShowRig.
Decatur WatchFest ‘26 today announced Decatur’s own Indigo Girls will close out the City’s 34 days of World Cup festivities with a free concert on Decatur Square, Sunday, July 19, 2026, the final day of FIFA World Cup 2026™ (June 11 – July 19, 2026).
Luse’s perspective offers valuable insight into both the practical realities of building a production career in Georgia and the broader shifts that have made the state an indispensable part of the modern entertainment industry.
Kiah Clingman moved to Atlanta in 2016, straight out of college and into the big-time filmmaking boom. She brought along a serious determination that has helped her weather the cyclical nature of the filmmaking industry.
For nearly two decades, Georgia’s film tax credit has been the catalyst that turned this state into a $4 billion entertainment powerhouse. What started as a policy play has become a cultural crescendo – with studios, soundstages and a world-class crew that rivals anywhere in the country.
For Teacup Season 2, our early plans leaned toward other regions, but ultimately Georgia stood out — not only for its natural beauty, but for the depth of resources and talent available throughout the state.
Now a broadcast engineer for Film Quality Services in Flowery Branch, Ga., Fossali’s journey demonstrates how dedication to a personal interest, combined with targeted education, can pave the way for professional success in a burgeoning industry. His story is also a testament to the hands-on training provided by Georgia Film Academy (GFA).
The Center for Puppetry Arts announced over the weekend that it will receive a “remarkable gift” from the family of Jim Henson: a towering 12-foot statue of Kermit the Frog dressed as Charlie Chaplin’s The Little Tramp.
Intellectual Property (IP) plays a significant role in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the US. In fact, the U.S Patent and Trademark Office found that IP-intensive industries accounted for over 38% of total US GDP. As a part of this significant portion of US GDP, IP plays a crucial role in the creative economy.
Disney continued to reclaim its Thanksgiving glory at the box office this year as Zootopia 2 broke myriad records. True, Thanksgiving is only a holiday here in the states, but this movie rang up big around the world.
Veteran Producer TY Walker along with his team at Braveheart Entertainment and Executive Producer, Keisha Perry Walker of Wild Peach Studios, have announced an exclusive partnership with Fanbase.
Spelman College is the latest school in Georgia to get a slate of film and television courses, with two introductory classes set to begin in Spring 2026.
During the summer of 2016 metro Atlanta was a busy hive of TV and film production activity, benefiting from the last gasp of cable dominance.