We lost a good one yesterday. For me and many others Craig Miller was an icon of icons in Georgia’s film and entertainment industry, a true champion for creatives and a huge advocate of tourism and economic development in the state. Universally respected and endlessly compassionate.
This is our 22nd year of doing the festival. Most people, a lot of people in Atlanta don’t even know that we’re happening, but it’s, it’s a great opportunity.
The audience didn’t expand on this 43-year old Disney sci-fi franchise to the young-ins. That said, people chose to see the movie in a premium format with 67% coming from PLF screens, Imax, 3D, ScreenX or DBox.
Called the Arts + Health Laboratory: Georgia’s NeuroArts Coalition, this initiative is designed to harness the transformative power of the arts, grounded in neuroscience, to improve health and well-being.
The complete schedule with festival passes (now available) and individual ticket options will appear at RIFFGA.com and through the Rome International Film Festival app.
James Hall and the Ladies of… join Athens rock band Five Eight for a special night of music at Smith’s Olde Bar on Friday, Dec. 12.
Georgia Entertainment will welcome guests to the 2025 Rome International Film Festival with the RIFF Kickoff, presented by Georgia Highlands College and Southern Isle Pictures. The event will take place Nov. 6 at 4:00 p.m. at the historic DeSoto Theatre.
I’ve spent my career where creativity meets business in television, production, and now advocacy and I’ve learned that the only defense I ever truly mastered was heartfelt hope. Hope, belief, and passion are what drive creators to bring something new into the world. But as technology evolves, protecting that spark has become both more complex and more critical than ever.
This episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration for filmmakers who want to understand what happens after their film is complete. Marco’s perspective bridges the gap between creators and audiences worldwide.
DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry and the City of Avondale Estates transforms the Town Green into an open-air stage for world-class performances, live music, and free community programming.
US Executive Creative Director for Amazon’s Brand Innovation Lab, Joseph Delhommer, notes that as Amazon diversifies beyond e-commerce into entertainment and media content, the company has been discovering Georgia’s advantages for brand production. His team produces video content, podcasts, and digital experiences designed to connect with audiences in new ways.
Her on-set experiences and education through the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) allowed Dillard to find passion in her work, something she severely lacked in her office role ahead of the pandemic.
Creative Industry Connect offers an exclusive evening of conversation and celebration, bringing together decision makers, innovators and community leaders to advance collaboration across the creative industries.
Kiah’s passion for performing began early in Cincinnati, where she eagerly took the stage at every opportunity, from playing instruments as a child to performing in plays at the Cincinnati Black Theatre. That love for storytelling continued at Howard University, where she majored in journalism and minored in theatre.
By dedicating a month to IP awareness, Georgia is sending a clear message: protecting creativity is essential to sustaining and growing the industries that make us a global entertainment powerhouse.
Under the three-year agreement, Hanna Brothers will provide all food and beverage services at Trilith LIVE, including concessions for concerts and family shows, and catering for live productions, conventions, meetings, and social events.
Presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is filled with cinematic creativity from award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers. Each year, more than 75,000 people attend the eight-day festival.
The SCAD Savannah Film Festival celebrates the work of established and emerging filmmakers, from feature-length films to shorts. The juried competition showcases the best of professional, animated, and student films selected from more than 2,100 entries annually.
It’s a feat to make any motion picture studio envious. Not even Disney in all its brand wattage has ever attempted to do a theatrical release on a big IP like this, with only two weeks of thrifty promotion.
Georgia Entertainment’s Carol Badaracco Padgett is in London as part of her annual arts pilgrimage, and one highlight was attending Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.
At least seven game shows have shot here in the past year including “Family Feud,” “25 Words or Less,” “Flip Side” and the Fox prime-time program “The 1% Club.”
This year’s honorees will participate in awards presentations, moderated conversations, and master classes with SCAD students, offering a unique opportunity to connect with some of the most celebrated individuals working in the entertainment industry.
For nearly a century, imaginative tales of terror and the supernatural have kept viewers on the edge of their theater seats, foisting their iconic villains on eager audiences and into pop culture legend. SCADFILM In Focus: Horror welcomes the spooky and scary to SCADshow for a thrilling one-day celebration of fear, suspense, and the art of horror storytelling.
For Quarter 3 of 2025, Discover Dunwoody is proud to honor Kalynn Littleton with the Distinguished Production Associate Quarterly Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and her continued excellence as a Travel Coordinator.
It’s very fast-paced. I want to say that maybe the only person that’s probably as fast is Tyler Perry Studios here in Atlanta, as well. We shoot up to six episodes a week. So that took some getting used to.
“This year’s opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections capture the breadth of cinema’s power to entertain, move, and challenge audiences,” said SCAD Savannah Film Festival executive director Christina Routhier. “Together, these films reflect the extraordinary artistry shaping the contemporary landscape.
The evening will feature Monica Kaufman Pearson as the keynote speaker. Pearson is a trailblazing journalist and the first woman and first minority to anchor the daily evening news in Atlanta, Georgia. With a distinguished career spanning 37 years at WSB-TV and 33 Emmy Awards to her name, Pearson’s legacy continues through her current show, Monica Pearson One on One on Peachtree TV.
As Chief Marketing Officer for Discover Dunwoody, Galvin sees a direct connection between the new facility and his town’s economy. Located just 12 minutes from Assembly Atlanta, Dunwoody is perfectly positioned to benefit from film crews who need places to eat and stay.
Titles involving the Superman character also saw spikes in viewership immediately before and after the movie began streaming. During the week of Sept. 15-21, “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” saw a 670% increase in streaming compared to the week before. “Superman: The Movie” jumped by 155%, “Superman Returns” jumped by 120% and “Man of Steel” jumped 40% during the same window.
Combined with state incentives, local infrastructure and a festival that puts them side by side with Disney legends and blockbuster franchises, Georgia is quickly becoming a breeding ground for the next generation of animation.
The Atlanta Opera plans to release 18 new filmed operas on its streaming platform. The 18 opera films include “Madama Butterfly,” “Don Giovanni,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Bluebeard’s Castle,” La bohème,” and the first three operas of Richard Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” – “Das Rheingold,” “Die Walküre,” and “Siegfried.”
Georgia Entertainment will host an invite-only VIP Social Mixer on October 23 immediately following the State of the Industry Summit at Trilith Studios, one of Georgia’s most significant annual gatherings for leaders in film, media and entertainment.
This year’s series will feature a record-breaking number of women directors and the first-ever animated short to participate in the roundtable discussion. The panel discussion will take place on Monday, Oct. 27.
Last week in Savannah, I had the opportunity to engage in three important gatherings that together show how entertainment, tourism and policy are shaping Georgia’s future. Being there recharged me, with friends and colleagues rallying around jobs, economic development and the vital role of the creative industries.
Jason Drakeford is a professor of practice at Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute where he has spent the last six years utilizing his knowledge of the film industry to teach advanced courses that help strengthen connections between arts and media students and the region’s creative industries.
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. Learn more at Georgia.org.
“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games - and now enjoys them with his kids – I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” said Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners.
At the time, I was a little bummed to go to Atlanta because I was hoping for a grey, cold movie, and Atlanta is the hot South. I was like, ‘Well, I want this to look like Prisoners,’ then I found out they shot Prisoners in Atlanta. We had to do some scouting, and I ended up finding these locations that perfectly suited the story. I hit the jackpot with my crew. The crews in Atlanta were the most lovely, skilled, joyful people.
“The true story I’d love to play is (Rudolf) Nureyev when he stopped dancing, because he was such a misunderstood and lonely character throughout his life. Being a Russian who was homosexual, he was on the outs with all of society. It was a real issue for him, but he was one of the greatest artists of his kind to ever grace the stage,” he said.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday he will be imposing a 100% tariff “on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.”
The film has more going for it, evident in its A CinemaScore and 74% definite recommend. Oh, and males 18-25 who showed up at 32% gave One Battle After Another a big A+. PostTrak is 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Beat that, anyone.
The Savannah Film Alliance hosted a well-attended gathering this week at Savannah Technical College, bringing together creatives, producers, festival organizers and industry leaders from Atlanta and all along the Georgia coast.
Governor Brian P. Kemp today joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the state broke tourism records for the third consecutive year and ranked No. 5 in the nation for overnight visitation for the fifth year in a row.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, hosts the event which raises more than $1 million each year for 12 metro-Atlanta-based HIV/AIDS service organizations. The day will start with a 5K walk/run and culminate with a music festival featuring a performance by CeeLo. Past AIDS Walk Atlanta artists have included Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Monica, Sevyn Streeter, Ashanti, Wale, and Trina.
Hosted at The Loft, the evening featured panel discussions, a fireside chat and an after-party, drawing creatives and community leaders from across the region.
Georgia ranked in the top five in 10 categories and claimed the overall No. 1 ranking. The Top States for Doing Business Survey is the 16th in the annual series. Building on this recognition, Georgia continues investing in future opportunities through the Rural Site Development Initiative, which helps local communities prepare development-ready industrial sites.
The evening will feature a neighborhood-style celebration with games, food, and drinks, along with an exclusive “BiRDY” exhibit showcasing props, wardrobe, and original artwork from the film created by the film’s Production Designer, Bronson Castro of Magnolia Arthouse. Guests can purchase raffle tickets beginning at 5 p.m., with the raffle kicking off at 8 p.m., a live auction at 9 p.m., and last call for food and drink sales at 9:45 p.m.
The gaming executive’s comments come as Georgia continues building on its reputation as an entertainment powerhouse, with industry leaders now working to extend that success from film and television into gaming and digital media.
A follow-up to Holy Ghost (2025), Holy Father continues exploring tense, emotionally resonant storytelling within a haunting, cinematic framework. Though plot details remain under wraps, fans can anticipate a gripping narrative in line with Shravan Tiwari’s signature style and Sandip Patel’s production vision.
Fulton Films will host its 5th Annual Red Carpet Series on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 7–10 p.m. at the Aviation Museum. The annual gathering brings together local and regional film partners, industry professionals, elected officials and creative talent who collaborate with Fulton Films throughout the year.
Last chance to submit your project for the Pitch-A-Thon! Roadshow as part of the annual State of the Industry Summit. The live competition will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, GA.
The following is a statement from Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), congratulating Christopher Nolan on his election as president of the Directors Guild of America.
The Peaberry Film Festival has officially released the full schedule for its 2025 edition, running Oct. 2–5 at the Historic Canton Theatre.
“Heartland” revolves around Misty Jones (Chastain), a former country star who comes out of seclusion to investigate the disappearance of her niece ( played by Carter Faith), herself a rising country musician. Jones must grapple with her own past and Nashville’s seedy underbelly, as her search uncovers a murky side of Nashville where no one is who they seem.
All titles look to be around $77.8M, which is down 48% from last weekend, yet only -4% off from a year ago when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was still the thing in its third weekend with $25.9M and Paramount had the animated Transformers One which bowed to $24.6M.
The Fincher brothers grew up watching comedy and loving it. They wanted to create a movie with the sole purpose of making their audience laugh – no hidden meanings, no moral-of-the-story ending – just a fun flick to laugh at and make you feel good for a couple of hours.
Film productions like these continue in Georgia as the industry around the globe shifts back onto its feet, and these are among the reasons why: Georgia’s best-in-class tax incentives; versatile locations; sophisticated state-of-the-art studios; top crews and workforce; state-wide Camera Ready Communities initiatives; world-class post-production resources.
“Hannah’s work is extraordinary. On behalf of Variety, I am thrilled to partner with the team at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival to recognize her work,” said Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay. “The Creative Impact Award celebrates someone who has made an impact in their field, and Hannah’s work has done just that. From building Wakanda to the Mississippi Delta in Sinners, hearing her talk about her process and research is going to be such a gift for the students at SCAD.
Georgia stands out as having one of the world’s most complete esports infrastructures, spanning professional teams, game publishers, educational programs, and supportive policy. The state was pioneering in offering high school varsity letters for esports competitors and became the first to provide tax credits for esports broadcasting, helping attract major tournaments and events to Georgia.
Viktor&Rolf are also renowned for juxtaposing seemingly unrelated elements. Their haute couture collection “Fashion Statements” (Spring/Summer 2019) featured short slogans typically used in social media that were elaborately shaped on dresses built from layers of laser-cut tulle. Works from that collection are featured prominently in the exhibition, along with other garments that showcase the visual elements for which they are celebrated.
Joining them on stage are three of Atlanta’s most acclaimed theatrical voices, Brad Raymond, Deb Bowman, and Leigh Ellen Jones, beloved for their powerhouse performances on the Alliance Theatre stage and beyond. Together, these choirs and vocalists infuse the program with local artistry and star power, bringing beloved movie moments to life in a way that only Atlanta can.
In addition to the directory itself, you will find a consolidated Calendar of Events for all who are interested in attending unique art experiences and discovering new artists. And you can join in celebrating the achievements of Latino artists by perusing the Highlights section of the directory.
The African Film Festival Atlanta (AFFATL), powered by the African Film & Arts Foundation Inc. (AFAF), is pleased to announce that the regular call for film submissions is now open for its fifth edition, scheduled to take place March 26 – March 30, 2026.
Per Assembly Atlanta (LinkedIn): We’re proud to have hosted the production of Hulu’s upcoming limited series, “Murdaugh: Death in the Family”, at Assembly Studios.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our founder and friend Robert Redford. Bob’s vision of a space and a platform for independent voices launched a movement that, over four decades later, has inspired generations of artists and redefined cinema in the U.S. and around the world.”
Now based in Marietta, LaBrec serves as head of operations for North America at Clear Angle Studios, a global 3D capture company specializing in the behind-the-scenes work that brings digital worlds to life.
The extension, American High South, will provide a bold new pipeline for youth content that blends authentic style with next-gen filmmaking technology.
The Woodruff Arts Center—home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art—will host its third-annual HBCU AccessFest: College and Arts Fair on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. on their campus at 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.
As TIFF’s 50th edition comes to a close, the Festival is proud to have welcomed over 700,000 guests, nearly 2,000 accredited media, 6,000 Industry delegates, 1,200 screenings, and a stellar lineup of talent who graced 110 red carpets.
“The Ambulance Chaser,” a crime thriller in development set in Atlanta and adapted from Brian Cuban’s award-winning novel, is gaining traction as the production team ramps up preparations.
Marvel has been one of the cinematic jewels of Georgia’s film industry for over a decade. According to recent reports, Marvel is moving future productions to the United Kingdom for a variety of reasons, including incentives, more filming space and health care costs.
Offering filmmakers an impressive array of natural landscapes and convenient access to Atlanta’s production resources, Forsyth County bridges the hustle of Atlanta and the tranquility of rural north Georgia, positioning itself as a prime location for the state’s burgeoning film industry.
I started off doing independent projects and not really fully understanding the community in South Florida – that’s where I’m originally from, born and raised in Miami. I moved here almost 17 years ago. So 17 years ago, I was already kind of doing it as much as I could, still with a day job, and realized that I really missed my community of people I would bump into in Miami.
All of this bodes well for moviegoing. No one was expecting September to overperform the way it is now with record openings for a Conjuring movie last weekend with Last Rites ($84M) and now the crazy start to Infinity Castle.
The program for the all-day event on September 24, 2025, will define a strategic path through a new landscape, getting beyond conventional models to reveal how data-driven analysis is turning high-stakes creative projects into valuable portfolio additions.
The film follows a woman preparing for a night out who seeks outfit advice from her boyfriend. However, when he tries to give her the “right” answer, she recognizes that the only way to get the truth is to play rough, even at the risk of ruining their relationship…and lives. “On the Nose” offers audiences an all-too-familiar insight into how partners avoid conflict in long-term relationships and how confronting romantic issues can be both incredibly scary and rewarding.
Since 2022, young Atlanta-based Level 77 Music has pulled in scores of Mark Awards nominations and wins from the prestigious Production Music Association (PMA) in Los Angeles, and that recognition continues in 2025.
Discover Dunwoody is proud to honor Kyle Carey as the September recipient of the Distinguished Production Associate Recognition Program, an initiative created to recognize the hardworking professionals behind the scenes of film and television.
Currently in production in the Georgia capital, the film centers on a sentient AI chauffeur bot that escapes the lab and begins killing reckless drivers under the guise of public safety. Its grief-stricken creator must stop the carnage before the machine evolves into the embodiment of AI gone bad.
SCAD is a global leader in creative AI education, hosting annual summits that bring together top voices and powerhouses in business, entertainment, design, and tech, including Google, Meta, Adobe, Deloitte, Maison Meta, ServiceNow, Gensler, NVIDIA, and Netflix. These events offer SCAD students a front-row seat to explore emergent trends and the future of intelligent systems — connecting them directly with major employers in the AI space who are pioneering what’s next.
Georgia was on full display during the Toronto International Film Festival, spotlighting the state’s cinematic achievements, locations and industry infrastructure. Georgia Entertainment’s From Script to Screen programming during TIFF 50 included an expert panel and a cocktail soirée.
When we started in 2012, we were dealing predominantly with movie studios and video game companies, which are still loyal clients. But now, we often work with technology companies like Amazon that also have film studios. So the structure [of the media we are serving] is always changing so fast.
Last Rites had all the blessings from its fans this weekend, who made the film the third highest opening ever for a horror movie at the domestic B.O. with $83M and the second biggest worldwide at $187M. The Conjuring: Last Rites‘ opening is technically also the biggest opening in Blumhouse/Atomic Monster history surpassing Five Nights at Freddy’s $80M. The two companies merged in January 2024.
Known for his visually stunning blockbuster films and kinetic work across various genres, Chu carries a unique storytelling ability that has earned him the honor of inclusion on The Hollywood Reporter’s Power 100 list as well as Variety’s New Hollywood Leaders. Most recently, Chu directed Universal Pictures’ critically acclaimed Wicked, starring Academy Award-nominated actors Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, which garnered 10 Oscar nominations, among them Best Picture.
Thanks to generous support from the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation, the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art will host their fifth-annual Grandparents Day celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 14, 2025, on the Woodruff Arts Center’s campus.
The Savannah Music Commission, which was created with the passage of HB 762 by Rep. Carl Gilliard (Savannah), came together for its first meeting at the Savannah Convention Center on Friday, August 29.
Georgia was one of the first to reopen. And so we saw some of the traffic that was slated to go to other states end up in Georgia. We also saw a pent-up demand, y’know, of all of the streaming services trying to keep up with the demand of the viewership. And we also saw they were all kind of beefing up their slates.
Dakin began her film industry career in 2018, and this year she worked as travel coordinator on eight episodes of series “The Bondsman” with Kevin Bacon [Amazon Prime Video, 2025]. We caught up with her to learn exactly what her role entails and why she’s drawn to such a demanding, everchanging industry.
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. Learn more at Georgia.org.
Set against the luxurious backdrop of Twelve Hotel-Atlantic Station, this signature event celebrates the intersection of fashion, culture, and community through an unforgettable evening of design, artistry, and recognition.
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is proud to announce the return of SCAD AnimationFest to Atlanta Sept. 25-27, 2025. The highly anticipated three-day festival will be held at the university’s state-of-the-art SCADshow theater and will honor Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the co-creators of Disney’s award-winning, global hit series Phineas and Ferb, and Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, directors of the Netflix global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters.
From Georgia to across the globe, the 5th Annual Atlanta Women’s Film Festival has announced the films that will headline and its industry experts panel for its 2025 celebration of women in cinema this fall.
AHA equips artists with industry-ready training, emotional depth, and direct access to top-tier professionals — from producers and casting agents to entertainment lawyers and directors. Their presence at AIFW brings a new dimension to the runway: where fashion becomes character, and performance becomes couture.
As a fiscal sponsor, Trilith Institute offers a way for filmmakers to maximize the funds they raise under our nonprofit umbrella, while maintaining full creative and editorial control of their projects. We’re using the industry-standard “Pre-Approved Grant Relationship” model, which is ideal for film and media projects.
Trilith LIVE announced today two major partnerships that will define the future of live events at Trilith LIVE. Ticketmaster, the global leader in ticketing, will deliver advanced digital ticketing solutions, enhance the fan experience, and expand venue marketing opportunities.
The event will bring together the film’s cast, producers, and filmmakers with the local community for an evening celebrating restaurant culture, humor, and philanthropy.
I think the most important thing is to understand that our business is really driven by great content and people’s desire to watch great content. Even though we’ve gone through tough times with strikes [and other industry changes], in the end, people never abandon wanting to see great content on TV. As long as that exists, the industry will be here.
As of right now, 2025 remains ahead of the 2024 box office by +4%, with a running cume for Jan. 1-Aug. 30 of $5.99 billion, however, watch September put us behind sans a Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
Because us Atlantans are so used to Dragon Con and its presence, it can be easy to forget how much work goes into putting on a convention of this size. So, ahead of this year’s event, which runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, Rough Draft Atlanta spoke with Renee Cooper, director of the Animation Track at Dragon Con, about how the sausage gets made.
The entertainment industry just received a major boost. Embedded in the newly enacted federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1, Public Law 119‑21) is a transformative update to Section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code — expanding its reach and unlocking significant new opportunities for film, television, and now, recording artists and labels.