Production began this week on “Southern Scares,” an ambitious horror mystery that brings acclaimed actress Dee Wallace to the Columbus area for a locally-helmed feature film shooting in the region.
The largest Jewish film festival in the Southeast and one of the preeminent Jewish film showcases worldwide — announced a bold new chapter at its invitation-only Kenny Blank Vision Initiative (KBVI) Founding Visionaries Event on Tuesday, August 12, at Assembly Studios. Approaching 90% of its $2.5 million growth goal, the organization revealed plans to rebrand as ATL Jewish Film and expand its mission beyond the flagship annual festival into a year-round arts and cultural nonprofit with an expanded slate of programs, events, and initiatives.
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), along with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Senators Raphael Warnock (GA) and Marsha Blackburn (TN), introduced H.R. 4840, Creative Relief and Expensing for Artistic Entertainment, or ‘‘CREATE” Act, a bill to extend and strengthen Section 181, the only federal tax incentive specifically targeted at supporting U.S.-made films, television, and sound recordings by allowing 100% deduction of production costs in the same year those costs are paid or incurred.
Thank God Warner Bros moved Weapons into the late summer, or else we wouldn’t be feeling a pulse. The Zach Cregger pic’s hold for weekend 2 stands at -43% for a second frame of $25M after a $7.4M Friday and Saturday of $9.6M, +29%.
Today, Gowen is an art director and set designer whose fingerprints appear on major film and television productions. His latest contribution, a cutting-edge training space for the Georgia Film Academy, will help prepare future members of the film industry workforce.
Advice can be offered by anyone, regardless of skill, experience, or knowledge of the subject matter. A leader’s reputation depends on the information they provide. It is imperative to offer sound actionable advice that informs, supports, and enhances individual and organizational needs.
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will now be known as ATL Jewish Film, an umbrella term that will cover both the yearly film festival and the organization’s year-round programming. The rebrand, along with a host of other initiatives, was announced at a donor event on Aug. 12 held at Assembly Studios.
Commentary and images from Georgia filmmaker Matthew Perkins on the selection of his film “Fortune” for The Gotham Week Project Market in New York City, the longest-running independent film market in the United States.
The workshop brought together industry professionals and emerging creators to explore the possibilities of virtual production and real-time design.
Join us in Athens, August 14–17, for a weekend of screenings, conversations, premieres, parties, and popcorn. Celebrate independent film, local culture, and creative connection—only at the Athens Film Festival.
Grab your calendar and start planning: the TIFF 50 schedule is here! All Official Selection titles are now live. Tickets for TIFF 50 go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning Friday, August 15, and single tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, August 25.
In the past few years, Tony has worked in numerous Georgia cities, including Macon, Madison, Powder Springs, East Point, and Sandy Springs. His most notable recent project was serving as Location Manager for ”Stranger Things” Season 5, which filmed from October 2022 to March 2025. The production is believed to be the largest-budgeted project to ever film in Georgia.
City of Sound’s DragonCon performance is expected to draw thousands of fans from across gaming, anime, fantasy and music communities — a natural crossover for the band, whose fanbase calls itself “The Madness.” The group is known for its immersive, emotionally driven performances and sweeping orchestral-meets-rock sound.
The collaboration will showcase a curated block of Latine films — narrative or documentary, in Spanish, English, and/or Spanglish — celebrating the depth, diversity, and artistry of Latine storytelling. The goal: to amplify authentic stories, celebrate cultural diversity, and bring new voices to the big screen.
I’m looking on the horizon now, and wow, there are some pretty cool things coming up around the corner here. And as we further embed ourselves in what we’re doing, working with some of the bigger studios and working on some smaller-scale projects too, we have found quite a niche.
At the Savannah, Georgia, campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), a spaceship is gliding silently above a town in the Wild West. The chair of film and television, actor D.W. Moffett, is watching the scene in the university’s virtual production studio at the Savannah Film Studios.
Continuing traditions born in the heart of historic Rome, Ga., the 22nd Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) is set for Nov. 5 – 9, 2025, featuring a curated lineup of film premieres, thought-provoking discussions and celebrity appearances.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will take place September 4–14, 2025. An exhilarating and eclectic mix, this year’s Classics comprise a wide breadth, from lesser-known films from established auteurs, discoveries, films with rising cult status, and revered blockbusters.
Atlanta’s Eagle Rock Studios will host the inaugural Becoming Love Fest on October 18–19—a genre-defying two-day gathering designed for creatives, culture workers, and changemakers exploring the role of narrative in shaping consciousness and community.
It’s beautiful to go into a city like Atlanta and have such a nice footprint. A lot of our craftsmen who worked on the Fortress of Solitude set are painters, stone carvers, and carpenters from the area. We go to all the local retailers to rent our furniture, our office supplies, to buy our food, our lunches — all these industries benefit in countless ways from this huge influx of work.
Given the A- CinemaScore, the multiple on this will be massive ala Sinners (5.8x opening) and Get Out (5.3x). Weapons was always bound to be director Zach Cregger’s biggest opening at the box office. With Weapons, the Artists First and CAA-repped filmmaker is a new, dependable fresh voice for edgy commercial fare on the big screen.
Visionaries from the creator economy came together this week at Shadowbox Studios’ Stage 2 event in Atlanta, activated by Georgia Entertainment and attended by hundreds of creatives and influencers. A key realization they took away is this: now is the time to flourish in a seismically changing, opportunity-rich creative culture where Georgia is soundly a leading global player in all lanes of entertainment and monetization.
Driven by the growing popularity of the Dinner series, and a growing meal prep and catering business, Chef Lowell is currently working to expand his kitchen operations The expansion includes a new food hall, cooking class space, and more—all rooted in South Atlanta, where he remains committed to cultivating a vibrant and accessible dining community. “With proximity to the world’s busiest airport, South Atlanta is perfectly positioned for growth across many industries,” he notes.
Hamilton credits CMII Professor of Practice and internship coordinator Lisa Ferrell for opening the door to Company 3 after she alerted students to a guest talk hosted at CMII. There, he met future mentors and collaborators Raymond Calderon and Hunter Furnish, who would later bring him onto the Superman team.
Biersdorf played a pivotal role in bringing Assembly Studios to life. As part of Universal Production Services’ corporate strategy group, he oversaw everything from early design to operational setup, collaborating closely with Gray Media and multiple teams to launch the Doraville-based facility.
The new Communications Department oversees branding, media relations, digital and social media strategy, video and graphic content creation, public information campaigns, crisis and emergency communication, and the city website. It also supports City departments effectively sharing their programs, services, and events with the public while ensuring all communication initiatives reflect the City’s mission, vision, and values.
A packed house at the historic Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta, Georgia, screened “Love and Taxes” on Aug. 2, 2025, as part of the Cobb International Film Festival (CIFF). And two days later, Feinberg reports, “We were honored with four awards last night: Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Director.”
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.
Living UN DONE goes deeper, also touching on the interconnected issues of incarceration, mental health struggles, and addiction that plague so many individuals and families. The powerful message encourages members of society to reconsider how to co-create and approach rehabilitation and the digital punishment that encumbers formerly incarcerated individuals.
Oliver Diego Silva, Ollie to his friends, was cast as young Clark Kent in “Superman: Legacy” when he was just three-years-old.
A delegation of Georgia leaders—including the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Revenue, GSEC, MPA and representatives from cities like Savannah, Macon, and Columbus—met face-to-face with studio executives, producers, and accountants to address recent updates to Georgia’s tax credit auditing and submission process.
After a year of construction, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre is unveiling its new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families in the new year with a trio of musicals.
The first weekend of August has The Fantastic Four: First Steps at $11.7M million on Friday for a $40M second sesh, and $198.4M running cume. That’s a 66% decline in the vicinity of Captain America: Brave New World (-68%), but harder than Thunderbolts* (-56%) which indicates the front-loaded rush to Marvel’s first family.
From ancient cave paintings depicting wrestling and foot races, to today’s immersive fan experiences, the bond between sports, arts and entertainment has been enduring and transformative. In Georgia, this relationship has evolved into a dynamic ecosystem where creativity, commerce and community intersect.
Private investment platform Zello has acquired lighting and grip rental firm Cinelease, the company announced Friday. Cinelease had previously been run by Herc Rentals (NYSE: HRI). As part of the deal, Cinelease will operate as a standalone, privately-held company and continue to be run by industry veterans Mark Lamberton, Chris Rogers and Gannon Murphy.
“Cinelease is built on trust—and a team that studios, crews, and producers have relied on for decades,” said Louis Dargenzio, CEO of Zello. “This acquisition is about honoring that legacy while leaning into the future. We believe in this team, we believe in this brand, and we believe in the entertainment industry. We’re excited to drive innovation and growth for our studio and production partners.”
Georgia Entertainment has announced plans to host programming during the 50th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The festival, which runs from Sept. 4 – 14, 2025, is one of the most influential film festivals in the world, attracting top-tier directors, producers, financiers and studio executives.
As the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we look back at the milestones that shaped its legacy—and what’s coming next.
Georgia’s long-running TV shows and streaming series have fueled steady industry growth by offering sometimes year-round and predictable work. In addition to serving as the location for some of the highest-grossing domestic blockbusters, being chosen as the home for so many highly rated and popular shows is a hallmark that sets Georgia apart.
Jessica E. Lindberg, Ph.D. is the Dean of Humanities at Georgia Highlands College and the Education Director for the Rome International Film Festival. She lives in Rome with her husband, youngest son and flock of yard chickens.
Georgia Entertainment today announced presenting partners, panel guests and special speakers for “The Creator’s Toolbox at Shadowbox.”
Still, that’s a steep Friday/previews to Saturday decline, which indicates the movie was front-loaded. Nobody was spotting that yesterday, the lowest was a $120M debut.
This past week, I had the opportunity to attend the National Speakers Association annual conference in Scottsdale, Arizona—an energizing gathering of thousands of professional speakers, authors, coaches, and thought leaders.
Rep. Gilliard is also excited to announce his fellow appointees to the commission, who will bring a wealth of experience in Savannah’s musical culture.
B.I.G. Entertainment Network, in partnership with Assembly Studios, announced THE B.I.G. SHOW an Entertainment Expo at Assembly Studios.
The historic Tara Atlanta hosts the daily screenings of the BronzeLens 2025 Official Film Selections and all panels from Wednesday, August 20, through Sunday, August 24. For the full list of 2025 BronzeLens Official Selections, visit Official Film Selections | Welcome to the 16th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival.
Entertainment mogul and longtime Atlantan Tyler Perry appears to finally be moving toward his goal of turning part of former U.S. Army base Fort McPherson into a mixed redevelopment designed to be public-accessible and a boon for surrounding neighborhoods. Plans adjacent to massive studio complex call for nearly 1.3M square feet of development.
Randy Davidson, founder and CEO of Georgia Entertainment, spoke with Ryan J. Dennis of Peach Pop 5! to discuss the launch of Georgia Entertainment’s newest event series, “Take One”.
The series was filmed entirely in Georgia, with a cast, crew, and homeowners who all proudly call Georgia home.
The newly launched Pullman Yards Arts & Film Residency is now accepting applications from visual artists, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary creators seeking to push boundaries and expand their practices in Atlanta.
The programme will deliver 23 World Premiere titles, spanning 30+ countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey, promising this year to be a truly unmissable moment to catch the international voices of the future.
Filmed in one take, the film wowed audiences not just with its technical ambition but with its richly drawn characters, razor-sharp wit, and throwback 1970s charm.
Founded by Renee’ Atkins, who will lead the summit, and supported by RMF Ambassador Emmanuel Lewis—best known for his role on the hit TV show Webster—the event is designed to empower emerging talent, spotlight cultural leaders, and provide unparalleled access to industry expertise.
The Peaberry Film Festival will return to the Historic Canton Theatre for its third consecutive year, running October 3–5, 2025. Formerly known as the Etowah Film Festival, Peaberry blends local, national, and international films to craft a cinematic experience where the only thing more captivating than the films themselves is the conversation they inspire.
The Galas and Special Presentations programmes are recognized for celebrating the very best of contemporary cinema across genres and styles, from all corners of the world. This year, TIFF is pleased to invite films from over 30 countries that showcase bold storytelling, global perspectives, and the power of film to connect audiences across cultures.
Our students experience what it’s like to work in their chosen fields long before they graduate, and that hands-on approach enriches their education and helps improve graduation rates by keeping them engaged and career-focused.
Funds awarded by Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) include appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant recipients include theaters, dance companies, museums, schools, cities, colleges, and multi-discipline arts entities.
Warners has also had six movies open to No. 1 more than any other studio this year with nine weekend at No. 1. They’ve also had five movies in a row bow to $45M+, a first for any studio.
On my trip to St. Petersburg, Florida I met with executives involved with intellectual property and entertainment in this creative town. I left with a deeper appreciation for how creativity and economic resilience go hand in hand.
Feed Your Senses is sponsored by 100 Peachtree and is supported in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Georgia Council for the Arts and through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly (a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts) and the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
From the artists premiering their new works to the audiences connecting over a discovery, our stories on and off screen during each Festival are the ones we remember for a lifetime, the ones that shift culture and introduce fresh perspectives.
More than just addiction, Withdrawal is about honesty. It’s about what happens when you no longer have the strength to lie to yourself, or to anyone else.
TIFF is sharing the first five Special Presentation titles of its Official Selection set to have their World Premieres at the Festival’s 50th edition this September. These are: Alejandro Amenábar’s The Captive, Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, Sung-hyun Byun’s Good News, Nia DaCosta’s Hedda, and Chandler Levack’s Mile End Kicks.
Over 68 days of filming throughout the Greater Atlanta area, the production generated more than $82.7 million in economic activity. The high-flying film invested in 441 Georgia-based businesses and hired 3,861 cast and crew members, who earned more than $43.6 million in wages.
I think you have to be very emotionally aware to work in production, in the production office specifically. You have to be very emotionally intelligent to navigate a lot of these landscapes and understand people’s dynamics.
Last night, elected leaders and the industry convened for a VIP screening hosted by DC Studios and the Motion Picture Association. The Plaza was packed and the energy flowed through the audience as we heard from special guests before the film started. Of note, 60% of the post was done in Georgia by Company3. Over $3 million was spent on lodging and catering. Over $4 million of purchased lumber and building supplies. Nearly 4,000 local cast and crew worked on the feature film.
These programs support everything from creative practice and collaboration to infrastructure, accessibility, and emergency preparedness. Whether you’re an artist or an arts organization, there’s likely a program designed to support your work and your community.
This year, the Southern Interactive Entertainment & Games Expo (SIEGE), the largest videogame industry trade show in the south, also joins Games Week Georgia, with SIEGE education content for game developers being integrated within the Esports Summit event and included in the All-Access Pass.
Oliver is also no tiny stranger to a film set. “He’s very familiar with filming and he’s been on-set a lot,” says Young-Silva. But this new, mysterious role especially piqued the Silva family’s interest, because the casting company involved was big-time—Feldstein|Paris, one of the largest casting directors in the Southeast.
Jenee’ has led transformative legislative efforts in the areas of healthcare, biotechnology, clean energy, and economic development. Her ability to navigate complex policy landscapes and forge impactful coalitions has made her a respected force under the Gold Dome and beyond.
Southeast Indie Fest is making its debut bringing together 16 of the most dynamic indie bands from across the region for a genre-fluid celebration of sound, soul, and indie creativity. Set against the vibrant backdrop of The Garden Club at Wild Heaven in Atlanta, this year’s fest promises a weekend packed with discovery, community, and pure musical energy.
This sweeping biblical drama, directed by King Vidor and produced by Edward Small—a Georgia-raised trailblazer of early independent cinema—is the first in a film series dedicated to honoring his remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry.
By working with local organizations such as Floyd County, Alliance Theatre and Dad’s Garage, Trilith Institute aims to do more than simply teach its students; it also helps connect them with potential employers.
Festivalgoers can expect a curated lineup of narrative features, shorts, documentaries, animation, music videos, and more. Each screening block has been designed to reflect the energy and diversity of independent cinema today.
Warner Bros execs have every reason to be doing the Krypto doggie dance this morning as it’s the studio’s second $100M-plus opening this year after A Minecraft Movie ($162M).
The at-capacity event addressed recent legislative updates and streamlined audit procedures that enhanced Georgia’s film tax credit program, making it more accessible for filmmakers and content creators. Industry experts provided insights on navigating these incentives to help productions maximize benefits while maintaining compliance.
We wanted to show our love for it. It’s an amazing, iconic score, and we both were on board from the get-go. But, the challenge then, obviously, is when you have something that precious, let’s not overuse this. Let’s find the perfect moments, let’s be respectful.
“There hasn’t been anything like it on the south side of Atlanta, and really in Georgia as a whole,” Matt McClain said. McClain is the executive director of Trilith Live, the newest addition to the Town of Trilith.
Ray McKinnon, the film’s writer, director and lead actor will join co-lead Eddie King in attending the screening. An intimate Q&A with McKinnon and King, moderated by their friend and fellow Georgia actor Jayson Warner Smith, will follow.
Trilith Institute is reminding the community that Sketchy Business ATL, a one-night-only comedy showcase and fundraiser, is coming up this Friday, July 18 from 7–9 p.m. at Town Stage at Trilith and it now includes a silent auction packed with exclusive experiences and local favorites.
Discover Dunwoody is proud to recognize Carly Schoepflin as the July recipient of the Distinguished Production Associate Recognition Program, an initiative designed to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of the film and entertainment industry.
Scheduled to take place from September 16–18, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, AFFF is shaping the roadmap for a $20 billion Pan-African film economy, rooted in storytelling, powered by finance, and scaled through industry.
Shadowbox Studios will open its doors to creators, producers, and entertainment leaders on Aug. 6 for “The Creator’s Toolbox” — an exclusive event designed to spotlight the evolving role of production spaces in today’s dynamic creative economy.
Host James Tsismanakis explores the unexpected intersection of creativity and professional soccer with two Atlanta-area entrepreneurs who are making waves in both industries.
For a rising filmmaker with a short to market, few honors are more important than being named a Vimeo Staff Pick. Georgia-based Elisa Logan and Brando Ross served as executive producers on the short.
The project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and attract a mix of touring artists, television productions, live events and conventions. It also expands Fayette County’s capacity to host large-scale creative entertainment programming.
“Being a part of Atlanta’s Out On Film is a huge honor, but on top of that having ‘Exit Interviews’ as the first film announced for this year‘s festival is absolutely humbling,” said Writer/Director/EP Garrett Abdo. “I envisioned the film as a mirror—but not a cold one, rather the kind that shows not only our scars but our softness.
They describe their sound as “garage rock,” and it couldn’t be more fitting. “Ghost of the Mantis” is gritty and rough around the edges, just like the underground rock scene that shaped them.
Georgia is quickly establishing itself as a global hub for creative industries, attracting talent and opportunities across a broad spectrum of artistic fields. To thrive in the arts, it was once considered essential to move to cities like New York or Los Angeles, but creative professionals now find Georgia to be a major player, with a rapidly expanding workforce in film, music, digital media and more.
Since Georgia instituted its film tax credit in 2005 and expanded it in 2008, the state has emerged as the top film and TV production hub in the U.S. outside California and New York.
This trip was not simply a delegation—it was a declaration. Our group is committed to supporting, co-creating, and building with the extraordinary people we met. This journey has only just begun, and we hope it leads to a formal co-production agreement between Georgia and Israel.
The discussion explores the importance of funding local projects, retaining homegrown talent, and leveraging Georgia’s powerful creative incentives.
Trilith Institute, the nonprofit dedicated to developing Georgia’s next generation of storytellers, has opened enrollment for its Fall 2025 Professional Education (Pro Ed) courses beginning August 11.
Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home throws a monkey wrench into the record books with a Tuesday launch, and 6-day of $185M (Wednesday through Sunday of $145.8M). With a big $39.3M Tuesday backed out of Spidey, the Dinos are higher over the Wednesday through Sunday frame.
Drawing from GSU Library’s renowned vinyl archive of more than 50,000 records, students learned how to “sample the archives” to create original music. They were guided through the entire process of sampling, songwriting, and recording.
Mila Harris has appeared in nearly a dozen feature films, alongside screen greats such as Dennis Haysbert and Colin Ford. And there’s more to come for the young performer. Harris’s next release is the sci-fi film World Breaker.
Unlike a traditional film school—such as UCLA’s film program and others—GFA is a statewide training program that helps prepare people for jobs in Georgia’s growing film and entertainment industry. It works with more than 30 colleges and universities across Georgia, including public universities, technical colleges and private schools, providing expert instructors and a shared curriculum.
Unlike most talking head interviews, Stern is not off camera, but sitting on a couch with Matlin. Stern, who is also deaf, speaks with Matlin in American Sign Language. This means that long stretches of the film play in complete silence, giving hearing audiences a peek into the experience of someone with different capabilities.
In the spirit of plot-twisting classics like “Fight Club” and “The Game,” “Life of Mike” is a layered, 90-minute, edge-of-your-seat stunner with nuanced acting and Halliman’s dynamic script and lens.
The Assembly training facility is expected to open on Aug. 18. While GFA has other training facilities around the state, their main hub is Trilith Studios in Fayetteville.