WHAT: The 48th annual Atlanta Film Festival and Creative Conference will take place Thursday, April 25 - Sunday, May 5, 2024 at the Plaza Theatre and Tara Theatre in Atlanta and virtually. 

Media are invited to attend the red carpet Marquee screening of “POWER” on Sunday, May 5, 2024. 

About “POWER””: In the United States, police have been granted extraordinary power over our individual lives. The police determine who is suspicious and who ‘fits the description.’ They define the threats and decide how to respond. They demand obedience and carry the constant threat of violence. Thousands of these interactions play out in our cities and towns every day, according to real and perceived ideas of criminality and threats to social order—as decided by the police. Police make the abstract power of the state real.

“POWER” traces the accumulation of money, the consolidation of political power, and the nearly unrestricted bipartisan support that has created the institution of policing as we know it. The film offers a visceral and immersive journey to demonstrate how we’ve arrived at this moment in history, from the slave patrols of the 1700’s and the first publicly funded police departments of the 1800’s to the uprisings of the 1960’s and 2020’s. "POWER" premieres May 17 on Netflix.

Directed by: Yance Ford

Executive Producers: Jon Bardin, Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Anya Rous

Producers: Yance Ford, Jess Devaney, Sweta Vohra and Netsanet Negussie 

Starring: Wesley Lowery, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Paul Butler, Julian Go

WHO: 

Director Yance Ford is expected to participate in red carpet interviews prior to the screening. 

About Yance Ford: Ford is an Oscar-nominated director and producer based in New York City. His feature documentary film STRONG ISLAND premiered at Sundance in 2017 to critical acclaim winning a Special Jury Award for storytelling. The film was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Academy Awards, where Ford made history as the first openly transgender director nominated for an Oscar. STRONG ISLAND received the Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Film, the Gotham Award for Best Documentary, and the Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Doc; was nominated for a George Foster Peabody Award; and won for Best Direction, Best Debut, and Best Feature at the Cinema Eye Honors. 

WHEN:

Sunday, May 5, 2024

• Carpet Opens: 6:00PM 

• “POWER” Screening Begins: 6:30PM

• Q&A with Yance Ford: Immediately following the screening 

WHERE:  The Tara Theatre | Jack Auditorium | 2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

MEDIA RSVP: 

Please contact ATLFF@ssmandl.com with your interest in covering on-site or in advance.

For information on Opening and Closing Night red carpet screenings, please click here.  

* * *

The Atlanta Film Festival is the annual centerpiece of educational and enriching film programming th

Celebrating its 30th -anniversary, the Palm Springs International ShortFest, one of the largest showcases of short-form cinema in North America, will return this year from June 18-24, 2024. Sponsored by the City of Palm Springs, this year’s ShortFest will be presented at the Regal Palm Springs. In addition to screenings, the ShortFest Forum will occur with classes and panels featuring industry representatives, filmmakers, and additional guests. The ShortFest Awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, will be announced on Sunday, June 23. The Best of the Fest shorts will screen on the final day, Monday, June 24, as well as virtually from July 10-14.

Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA and Goya Awards as an award-qualifying festival, the Palm Springs International ShortFest and Short Film Market is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world. Previous short films screened at the Festival have included Oscar-nominated documentary short Nai Nai & Wài Pó, acclaimed live-action short The Old Young Crow, Oscar-winning documentary short The Queen of Basketball, Death & Ramen with comedian Bobby Lee and actor Matt Jones, Last Call with actor Tom Holland, The Long Goodbye with actor Riz Ahmed, Three Trees voiced by actress Whoopi Goldberg, and many more. 

The Palm Springs International Film Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to cultivate and promote the art and science of film through education and cross-cultural awareness. The Film Society produces the Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) and Film Awards in January and Palm Springs International ShortFest in June. In addition to curating the best in international cinema, PSIFF’s Film Awards has come to be known as the first stop on the campaign trail for the Academy Awards® and its Oscar®-qualifying ShortFest is the largest short film festival and market in North America. Its Festivals, year-round member screenings and educational programs manifest the organization’s mission by nurturing and encouraging new filmmaking talent, honoring the great masters of world cinema, and expanding audience horizons.  

For additional information and tickets, call the festival headquarters at (760) 778-8979 or visit the website at https://www.psfilmfest.org/shortfest-2024.

Palm Springs International Festival Taking Place January 2-13, 2025;

 Film Awards Scheduled for Friday, January 3, 2025 with Silvercrest to Serve as a New Co-Presenting Sponsor

Palm Springs, Calif. (April 4, 2024) – The Palm Springs International Film Society announced that the 2025 Film Awards will take place on Friday, January 3rd at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the 36th annual festival scheduled for January 2-13, 2025. The Film Society has also forged a multi-year relationship with local corporate leader, Silvercrest who will serve as a new co-presenting sponsor, along with IHG Hotels & Resorts, of the prestigious Palm Springs International Film Awards.  

Based in Palm Springs, Silvercrest is a data- and technology-driven national advertising agency that is distinguished by their proprietary Local Marketing Automation Platform (LMap), a fully integrated suite of powerful end-to-end marketing applications that redefines efficiency and excellence in business marketing. Silvercrest, which works with companies of all sizes, in all industries, across the country, has committed to be a multi-year presenting sponsor of the Film Awards. 

“Recognizing their reputation as one of the preeminent advertising and marketing firms in the Coachella Valley, we are very excited that Silvercrest will be a co-presenting sponsor of our Film Awards,” said Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “Given Silvercrest’s expertise in bringing attention to a breadth of worthy brands, including those in the entertainment space, we look forward to collaborating with them on this partnership.” 

"We are honored to be a part of the Palm Springs International Film Awards that celebrate the best-of-the-best in cinematic storytelling and shine a light on our local community,” said William Rodriguez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silvercrest. “Our involvement underscores Silvercrest's belief in the crucial role compelling narrative has in creating meaningful connections. Just as great films leave a lasting impression on theatre audiences, we produce advertising campaigns that are equally impactful, resonant, and unforgettable with our clients’ ideal customers." 

The sponsorship developed as part of Silvercrest’s and the Film Society’s collaborative partnerships with Oak View Group, the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions. As part of Silvercrest’s sponsorship at Acrisure Arena, in Palm Desert, the premium level has been rebranded as the Silvercrest Level. Acrisure Arena is a world-class venue for top musical events and home to the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. 

“We are very committed to seeing the Co

The SXSW Film & TV Festival announces winners across various categories, including Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Design Awards, and Special Awards during the annual Film & TV Awards ceremony. Short Film Program winners, eligible for Jury Awards, and Film and TV categories eligible for Audience Awards, will be certified by Maxwell Locke & Ritter.

Meet the 2024 Jurors for this year’s Narrative and Documentary Feature competitions, Shorts Programs, Music Videos, Poster Design, and XR competitions.

Explore the complete list of 2024 winners for the 31st SXSW Film & TV Festival announced during the Film & TV Awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 13. Stay tuned to sxsw.com for the announcement of Audience Awards winners following the event's conclusion.

SXSW is proud to be an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® Short Film competition. Winners of our Best Animated, Best Narrative and Best Documentary Short Film categories become eligible for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (Oscars). Any British Short Film or British Short Animation that screens at SXSW is eligible for BAFTA nomination. Films are also eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards.

2024 Winners

FEATURE FILM GRAND JURY AWARDS
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Jury Award Winner: Bob Trevino Likes It
Director/Screenwriter: Tracie Laymon, Producers: Tracie Laymon, Sean Mullin, Edgar Rosa, Felipe Dieppa

Special Jury Award for Performance: Maria Rodríguez Soto, Mamifera

Special Jury Award for Filmmaking: Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, We Were Dangerous

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Jury Award Winner: Grand Theft Hamlet
Directors/Screenwriters: Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Producers: Rebecca Wolff, Julia Ton

Special Jury Award for Bravery and Empathy: Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons, We Can Be Heroes

SHORT FILM COMPETITION GRAND JURY AWARDS
Presented by You42

Jury Award Winner: Dissolution
Director/Screenwriter: Anthony Saxe, Producers: Thomas Lopez, Anthony Saxe

Special Jury Award: Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz, Trapped

Documentary Short Competition
Jury Award Winner: Remember, Broken Crayons Colour Too
Directors/Screenwriters: Shannet Clemmings, Urša Kastelic, Producers: Filippo Bonacci, Gabriel Grosclaude

Special Jury Award Winner: David Gauvey Herbert, Frank

Midnight Shorts Competition
Jury Award Winner: Transylvanie
Director: Rodrigue Huart, Screenwriters: Rodrigue Huart, David Alexander Cassan, Axel Würsten, Producer: Lucie Vigier

Special Jury Award Winner: Eros V, Meat Puppet

Animated Shorts Competition
Jury Award Winner: Wander to Wonder
Director: Nina Gantz, Screenwriters: Nina Gantz, Simon Cartwright, Daan Bakker, Stienette Bosklopper

Special Jury Award Winner: Phoebe Jane Hart, Bug Diner

Music Video Competition
Jury Award Winner: Célen - 'Mom told you so'
Director/Screenwriter: Cécile Cournelle

Special Jury Award for Technical Wizardry: Joe Nicolosi, The Burning Hell - 'All I Need'

Texas Shorts Competition
Jury Award Winner: Jedo's Dead
Director/Screenwriter: Sara Nimeh, Producers: Michael Mittelstaedt, Jeff Walker, Ellyn Church

Special Jury Award: Fatima Wardy, Hair Care

Independent TV Pilot Competition
Jury Award Winner: Marvin Is Sorry
Showrunners/Screenwriters: Brett Morrow, Alex Gehrlein, Jack Gacek, Director: Clint Pang

Special Jury Award: Zeke Nicholson, Halfrican American

Poster Design Competition
Jury Award Winner: 7 Beats Per Min

Creo is delighted to reveal the panel of judges for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2024. The competition for the sophomore edition of the major annual program for short films and filmmakers, which closed earlier this month, provides a gateway for the development of cinematic talent from across the globe.

Following a celebrated launch edition in 2023, this year the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards competition ran from June 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024, receiving more than double the number of entries from the previous year. The Awards were established to elevate original and diverse voices with a fresh perspective on storytelling, offering filmmakers career-defining opportunities and unparalleled access to the inner workings of the industry. Free to enter and open to all filmmakers internationally, the Awards received a highly enthusiastic response this year with over 8,400 films by more than 5,000 filmmakers across 148 countries and territories submitted.

Chaired by award-winning director Justin Chadwick for the second year running, this year's jury brings together a panel of leading industry experts including: Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, Co-Founders and Co-Presidents of Sony Pictures Classics; Rob Hardy ASC, BSC, BAFTA award-winning cinematographer; Kate Reid BSC, acclaimed British cinematographer; Emmy-award winning cinematographer Robert Primes ASC; and celebrated Australian filmmaker Unjoo Moon. 

Justin Chadwick, award-winning theatre, television and film director and Chair of the Jury said: "It is such a pleasure to return as Chair of this new prestigious panel of decorated creatives. Last year, we brought to the forefront 30 exceptionally talented filmmakers from across the world, each of whom had the unique chance to access the inner workings of the industry in Los Angeles, opening doors to career-launching opportunities. From my own experience, the art of the short film is by no means one to be underestimated, and I look forward to discovering more brilliant, talented individuals through this upcoming selection."

Working from a longlist of commended submissions, the first stage of the process will see judges Robert Primes ASC and Unjoo Moon select the top 30 films that will comprise this year’s shortlist. At the second stage of the judging process, judges Michael Barker, Tom Bernard, Rob Hardy ASC, BSC, and Kate Reid BSC will then choose this year’s category winners, awarding creative excellence and original approaches to narrative. Both stages of the judging process are chaired by Justin Chadwick and the 30 shortlisted filmmakers will be announced on April 23, 2024.

Providing a unique access point to the industry, the 30 shortlisted filmmakers will be flown to Los Angeles to participate in an extensive workshop program and to attend the Awards ceremony, where the six category winners will be announced on May 30, 2024 at the Cary Grant Theater located at the historic Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, California. The six winners will be rewarded with cash prizes and Sony camera equipment. 

NEW TO 2024 AND PRIZES

The 2024 edition introduced a new competition format with a total of six categories for filmmakers to enter: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Environment, Student, Future Format – welcoming films shot exclusively with a smartphone – and a brand new Animation category.

This year, winners and shortlisted fil

Allah Rakha Rahman ( born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer, songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in international cinema. He is a winner of six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, fifteen Filmfare Awards and seventeen Filmfare Awards South. In 2010, the Indian government conferred him with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest civilian award.

With his in-house studio Panchathan Record Inn, Rahman's film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. Following that, he went on to score several songs for Tamil language films, including Mani Ratnam's politically charged Bombay, the urban Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda, and S. Shankar's debut film Gentleman. Rahman's score for his first Hollywood film, the comedy Couples Retreat (2009), won the BMI Award for Best Score.

His music for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him Best Original Score and&nbs