As much as I loved Fantasia Fest, and being able to cover the festival from the comfort of my own home, it’s really good to be able to go out and about and take in screenings, even if they’re drive-in screenings. I cannot thank the organizers enough for figuring out a way to get this festival off the ground this year, and doing so in a safe way that allows for live screenings.
We arrive at the weekdays, and this is where the days would normally be filled with Creative Conference panels during the day; this year, most of those have been pre-recorded, and are available virtually. There are some livestreams (like the Q&A on film scoring with Evan Hodges I did on Saturday, and the discussion with Damon Lindelof I’ll be taking in on Thursday), but most are available throughout the festival. What matters this year are the screenings, and each night has some interesting ones.
Monday, September 21
Monday is going to mark my final double-feature of the festival, as I stick around the Pullman Yard drive-in for “The MisEducation of Bindu” (about a 15-year-old trying to transfer schools to get away from bullies) and “The Outside Story” (with Brian Tyree Henry as an introvert trying to get out of his comfort zone), while Alan Ball’s “Uncle Frank” plays at the Plaza, and “15 Things You Didn’t Know About Bigfoot: Number 1 Will Blow Your Mind” at Dad’s Garage, which is a split drive-in/virtual screening for the Georgia-made paranormal comedy.
Tuesday, September 22
The only screening I will be doing this day is the final one of the day, “Curtis” (about a schizophrenic former basketball star), which is one of the films I was most looking forward to heading into the festival. Also screening this evening is “Save Yourself” (about a couple whose trip away from civilization makes them unaware of the attack of their planet that is underway), a documentary shorts block in “Four of a Kind” and the documentary, “Transhood”, about four transgender kids in Kansas City.
Wednesday, September 23
Two narrative features in “Catching Up” (about a disabled high school teacher whose crush comes back to town) and “Golden Arm” (about a baker forced to enter a Women’s Arm Wrestling competition), and there is a short film block taking place in “Flashbulb Romance”. This evening, though, I will be taking in the first of two screenings for the Georgia-based film, “Beast Beast”, a drama about two students who grow close, and how a neighbor fits in, and risks breaking them apart.
Thursday, September 24
This was the day the first screening of “Beast Beast” was taking place, and it is sold out; hence, Wednesday’s late addition. Today also has three documentaries playing in “I Am Samuel” (about a Kenyan man struggling with his duties to family vs. planning for his future), “Fandango at the Wall” (about a journey through Son jarocho folk music in Mexico) and “What’s Eating Ralphie May?”, about the comedian, Ralphie May. I will be taking in the high school drama, “Black Conflux”, in terms of drive-in screenings, and I’m looking forward to what this week has in store.
What was this past weekend like? I’ll go into that when the festival comes to an end.
2020 Atlanta Film Festival: The Reviews
“John Lewis: Good Trouble”
“Feels Good Man”
“Climate of the Hunter”
“Overseas”
“The Nest”
“The Orphanage”
“Some Kind of Heaven”
“The Killing of Two Lovers”
“In the Cold Dark Night”
“Cinema Pameer”
“Dead by Midnight: Y2Kill”
“The MisEducation of Bindu”
“The Outside Story”
“Curtis”
“Beast Beast”
“Once Upon a Time in Venezuela”
“Black Conflux”
2020 Atlanta Film Festival
Announcement
The Festival Will Go On
What to See, How to See It
My Schedule is Set
Viva La Resistance!
Brian Skutle
www.sonic-cinema.com
