It’s been a long road for us to get here, but the 2020 Atlanta Film Festival is actually on, and it is time to discuss what will be going on, how it will be going, and what is worth watching. I’m really excited about the hybrid virtual/drive-in format and I’m hoping to get to some of the latter so it doesn’t become entirely virtual and via screeners like Fantasia Fest, but there is limited space at the drive-in locations, so we will see. But, I am excited for patrons of the Plaza Atlanta, Dad’s Garage and the recently-added Pullman Yard to have a chance at safe, in-person screenings, as the former two have crushed the pop-up drive-in opportunities this year in the age of COVID-19.
So, what will be available for people to see during the festival, and where? First of all, four Official Selections have already been made available, including “John Lewis: Good Trouble”– which screened at drive-ins shortly before its subject passed away in July, which is now available to rent on streaming platforms, “Flannery”– about the Georgia writer, and “Anbessa”– a documentary about a son and his mother- have been made available for virtual viewing to support the Atlanta Film Festival. As the festival gets ready to open on September 17, I will begin watching some films via screener, but based on my main interests, here are the screenings to check out.
=“Stomping Ground” (9/17; 7:55pm- Dad’s Garage Drive-In)- The annual opening salvo of the festival, a short film block of shorts from Georgia filmmakers.
=“In the Cold Dark Night” (9/18; 7:55pm- Dad’s Garage Drive-In)- A documentary chronicling the investigations into a racially-motivated killing of Timothy Coggins kicks off the features for the festival.
=“Climate of the Hunter” (9/18; 10:10pm- Plaza Drive-In)- Mickey Reece tells a compelling story of two sisters and an old friend in a cabin in this drama- I watched this for Fantasia Fest, and while I didn’t love it, it’s worth checking out for genre fans.
=“Cinema Pameer” (9/19; 7:40pm- Plaza Drive-In)- A documentary about life surrounding a movie theatre in war-torn Afghanistan is one of my must-sees of the festival.
=“The Killing of Two Lovers” (9/19; 9:30pm- Pullman Yard)- A man trying to keep his family together while he and his wife separate is one of the narrative features I’m most looking forward to checking out.
=“Outta This World” (9/20; 7:55pm- Dad’s Garage Drive-In)- This block of sci-fi shorts is what (currently) has me most interested on Sunday night.
=“The MisEducation of Bindu” (9/21; 7:00pm- Pullman Yard)- A young girl is desperate to test out of the school she is currently in, but must interact with the students she wants to get away from to do so.
=“The Outside Story” (9/21; 9:15pm- Pullman Yard)- An introvert (Brian Tyree Henry) goes on a journey when he inadvertently sabotages his life.
=“Curtis” (9/22; 9:30pm- Pullman Yard)- A schizophrenic former basketball star is pulled down a dark path when his championship ring goes missing.
=“I Am Samuel” (9/24; 7:25pm- Plaza Drive-In)- A documentary about a Kenyan man torn between his family and his future.
=“Fandango at the Wall” (9/24; 9:30pm- Plaza Drive-In)- A doc that follows Arturo O’Farrill through Mexico as he explores folk music in the country.
=“Black Conflux” (9/24; 9:30pm- Pullman Yard)- A drama about a 15-year-old model student and a guy who dreams of adoring women whose lives become intertwined.
=“Test Pattern” (9/25; 7pm- Pullman Yard)- A drama about a relationship put to the test after a rape, and a journey to find a rape kit.
=“Fully Realized Humans” (9/25; 7:40pm- Dad’s Garage Drive-In)- A couple getting ready for the birth of their first child tries to get rid of their insecurities in this film from director Joshua Leonard.
=“Malpaso” (9/25; 9:30pm- Plaza Drive-In)- A drama about two brothers who must rely on themselves for survival after their grandfather dies in Haiti.
There are plenty of short film blocks to discover- which include shorts I’ve seen at other festivals this year such as “Blocks” (one of my favorites from Fantasia Fest), “Changeling” and “Stucco”– as well as some features not yet on the schedule, like the documentaries, “Overseas” and “Some Kind of Heaven”, and the narrative feature, “The Orphanage”. I’m looking forward to this lineup to round out my film festival coverage of 2020- it’s going to be a fun, diverse ride.
2020 Atlanta Film Festival: The Reviews
“John Lewis: Good Trouble”
“Climate of the Hunter”
“Overseas”
2020 Atlanta Film Festival
Announcement
The Festival Will Go On
Viva La Resistance!
Brian Skutle
www.sonic-cinema.com
