Founder Drew Sawyer talks the ATLFF opening night premiere of Idiots The Atlanta premiere of Idiots at ATLFF 50 (Photo by Mikey Smith) “It takes a village, and sometimes a village of lunatics to make a movie,” Moonshine Post Production founder Drew Sawyer humorously said upon taking the stage at the Atlanta Film Festival Opening Night, where he helped introduce a screening of Idiots to a sold-out crowd. Idiots – which follows two down-on-their-luck men forced to work togeth

A hidden-gem documentary that’ll make you yearn for yesteryear When We Were Live screens at ATLFF 50 The in-person run of the 50th Atlanta Film Festival has officially concluded, but the festivities are far from over. The virtual fest is in full swing, inviting audiences from all across the globe to watch some stellar selects from this year’s lineup. As you peruse the catalog, I’d like to recommend a lovely little documentary from the heart of Austin, Texas. When We Were Live

Writer-Director Jared Sprouse and co. give the inside scoop on their zany dark comedy The cast and crew of Party USA (Photo by Nico Hawthorne) Party USA is a firework of a film: it’s bold, it’s colorful, and it sure knows how to pack a punch. The dark comedy describes itself as “a downward spiral of red, white, and blue-collared chaos,” charting a disgruntled retail worker’s (Ainsley Seiger) journey to undo the fallout following an uncovered shift at a party store. Ahead of t

13 years after its initial release, Ponsoldt's Georgia-based love story still remains a landmark in the state's filmmaking journey ATLFF's revival screening of James Ponsoldt's The Spectacular Now When you search the keywords “Georgia filmmaker” or “Directors from Georgia,” you will almost always come across the name James Ponsoldt. Ponsoldt, an Athens native, has been directing feature films and television for over twenty years. From his first film, Off the Black, to 2015’

Four panelists gather at ATLFF 50's Creative Conference to discuss the importance of audio in filmmaking The Audio Post panel at the Atlanta Film Festival (Photo via My Global Presence) Filmmakers, editors and sound engineers filled the Jack Auditorium at the Tara Theater this week during the Atlanta Film Festival to learn about audio from four seasoned veterans, with over a hundred years of experience combined. Elise Riley, CEO and founder of My Global Presence, served as mo

Writer-director Costa Karalis invites audiences to experience this North Florida “magic trick” Frogtown director Costa Karalis promoting the film at ATLFF 50 (Photo by Mikey Smith) If there’s one mission on filmmaker Costa Karalis’ mind, it’s to make movies unlike anything audiences have seen before. Karalis’ debut feature, Frogtown, had its Atlanta premiere on Saturday at the 50th Atlanta Film Festival. The film played to a sold-out audience, with a line of s

The writer-director crafts a darkly funny tale of love, secrets, and corporate power The cast and crew of Third at ATLFF 50 (Photo by Mikey Smith) A husband stuck in a rut. A wife hungry for more. A handsome stranger falling from the sky. What could possibly go wrong? Atlanta-based feature Third had its world premiere at the Atlanta Film Festival on Friday. Created with an insanely talented local crew, the film is a shocking tale of twists and turns that holds far more than

The program kicks off with two projects proudly produced in the heart of the ATL ATLFF preparing for their 50th film festival (Photo by Mikey Smith) As the sun set over Poncey-Highland on Thursday, the 50th Atlanta Film Festival kicked off at the historic Plaza Theatre. Arguably the city’s biggest film event, the 11-day festival runs from April 23 to May 3 and is set to welcome a plethora of creatives from all across the globe. From screenings and Q&As to filmmaker meetups an

The R&B-pop hitmaker dishes on her newest album ATL's Jai'Len Josey releases her newest record Serial Romantic (Photo by Respective Collective) With her bold Southern flair and bubbly personality, Jai’Len Josey is a multi-talented artist from the heart of East Atlanta. The rising starlet is charming audiences with her brand-new album, Serial Romantic, and thanks to °1824, Art Seen ATL had the chance to chat with Josey ahead of the project’s release. Josey’s love of music bega

The band muses on Muscle ahead of their headlining gig at Eddie’s Attic Perfect Animal ahead of their headlining Eddie's Attic show (Photo by Mikey Smith) Perfect Animal is, in every sense, a dream team. The four-piece rock group has developed a reputation in the scene for their introspective lyrics, genre-bending instrumentation, and stellar production. Armed with a brand-new release (and several more on the way), the band is fully in their element and are gearing up for an

Reflections Ahead of Reel Friends’ One-Night-Only Event Haynes and Bale doing press for Velvet Goldmine (from MovieStillsDB) “The idea is to create a world in which reality, fantasy, and memory each have equal weight.” - Todd Haynes, Velvet Goldmine commentary track There is a scene early on in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America in which two characters, both strangers, share a dream. In this dream they encounter a phenomenon they call the “threshold of revelation,” which al

North Georgia heats up with local rock! Summer In the Psych Ward performing at Moe's Record Shop (Photo by Yoselin Madrid) North Georgia may have been in a bit of a cold rut but coincidentally, the region started to warm up after the three band show Moe’s Record Shop held on Friday. Summer In The Psych Ward , 7th Try , and UNIQO didn't just warm up Moe’s, but the entirety of Gainesville. UNIQO with their garage/indie infused rock, 7th Try with their identifiable alternative

Executive Director Jessie Sparrow dives into the non-profit’s mission of belonging As the world looks towards the future of storytelling, Georgia’s own RE:IMAGINE ATL is on the front lines of fostering the next generation of creatives. What began as a music video summer camp quickly evolved into a media education and workforce development center that has serviced over 7,500 young people. Founded by Susan Spiccia in 2014, the non-profit offers courses, camps, and creative opp

Three local ATL bands shine with the beginning of spring Pinto Sunshine performing at Smith's Olde Bar (Photo by Yoselin Madrid) With the beginning of spring comes more local shows and incredible crowds, which Pinto Sunshine ’s show at Smith’s Olde Bar absolutely captured. Performing with Pinto Sunshine came up-and-coming rock band UNIQO and theatrical punk band Kyle Lewis is a Boring Name . Pinto Sunshine’s October “Pinto-ween” show was the last time the bar had seen the

The ATL band reminds us that “being a creative is our birthright.” Hungry for some headbanging? If you’re looking for a band that really knows how to rock, look no further than Bad Guru . The band is rooted in psychedelic grunge, taking inspiration from big-name groups Tool and Soundgarden, with a hint of more “obscure” stoner rock acts like Slomosa and Truckfighters. Before they opened for Hooked Like Helen at Smith’s Olde Bar, Art Seen ATL chatted with Bad Guru backstage ab

Honnie Korngold, founder of CineVantage Honnie Korngold has worn many hats. She’s the founder of Athens-based production company CineVantage , along with workforce development nonprofit PhilanthroFilms and the Georgia Storylab creator hub. As she’s watched the film industry shift, sink, and soar over the years, this producer learned a crucial lesson that’s kept her afloat: the important of pivoting. Originally from Los Angeles, Korngold got her start in travel events, orch

With a wave of my wand, this hidden gem will magically appear atop your ATL bucket list Kyle Littleton hosting the Secret Aisle Variety Show (Photo by Mikey Smith) Who doesn’t love a good magic trick? Variety shows are truly a lost art form. These classic showcases celebrate a range of talents, skills, and schticks, and they’ve historically served as launching pads for performers we know and love. As live events continue to claw their way back post-pandemic, local magician/yo

One of the most discussed voices in shoegaze talks social media success and storytelling in song Rising alternative artist Novulent (Photo by Siena Saba) Closing off their story-driven album trilogy, alternative rock artist Novulent released the final installment, VOL. 3 , today on all platforms. Nearly three years after the release of VOL. 1 , the Texas singer continues to develop their lo-fi aesthetics and connect with their fanbase, Novas, around the world. Art Seen ATL h

The alternative popstar talks cinema, collaborations, and Cocteau Twins for her upcoming project Sarah Kinsley for her new EP Fleeting (Photo by Florence Sullivan) With a sound that builds with each iterative release, Sarah Kinsley has made a name for herself as a singer, songwriter, and musician in the sphere of indie and electropop. Ahead of her new EP, Fleeting , and a performance in Atlanta on her next tour, Art Seen ATL was honored to attend °1824 ’ s press conferen

The multi-hyphenate challenges Georgians to shift the narrative surrounding the local arts scene Withdrawal director/writer/editor Aaron Strand Indie. In both movies and music, the term has lost much of its original meaning. What was once a proud signifier of independent, unconstrained production is now often minimized to a marker of genre or aesthetic. As big-budget companies continue to misconstrue the label for their own use, filmmaker Aaron Strand is here to show that tr