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

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

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

"Inconceivable!" A live table read of William Goldman's The Princess Bride hosted by Reel Friends (Photo by Mikey Smith) There’s no better cure for the February blues than a storybook adventure. On Sunday, Reel Friends hosted their first live table read event, reenacting William Goldman’s beloved script, The Princess Bride. Housed in the historic Avon Theatre , it was a night full of fairytales, swordfights, and of course, twoo wuv. The cast, listed below, was an all-star sh

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

The pop-rap duo resurrects the Y2K club scene with their dance-fueled new tracks JVB rocking The Masquerade (Heaven) (Photo by Mikey Smith) I first stumbled into Joey Valence and Brae in January 2022, just a few short weeks after the release of “ Double Jump .” With its blast-from-the-past production and witty video game references, the punchy track solidified their place on my musical radar. The hip-hop duo, often shortened to JVB, came on the scene as a nostalgic reincarn

The band kicks off their tour with a sold-out ATL show Enjambre's sold-out return to Atlanta (Photo by Mikey Smith) Last October, I had a wonderful conversation with Rafael Navejas, bassist for the Mexican rock band Enjambre ( read here ). It was the first official interview I had conducted for Art Seen ATL, and we spent some time talking about the group’s experience with touring. Rafael said that their primary goal when hitting the road is to bring their “joyful spirit” to

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

The "Critter Country" songstress shares the story behind her new EP Americana artist Meels talks with Art Seen ATL (Photo by Jim Hughes) Folk, Americana, and country are sewn together by a beautiful thread: storytelling. These genres are often recognized for their ability to communicate deep truths underneath creative allegories, parables, and fables. Fresh off the release of her Across the Raccoon Strait EP , Meels brings a little bit of twang, a handful of metaphors, and a

A Georgia-grown sports flick gears up for a groundbreaking national release If there’s one thing Signing Tony Raymond proves, it’s that good things come to those who wait. The film industry is notorious for overlooking the little guy. Though the studio system of Old Hollywood is long gone, the field is still dominated by big players. Investors tend to avoid taking chances on smaller projects and opt for familiar faces to fill seats. This weekend, sports dramedy Signing Tony

...Chicken isn't vegan? Reel Friends Presents Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Photo by Mikey Smith) Nearly sixteen years after its release, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World remains a key part of the pop culture pyramid. Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s acclaimed graphic novel series, the film’s popularity has only increased with time. The movie continues to influence style choices, expand music tastes, and strike fear into the heart of evil exes everywhere. On Saturday, the Plaza Theat

HAIM meets Halsey in this "alt-gay grief rock" outfit Kelly Romo at The Masquerade (Photo by Mikey Smith) Before the holidays kicked into high gear, fans braved the cold and ventured to Purgatory at The Masquerade to see Kelly Romo , a rising queer rock outfit out of Atlanta. Helmed by Kelly Romo herself (vocals/rhythm guitar/keys), the band consisted of Trae Berry (guitar), Julien Dorothy (bass), and special guest Sam Horwitz (drummer). Openers included 80s-synth squad Monta

Rock and roll gets a bewitching, queer-femme rebrand ATL rock outfit Cash Honey (Photo by Mikey Smith) July 2024 marked the first time I ever camped out for a show. Jack White. Terminal West. Sold out. A handful of student tickets at the door. My brother and I sat in the scorching Atlanta heat for three hours, fingers crossed and foreheads dripping as we prayed to make it inside. During our time on the sidewalk, we met Schuyler Heflin. A fellow musician and music nerd, she

A pop-punk trio from Milledgeville gets real about the "undying" local scene Milledgeville pop-punk outfit blue. (Photo by Mikey Smith) When faced with tragedy, it’s easy to feel alone. Though the wounds of loss may never totally heal, community and art can serve as a beacon of hope. Milledgeville’s own blue. knows this truth well, and they want you to know it, too. Together, Trevor Weaver (vocals/guitar), Tyler Brantley (bass), and Gavin Glover (drums) have created a head-b

What I learned as a first-timer in the cult of the Cullens The sold-out screening for Twilight at The Tara (Photo by Mikey Smith) Confession: I’ve never seen Twilight. Olivia, you call yourself a film buff, yet you’ve never seen THE greatest piece of vampire cinema to ever grace the silver screen? I know. I’m as disappointed as you are. Somehow, between my semi-sheltered homeschool upbringing and mistakenly writing the franchise off as low-brow kitsch, I survived my teenage y

Check out some fantastic projects from local filmmakers! The filmmakers behind this month's Reel Talk programming (Photo by Mikey Smith) It’s that time again! Reel Talk is back and better than ever. The brainchild of ATL filmmaker/ Reel Friends founder Rocco Shapiro, Reel Talk is a monthly mixer where artists share projects they’re proud of, such as short films, music videos, commercials, and more. Films are screened once in full and then replayed on mute while the directo

The electropop mastermind bares it all at the Ultrasound World Tour Lorde performing live at Gas South Arena in Duluth (Photo by Mikey Smith) Lorde is no stranger to reinventing herself. Aotearoa’s art pop phenom released her debut album Pure Heroine at a ripe 16 years old and practically became an overnight sensation. Though her days as a teen idol are behind her, her latest project Virgin and the accompanying Ultrasound World Tour proved that Lorde remains a master of the