2026 marks the 50th year of the Atlanta Film Festival, and the Atlanta Film Society has unveiled it’s lineup of 154 films that will be playing during the 11 day event. This year’s festival will also include special Legacy Screenings, “honoring films that have helped shape Atlanta’s dynamic film landscape,” according to the ATLFF website. These presentations will feature appearances by many acclaimed filmmakers including Carrie Preston, James Ponsoldt, Craig Zobel, and others. This is all to celebrate five decades of storytelling in Georgia.
“Reaching our 50th anniversary is both a celebration and a reflection of the creative community that has blossomed alongside the Atlanta Film Festival,” said Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of ATLFF. “This year’s programming honors that legacy while also looking ahead–spotlighting bold new choices, groundbreaking stories, and the next generation of storytellers and filmmakers shaping the future of the industry.”
Some film highlights of the 50th Atlanta Film Festival include Mark Mori’s Baristas Vs. Billionaires, a documentary that chronicles the early days of the nationwide Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) movement and is narrated by Susan Sarandon, Kent Jones’ Late Fame starring Willem Dafoe, Jake Lacy, and Greta Lee about an eccentric group of young creatives who reignite legendary New York poet Ed Saxberger’s artistic passion, and John Carney’s Power Balad starring Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, and Peter McDonald about a late night jam session that becomes an overnight sensation.
“Reaching 50 years gave us a unique opportunity to look back at the stories that have defined us while embracing the ones that will shape the future,” said Jonathan Kieran, Programming Director of ATLFF. “This lineup is about discovery–bringing audiences powerful, unexpected films and creating space for new voices to break through in meaningful ways.”
The full lineup of all 154 films and special presentations can be found on the Atlanta Film Festival programming page. Festival badges and individual screening tickets are also available for purchase. Shakefire plans on attending and covering the Atlanta Film Festival so be sure to check back here in the coming weeks for our thoughts!
