The 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival, held over twelve days, boasted appearances from both homegrown talent and notable Hollywood stars like Kerry Washington, who attended the “Shadow Force” premiere. There were panel discussions sharing knowledge on topics such as film financing and distribution that were held by industry leaders from firms such as the Peachtree Group, Element CPA, and Deep C Digital.

Emayatzy Corinealdi and Kerry Washington (right) attend the premiere of Shadow Force on April 27, 2025, at the Plaza Theatre.
Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice

COLORS OF ATLANTA

“Colors of Atlanta,” a series from the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau in collaboration with Tantra Worldwide, highlights notable Atlanta-based photographers sharing their unique perspectives on the city.

In the series Sheila Pree Bright, an award-winning photographer with a long history spanning entertainment and civil rights, snaps Bem Joiner of the Atlanta Influences Everything brand. At the same time, social media-savvy newcomer Cam Kirk turns the lights on Domani Harris in his new photography studio. Some might recognize Domani as the son of ATL rapper T.I., but he has already established his own name as a promising up-and-coming talent.

Photographer Madelynne Grace specializes in vibrant food visuals, and she adds her own unique twist to an Atlanta-themed shoot. (Hint: lemon pepper wet is involved.)

Jeremiah Daniels (above), star of “Color Book,” appears on the red carpet at the Plaza Theatre on April 24, 2025.
Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice

THE GAMES IN BLACK & WHITE

“The Games in Black & White,” a documentary highlighting Atlanta’s 1996 Summer Olympics told through the story of the collaboration between former Atlanta Mayor and U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and businessman Billy Payne, made its debut early in the festival at Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Arts. In a post-Civil Rights era, Young and Payne’s bi-racial friendship combined with their relentless lobbying helped convince members of the International Olympic Committee that Atlanta’s growing city best represented the Olympic ideals of excellence, respect, and friendship.

The premiere was attended by notable ATLiens like Dallas Austin, who helped craft the film’s soundtrack. “The Games in Black & White” will air in July on Georgia Public Broadcasting and will also be available on Delta inflight entertainment screens beginning September 1.

Jaylan Ragin, who stars in “Red Clay,” appears alongside executive producer Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps at Tara Atlanta on April 30, 2025. Photo by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice

RED CLAY

The short film “Red Clay” is a passion project from Tauheed Epps, an Atlanta native who is better known worldwide as the rapper “2 Chainz.” The 20-minute film from Chainz and director Christian Nolan Jones is described as being based on a true story, a gritty story of “the real Atlanta” which introduces us to teenagers Nook (Christopher Ammanuel) and Bub (Jaylan Ragin). During a festival Q&A, 2 Chainz described his vision for “Red Clay” to be developed as an ongoing series.

COLOR BOOK

“Color Book,” set in metro Atlanta, is a heartwarming tale of a grieving father who is raising his son with Down syndrome alone after the passing of his wife.

Beyond Atlanta themes, the festival also embraced many other notable films:

THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT

Last summer was the hottest year ever recorded, as severe global heat waves made headlines worldwide and triple-digit temperatures killed thousands from Saudi Arabia to Mexico to Greece. But it didn’t have to be this way: “The White House Effect,” a documentary comprised nearly entirely of archival footage, takes us back to a time when the alarms were first being raised about global warming. It is tragic to watch these moments unfold in retrospect, as politicians and oil and gas executives derail potential solutions in their chase for the almighty dollar.