The now Atlanta Film Society needs your help to bring in filmmakers from all over the world to the 40th annual film festival in 2016.

The Atlanta Film Festival is a 10-day event where a mix over 200 hundred short and feature films are shown. While housing and flights are typically supplied by donations, the AFS wants to allow more of their filmmakers the chance to come to Atlanta for the big event.

40 years means new records! The Atlanta Film Festival received over 4,500 submissions this year. The Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival and will allow winners of the animated short, documentary short, and narrative short a chance to qualify to be on a list for Oscar nominations.

Bringing in more filmmakers allows for a great experience for both the filmmaker and the attendees. By having filmmakers present, attendees have the opportunity to meet and ask questions about the motivations for their films.

A new opportunity in the 40th year is to become one of the Atlanta Film Society’s first ever patrons ranging from $1,000-$10,000 which would include membership as well as other perks.

There is also the ‘Backer’s Jury’ which allows anyone who donates $25 an opportunity to watch 8-10 of the short films that have been selected for the festival. After viewing, jury members will then be allowed to vote for a winner. The viewing and voting will both be done online providing an opportunity for non-Atlanta natives to have a vote. Once a winner is chosen, they are flown in for the festival and presented the “Filmmaker-to-Watch” award.

The Atlanta Film Festival will take place at the Plaza Theatre, 7 Stages Theatre and the Highland Inn Ballroom as well as the High Museum and the Rialto Center for the Arts.

The Kickstarter program has reached over $5,000 so far and still has 37 days to go! Get involved and get ready to attend the big festival in April!