Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Overview

Now over 50 years old, the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) - an Academy Award®-qualifying festival - is the Southeast’s preeminent celebration of cinema and the flagship production of the Atlanta Film Society. One of the largest and longest-running festivals in the country, ATLFF showcases both emerging and established artists’ works. Recent festivals saw audiences of over 28,000 film lovers joining over 300 attending filmmakers in support of moving images that push the boundaries of independent cinema. Every spring, our 11-day festival - recognized as the Best Film Festival by Creative Loafing, Sunday Paper, 10 Best, and Atlanta Magazine, as well as the Best Spring Festival by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution - presents approximately 200 local and international works selected from over 9,400 submissions (consisting of 7,000+ films and 2,400+ screenplays) representing 50+ countries. ATLFF was named a “Top 50 Festival Worth the Entry Fee”, one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker magazine, and one of USA Today’s ten best film festivals. The Atlanta Film Festival is proud to present the 18th Annual Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition in 2027. ATLFF Screenplay Competition The Atlanta Film Festival has a four-decade-long history of discovering and nurturing new filmmaking talent, having shown early works by Robert Rodriguez, Spike Lee, and Victor Nunez. The Screenplay Competition was founded in 2008 to expand this tradition by recognizing the foundation of the filmmaking art form. Recently, the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition was recognized as one of MovieMaker magazine’s “15 Submission-Worthy Screenwriting Competitions of 2021, 2022, and 2023.” The 2027 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition is devoted to finding the best screenplays from around the world and offering their authors the opportunity to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime writing workshop and mentorship program with professionals in the industry. Three feature film screenplays, one pilot screenplay, and one short film screenplay are chosen from submissions to take part in one-on-one mentorship meetings. Not only do they get notes on their winning screenplay, but the winners also get to build meaningful relationships with their mentors and network with the diverse and experienced crowd of filmmakers and industry insiders who attend the Atlanta Film Festival every year. Winners of the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition have gone on to be honored by the Black List, selected for the Sundance Directors’ Lab, sign with representation, option their winning scripts, and write/direct critically and commercially successful indie films. Notable Competition Alumni James Ponsoldt, 2008 Feature Screenplay Winner, went on to become a successful writer/director, helming projects such as The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour, and Smashed. He co-wrote and directed The Circle, which starred Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, and Jon Boyega and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2017. He currently has several projects in the works, in addition to serving as an executive producer and a writer for the series Sorry for Your Loss, starring Elizabeth Olsen. Stella Meghie, 2011 Feature Screenplay Winner, went on to direct her winning script, Jean of the Joneses, which played at the Atlanta Film Festival in 2016. Her sophomore feature, Everything, Everything, starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson, was released in theaters in 2017. She wrote, directed, and produced The Photograph starring Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield and is currently reteaming with Issa Rae for American Princess. Mike Makowsky, 2016 Pilot Screenplay Winner, went on to become a Black List honoree. He wrote the films Take Me, which starred Taylor Schilling, and I Think We’re Alone Now, which starred Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning and premiered at Sundance in 2019 under the direction of Reed Morano. His newest feature, Bad Education, stars Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Ray Romano, and Alex Wolff. Previous Screenplay Mentors: ● Diana Ossana - Oscar-Winning Screenwriter (Brokeback Mountain) ● Kathryn Dean - Producer (Winter’s Bone, Hell or High Water) ● Steve de Souza - Writer (Die Hard, 48 Hrs, Commando, The Running Man) ● T Cooper - Writer (Copper, The Get Down, The Blacklist) ● Michael Curtis Johnson - Writer/Director (Hunky Dory, Savage Youth) ● Michael Lucker - Writer (Vampire in Brooklyn, Kronk’s New Groove) ● Kent Osborne - Head of Story (Adventure Time), Writer (Spongebob Squarepants) ● Diane Drake - Writer, UCLA professor, and former VP of Creative Affairs at Mirage Enterprises ● Robin M. Henry - Writer (Meet the Browns, House of Payne) ● Natalie Metzger - Producer (Thunder Road, Greener Grass) ● Annmarie Morais - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer (American Soul) ● Bragi Schut - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer (Escape Room) ● Alisha Brophy - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer (Inside Job) ● Kurt Kuenne - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer/Director/Editor (Dear Zachary) ● Barbara Stepansky - Academy Nicholl Fellowship and WGA Award-winning Writer (Flint) ● Anthony Grieco - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer (Best Sellers) ● John Griffin - Academy Nicholl Fellowship-winning Writer/Creator (From) ● Milan Chakraborty - Producer (My Friend Dahmer, Assassination Nation) ● Brandon Harris - Producer (The Burial, Master, The Voyeurs) ● Rochee Jeffrey - Writer (SMILF, Woke) ● Cheri Steinkellner - 4-time Emmy Award-winning Writer/Producer/Professor (Cheers, Teacher's Pet) ● James Ponsoldt - Writer/Director (Smashed, The Spectacular Now, The Circle, Shrinking) ● Lane & Ruckus Skye - Writer/Director Duo (The Devil to Pay, Becky, Rattle the Cage) ● Andi Berhing - Director, Producer, Location Manager (Dynasty, Tom Swift, P Valley, Chicago Med) ● Melodie Sisk - Producer, Director, Actress (Quantum Cowboys, Death of Dick Long, Little Sister) ● Takashi Doscher - Director, Producer, Writer (Chicago P.D., Only, Still)

Last updated Sep 12, 2026

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FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  My gratitude to Executive Director Christopher Escobar and Education Director and Screenplay Programmer, Melissa Simpson, for all of their hard work, and, for honoring my unproduced, full-length screenplay, "The Fourth Psalm," as a finalist at this year's Atlanta Film Festival. Very much appreciated. Wishing you all the best there in The A!

• Filmmaker

  This is such a wonderful event for screenwriters! You are well taken care of and the events that are curated to your craft are amazing. Highly recommend!

• Filmmaker

  Extremely grateful to have my two short scripts, Retrograde and Classification: Human, recognized as quarter-finalists. This is a long-standing festival that lives by its reputation of showcasing emerging filmmakers and diverse voices. Highly recommend.

• Filmmaker

  It was a great honor for me to participate in this prestigious festival with my unproduced short screenplay (Hanout). I hope to have the opportunity again to join you with another screenplay in the future. Thank you

• Filmmaker

  The Atlanta Film Festival continues to prove why it’s one of the most important platforms for independent cinema. The energy, diversity of voices, and genuine love for storytelling created an unforgettable experience. From bold emerging filmmakers to powerful conversations around the future of film, ATLFF champions creativity in a way that feels authentic and necessary. Grateful to witness so much passion and artistry in one place.

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