Festival Schedule
Thursday, Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Registration - Ticket Office Opens
Registration and ticket office opens. Buy your passes at any time during the festival!
World Class Animation 1 - Animated Shorts
Witness some of the latest and greatest animated shorts around the world
Kickoff event - Red Carpet & Happy Hour (Open to the public from 8-9pm)
2nd Annual Athens Film Festival happy hour celebration. Complimentary food available to All-access passholders.
Best in the Globe 1 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Witness the latest and greatest short films from around the globe.
Opening Night - Withdrawal Sponsored by Nuçi's Space (followed by Q&A)
Film screening followed by Q&A with filmmakers. Individual ticket holders will receive priority seating. All-access passholders are welcome, space permitting!
Best in the Globe 2 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Witness the latest and greatest short films from around the globe.
Laugh Your Ath Off Comedy Shorts 1 - Sponsored by Leslie Jones Law
Comedy short films from around the world. Stick around after the shorts to see a special improv parody performance by Take This! Comedy!
Afterglow Party @ The Globe
Join filmmakers and moviegoers downstairs while the films continue playing upstairs.
Music Videos from Around the Globe - Sponsored by JOKERJOKERtv
Witness the latest and greatest music videos from around the globe. FREE and open to the public!
Kickoff event - Red Carpet & Happy Hour (Open to the public from 8-9pm)
Opening Night - Withdrawal Sponsored by Nuçi's Space (followed by Q&A)
World Class Animation 1 - Animated Shorts
Best in the Globe 1 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Best in the Globe 2 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Laugh Your Ath Off Comedy Shorts 1 - Sponsored by Leslie Jones Law
Music Videos from Around the Globe - Sponsored by JOKERJOKERtv
Friday, Aug 15, 2025
Friday Registration - Ticket Office Opens
Registration and ticket office opens. Buy your passes at any time during the festival!
Panel - Emerging Georgia Filmmakers, Sponsored by Trilith Institute
Turning Ideas into Stories: How Georgia is Nurturing Emerging Filmmakers
Reel Peaches Georgia Shorts 1 - Sponsored by Athens Film Office
Screenings are followed by Q&A with filmmakers.
Golden Hour Networking Sponsored by Creature Comforts
Meet filmmakers and industry professionals at one of our sponsored venues, Creature Comforts. ONE complimentary drink ticket for all-access passholders.
Mind Frames - Shorts about Mental Health and Personal Struggle
A diverse selection of incredible short films about Mental Health and Personal Struggle
Red Carpet & Happy Hour
Red Carpet & Happy Hour.
Art and Mental Health - Transforming Personal Struggle to Public Stories
Join filmmaker Aaron Strand ("Withdrawal") and Nuçi’s Space for a powerful conversation on mental health and creativity. This panel explores how artists can transform personal struggles into impactful public stories—ethically, responsibly, and with care for themselves and their communities.
World Class Animation 2 - Animated Shorts, Hosted by Connie Nartonis Thompson (Frankenweenie, Animal Farm, Beauty & the Beast)
Join animation veteran Connie Nartonis Thompson—whose credits include Frankenweenie, Animal Farm, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Beauty and the Beast—for an unforgettable block of animated shorts. She’ll also share stories from her career working with top studios like Disney, Illumination, and Laika.
Women in Film - Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Purple Magnet Productions
A diverse catalog of films from around the world written, directed and produced by women.
Documentary Feature - Hockeytown, Sponsored by The Rock Lobsters
Documentary Feature - Hockeytown, Sponsored by The Rock Lobsters
Feature Selection - American Deadbolt
Film screening followed by Q&A with filmmakers.
Bloodred and Black 1 - Horror Shorts, Sponsored by Patrick Crawford Real Estate
Witness the latest and greatest horror short films from around the world.
Afterglow Party @ Paloma Park w/music videos
Join filmmaker and moviegoers at Paloma Park to end the night. FREE and open to the public!
Panel - Emerging Georgia Filmmakers, Sponsored by Trilith Institute
Reel Peaches Georgia Shorts 1 - Sponsored by Athens Film Office
Feature Selection - American Deadbolt
Mind Frames - Shorts about Mental Health and Personal Struggle
Art and Mental Health - Transforming Personal Struggle to Public Stories
World Class Animation 2 - Animated Shorts, Hosted by Connie Nartonis Thompson (Frankenweenie, Animal Farm, Beauty & the Beast)
Women in Film - Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Purple Magnet Productions
Bloodred and Black 1 - Horror Shorts, Sponsored by Patrick Crawford Real Estate
Documentary Feature - Hockeytown, Sponsored by The Rock Lobsters
Afterglow Party @ Paloma Park w/music videos
Saturday, Aug 16, 2025
Pitchfest Presented by The Lightroom–ATH (Invite Only!)
Pitchfest at The Lightroom–ATH invites filmmakers to pitch their projects live to industry pros—open to both participants and attendees ready to watch the action unfold. Invite Only!
Saturday morning Cartoons - Animation Shorts
Witness some of the latest and greatest animated shorts around the world. FREE and open to the public!
Saturday Registration - Ticket Office Opens
Registration and ticket office opens. Buy your passes at any time during the festival!
Documentary Shorts
Witness some of the latest and greatest documentary shorts from around the world
AI Isn’t the Director, You Are: Using Emerging Technologies to Tell Your Story - Powered by the Atlanta International AI Film Festival (AIAIFF
A conversation on how indie and student filmmakers can use emerging technologies to bring bold ideas to life, accelerate production, and reimagine what’s possible, without losing creative control.
Feature Selection - Mass State Lottery
Film screening followed by Q&A with filmmakers.
Reel Peaches Georgia Shorts 2 - Sponsored by Athens Film Office
Screenings are followed by Q&A with filmmakers.
Golden Hour Networking Sponsored by Creature Comforts
Meet filmmakers and industry professionals at one of our sponsored venues, Creature Comforts. ONE complimentary drink ticket for all-access passholders.
Laugh Your Ath Off Comedy Shorts 2 - Sponsored by Leslie Jones Law
Comedy short films from around the world.
Documentary Feature - Middletown, Followed by Q&A with Rachel Raimist
Film screening followed by Q&A with television director Dr. Rachel Raimist (Bel-Air, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Sex Life, Wu-Tang: An American Saga)
JOKERJOKERtv's Local Music Video Showcase
JOKERJOKERtv brings together the vibrant music and film scenes of Athens with a weekly YouTube livestream showcasing the very best in local music videos. Now, in collaboration with the Athens Film Festival, they’re taking it to the next level with a special in-person event: a curated Best of the Best showcase featuring standout music videos released over the past year. Join us in celebrating the incredible talent of our local bands and filmmakers. Come cheer on your favorite artists and be part of a night that honors creativity, community, and the power of music on film!
Red Carpet & Happy Hour
Red Carpet & Happy Hour.
Best in the Globe 3 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Witness the latest and greatest short films from around the globe.
Special Presentation - The Accountant, follow by Q&A with Writer/Director Ray McKinnon and Lead Actor Eddie King with cast/crew
A special screening of the Oscar winning short film, "The Accountant", will be followed by a Q&A with Writer/Director Ray McKinnon and cast/crew
Closing Night - A Cell Phone Movie
US Premiere of "A Cell Phone Movie" Presented by Ciné
Best in the Globe 4 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Witness the latest and greatest short films from around the globe.
Bloodred and Black 2 - Horror Shorts, Sponsored by Patrick Crawford Real Estate
Witness the latest and greatest horror short films from around the world.
Closing Night Party @ Little Kings
Free drink ticket available to All-access Pass holders at Little Kings!
Pitchfest Presented by The Lightroom–ATH (Invite Only!)
Saturday morning Cartoons - Animation Shorts
Documentary Shorts
Reel Peaches Georgia Shorts 2 - Sponsored by Athens Film Office
Documentary Feature - Middletown, Followed by Q&A with Rachel Raimist
Special Presentation - The Accountant, follow by Q&A with Writer/Director Ray McKinnon and Lead Actor Eddie King with cast/crew
Bloodred and Black 2 - Horror Shorts, Sponsored by Patrick Crawford Real Estate
AI Isn’t the Director, You Are: Using Emerging Technologies to Tell Your Story - Powered by the Atlanta International AI Film Festival (AIAIFF
Laugh Your Ath Off Comedy Shorts 2 - Sponsored by Leslie Jones Law
Best in the Globe 3 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Best in the Globe 4 - Top Narrative Shorts Sponsored by Rooster High Productions
Sunday, Aug 17, 2025
Best of the Fest - Top Narrative Shorts
Witness an encore screening of the latest and greatest short films from around the globe.
Encore Presentation - Withdrawal
Available to individual ticket, All-access and Full Screening passholders
Athens Student Showcase
Screenings are followed by Q&A with filmmakers.