Atlanta Film Festival Creative Sustainability Summit

Join Seed&Spark for the Atlanta Film Festival Creative Sustainability Summit!

Presented by Dolly Card, join us for an exciting FREE one-day educational event focused on bringing the local independent film community together and thriving as a storyteller living in the Southeast.

Network with fellow filmmakers, attend workshops and panels, and have fun at the 2025 Atlanta Film Festival. This in-person event will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025, at The Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, GA.

Don't miss this chance to connect with industry professionals and advance your craft. We'll see you there!

Run of Show:

• 10 - 11:15 AM: Crowdfunding to Build Independence Workshop
• 11:30 AM - 1 PM: Distribution Down Low Workshop
• 1 - 2 PM: Lunch
• 2 - 3 PM: Industry Insights Panel
• 3 - 4 PM: Building Creative Sustainability Locally Panel
• 4 - 6 PM: Networking Mixer presented by Dolly Card & Producers Guild of America

About the Organizers:

is the area’s preeminent celebration of cinema. ATLFF is one of the largest and longest-running festivals in the country, welcoming an audience of over 28,000 to discover hundreds of new independent, international, animated, documentary, and short films, selected from 8000+ submissions from all over the world. It is also the most distinguished event in its class, recognized as Best Film Festival by Creative Loafing, Sunday Paper, 10Best, and Atlanta Magazine.

is the most successful crowdfunding platform for independent filmmaking in the world. Since its inception in 2012, it has helped filmmakers raise more than $50 million to make thousands of movies and shows. Seed&Spark shifts power to communities, making it possible for creators everywhere to make their work sustainably, while accelerating and amplifying its impact.

Info: Most people think about crowdfunding simply as a fundraising tool, but we will show you how it's so much more than that. Discover how to have a successful crowdfunding campaign... and career! You’ll learn how to find your audience, structure your crowdfunding campaign, pick the right goal and incentives, and more.

Info: So you’ve made a movie or show, and now you want to share it with the world! But what comes next? Seed&Spark’s Founder & CEO Emily Best will break down the current distribution landscape for independent feature films and TV, including the economics of different avenues to take, the right questions to ask potential partners, and other information to arm yourself with as you enter negotiations.

Info: A conversation on how to make the most of your career living in the Southeast. Moderator: Sav Rodgers (Film Director). Panelists: Christie Marchese (Kinema), Jermaine Johnson (3Arts), Bem Joiner (Atlanta Influences Everything), and Nekisa Cooper (TPS).

Info: A panel celebrating fostering a local, sustainable artistic practice by leaning into your local community. Moderator: Emily Best (Seed&Spark). Panelists: Seith Mann (Director), Mikkoh (Artist) Steve Cainas (Producers Guild of America), Amber Bournett (House of June), and Kiah Clingman (Filmmaker).

Info: The mixer will take place in the Atlanta Film Festival tent behind The Plaza Theatre.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, United States