Over 100 Films Screening
The Atlanta Women’s Film Festival held its inaugural festival in October 2020, during the height of the pandemic. The one-day festival was a hit and brought a spotlight to women filmmakers from all over the world. Five years later, for the first time, the Atlanta Women’s Film Festival has expanded into four days, taking place from September 24-28, 2025, at the 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta.
According to Cinema Life Founder and CEO Caroline King, the Atlanta Women’s Film Festival typically accepts 20–30 films, but with this year’s expansion, it will screen over 100 films.
Cinema Life is a festival production collective based in Atlanta that curates multiple independent film festivals annually, including the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival, Southern Horror Film Festival, Georgia Shorts, and Summer in the South. Cinema Life’s mission is to provide inclusive, filmmaker-first experiences that foster creativity, connection, and career growth. Atlanta Women’s Film Festival is under the umbrella of Cinema Life.
King said only the top 30% of submissions are selected, with judges evaluating originality, acting and chemistry, dialogue, sound quality, pacing, and story structure. To make things fair, King finds herself reaching out to directors after they submit if they are missing things in their application to make sure they don’t lose easy points, like forgetting to submit a director’s biography or film poster.
“We want everybody to have that chance,” said King, which isn’t a common practice in film submissions.
This year’s festival will feature:
- Narrative, Documentary, Animated, and Experimental Films from across Georgia, the U.S., and international markets.
- Post-screening Q&A sessions with filmmakers and industry professionals.
- Panel discussions on women’s impact in Georgia’s film sector.
- Networking opportunities.
- An awards ceremony recognizing excellence in multiple categories, including Best Georgia Film, Best Director, and AWFF’s Trailblazer Award.
- Exclusive intimate conversations featuring high-profile film industry panelists.
Uplifting Women in Film
Being in a male-dominated industry can be tough navigating as a woman, but King has found her way. When she first entered the industry, she didn’t feel like one of the “cool kids”, so she made it a part of her life’s mission to make sure anyone she encounters feels like a “cool kid”, especially in film.
Atlanta Women’s Film Festival is just one of the many ways she’s uplifting women in film.
“I just believe there’s enough out there for all of us,” said King.
To purchase your tickets to the 2025 Atlanta Women’s Film Festival, click here.
Nyesha Stone founded Carvd N Stone in 2017 to cover positive news while attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Stone has a B.A. in Journalism. She has raised over $30,000 to award grants and scholarships. She has also been featured in ESSENCE and worked with the American Black Film Festival.
