Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
February 17 - February 28
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is thrilled to announce the return of its annual festival, the 21st edition, to be held as a hybrid event across 12 days from Feb. 17-28, 2021. In response to the ongoing pandemic, AJFF has reimagined the festival experience to combine at-home virtual screenings with select drive-in movies, expanded conversation with filmmakers and special guests, as well as other unique components that prioritize the safety, comfort and convenience of audiences.
The 2021 AJFF film lineup, to be announced over the coming weeks, will include over 30 narrative and documentary features plus short film offerings, representing a diversity of genres and subjects. Powered by CineSend, the festival’s Virtual Cinema will allow audiences to access the very best in international cinema from a smart TV, home theater, computer, tablet or other mobile device.
In addition, thanks to an exclusive partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AJFF will also offer a limited number of drive-in screenings in the 11-acre The Home Depot Backyard greenspace, a spectacular backdrop for a physically distanced but shared moviegoing experience.
Always core to the festival’s mission of fostering dialogue, AJFF will continue its commitment to community conversation with enhanced guest programming, including speaker introductions and extensive Q&A panels that further explore the themes and topics presented onscreen.
“Cinematic stories feed the soul at a time when we need the help of film artists to make sense of our world, to be inspired, and to reignite our shared sense of humanity. Our festival staff and volunteers have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the core tenets of the festival – community, representation, storytelling and experience – are preserved in our 2021 hybrid edition,” says AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank. “It’s gratifying to see that, despite the pandemic, the pipeline of new films on Jewish themes is as strong as ever. We look forward to being ‘together through film’ in February, our motto for these COVID times.”
Additional details on films, virtual screenings, programming, and drive-in dates to come soon.
About Atlanta Jewish Film Festival: AJFF’s mission is to entertain and engage diverse audiences with film through a Jewish lens while simultaneously challenging conventional perspectives on culture and history, life in Israel, and the work of Jewish artists – particularly where these stories intersect with other communities. While traditional in-person programs are on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, AJFF has launched a series of virtual initiatives to serve its audience, including the “In Conversation” podcast and webinar series, a 20th anniversary “Playback” bracket-style film competition, and the “AJFF Recommends” online catalog of Jewish cinema. In addition to its core programs, AJFF continues to work alongside its many partner organizations to support the greater Atlanta community while raising the bar for film festivals worldwide. Founded by the Atlanta Regional Office of American Jewish Committee (AJC) in 2000, AJFF has operated as an independent non-profit arts organization since 2014, while continuing an active partnership with its founding agency.