Bringing Global Stories to Athens: Building a Film Festival That Connects Communities

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX Studio in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for Atlanta Business Radio, brought to you by My Global Presence, the award winning Atlanta public relations agency that elevates brands and non-profits through authentic storytelling and national media campaigns. Find them at myglobalpresence.com. Now, here’s your host.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor. Hear another episode of Atlanta Business Radio. And this is going to be a good one. But before we get started, it’s important to recognize our sponsor, My Global Presence. If you want global visibility and meaningful impact, go to myglobalpresence.com. Today on the show, we have the executive director with the Athens Film Festival, Chuck Griffin. Welcome.

Chuck Griffin: Hey, thanks for having me.

Lee Kantor: Well, I am so excited to learn what you’re up to. Tell us about the Athens Film Festival.

Chuck Griffin: You know, we started it 2024, August of 2024. So we’re on year three now. So we’re kind of younger film festival. But you know, there hadn’t been a film festival or an international film festival in Athens for quite some time. There have been film festivals come and go in the city. And I mean, when I talk to people before I started this, they were kind of surprised that there wasn’t one. So I thought about it for years and just kind of decided if someone’s going to do it, I needed to. So that’s kind of the short story.

Lee Kantor: So what is just educate our listeners a little bit. So what is a film festival like? We hear about them. There’s some more famous than others, but they’re happening all the time, it seems. But what happens at a film festival for someone who’s never been.

Chuck Griffin: Sure. I mean, well to put it simply, it’s films all day for, you know, as many days as a film festival lasts. So really it’s it depends on the location, but there are about 12,000 film festivals around the world. And, um, I mean, you, you think of it like a music festival, but with films and, you know, um, there could be films, local films, it could be a local film festival, it could be a film festival. That has to do with certain types of stories and themes. It can be an international festival like ours, which really focuses on like global stories, films from France, Australia, Greece, you know, all over the place. And it’s really just a celebration of film to filmmakers. It is a way to network and just grow as a filmmaker in the industry. There’s a lot of industry presence in most film festivals, but in between that, in between screenings, you know, those networking opportunities take place and filmmakers meet each other kind of convergence of filmmakers as well as the films that are being played there.

Lee Kantor: So you mentioned that in Athens there hadn’t been one or there sporadically been some over the years. What was kind of your vision in saying, okay, this is why we should have one here, and this is what we’re going to try to accomplish by, you know, putting all the effort and work to, to spin something up like this from nothing is extremely big lift on your part and your team’s part. So what were you what was kind of the best case scenario in your mind?

Chuck Griffin: Um, I was born and raised in Athens and growing up here. Um, it is, uh, it’s always been a festival town. It’s a, it’s a town that celebrates, um, art, uh, any type of art. And not only that, but obviously football. Um, it’s, it’s just a town that never stops. Um, Uh, I guess never stops embracing different different events and festivals. Um, you can really start any sort of festival, uh, in this town. That being said, um, just coming from a kind of a film background. Um, I kind of realized in, uh, college or especially in film school, um, that I was not, uh, cut out for the industry. I was not too interested in making films, but I was more interested in showing films and honoring filmmakers. Um, just given that passion and kind of growing up here and having seen kind of a drought in the celebration of film here, um, uh, a movie studios, uh, opened up in 2023 or 4, I believe. And that kind of was the trigger that made me say like, you know, someone’s going to do it soon. And I wanted it to be very Athens, uh, facing audience facing, um, because that’s what every festival seems to be in this town. So just just all those things kind of, um, combined, uh, gave me a really strong vision for this and, and the confidence to sort of execute it properly.

Lee Kantor: So now Athens obviously has a history from music standpoint, pretty strong. And do they have a history in the film as well. Um, where films were birthed there or some film makers were birthed there or connected in some way to Athens? Is there a thread of film through Athens as well as music?

Chuck Griffin: You know, aside from the university, just a film school there. There have been a couple of big films made here, um, that are prominent and kind of showcase Athens on the big screen, so to speak. But outside of that, no, it’s really a music legacy. I mean, Athens is a football and music legacy and it always will be. I mean, you know, with film, is it possible? Yes. Um, we we celebrate both local Georgia local Georgia film with international films. Um, and really the, the Athens culture is kind of the, I’d say the music culture was built by the audience in the 80s. The, the, the people here really built this, the venues, uh, the love of music, it all kind of was inspired by, um, the drive to make it happen, whether it was bar owners, uh, venue owners or just fans of music, they kind of built this scene in the 80s and kind of established this ground where, where festivals take place. And it’s kind of a zone where people just find it natural to celebrate any form of art because of that. That was that was laid the groundwork that was laid.

Lee Kantor: Now, when you started and you had the idea and you said, okay, I’m the right person to pull this off. Um, what were some of kind of the iterations you thought of in your mind when you were starting? Like, did you think like, okay, we’re going to make this southern films or the southeast or regional or was it always kind of international first? Um, you know, with Georgia obviously being part of that. What was kind of the thinking and the versions of it that you were contemplating before you landed on where you landed on?

Chuck Griffin: Sure. Um, I always had Georgia and local films in mind, but I didn’t want to include them without the rest of the world. You know, I, when I think about thought about this festival, I wanted people from outside Athens to see the celebration of their art and get it. Get what? Athens is, just like people around Athens do. I wanted them to see it. I thought if I could get that and accomplish that for, you know, say, a filmmaker in Canada or Ghana or Nigeria, um, if I could accomplish that, uh, I, I, I, I, I was a success here for the people here. So that was kind of my idea and vision. Um, also, like, you know, when you talk about business, it’s, it’s really a nonprofit background is really important when getting into this. You know, if you don’t kind of respect the business side of things and, and what it takes to keep a nonprofit or business alive, you know, you’re not, I don’t think you’re cut out to run any sort of event. Uh, at least in the long term, you know.

Lee Kantor: So part of what you were trying to do is to draw people from all over the world to Athens, to experience kind of the secret sauce of Athens. And that’s part of it then. So then you say, okay, we’re going to open this up to the world. Um, from a, a person, like you said, there’s 12,000 film festivals. What’s going to attract a filmmaker to say, okay, there’s 12,000 of these out here, but for sure, I’m going to Athens.

Chuck Griffin: Sure. The audience, I would say, is the biggest pull or draw for a filmmaker. Um, so I would say a lot of film festivals, most of them are, are, um, the presence is heavily geared toward industry and filmmakers and industry professionals. Um, they don’t necessarily market to just regular community. Um, because, uh, it’s, it’s more of an industry type event or appeals more to industry and filmmakers, you know, in Athens, uh, the target audience, the majority of our attendees are, uh, community based and, and, uh, surrounding cities. So really what a filmmaker gets is an authentic audience, an audience that isn’t, um, in the same industry as they are. And, um, you know, when you make a film and you tell a story, you know, at least in personally for me, if I was to make a film and tell a story, uh, I would want someone just randomly off the street to be my audience because I want their reaction. Um, I don’t necessarily want to judge or a jury member of a film festival or even an industry pro or a colleague to watch it, because I know them. Um, I know their work. I’m familiar with the business we’re involved in. Um, when you just show it to just some random person off the street, um, whether they like your type of film or not to get their reaction is the most authentic experience is what filmmakers make movies for. And that’s what you get when you, when you play your film here in Athens.

Lee Kantor: So now you mentioned that this is going to be kind of an audience first experience for the filmmaker. The audience is going to be regular people. It’s going to be an authentic response. Is there any structure around that response or is the filmmaker there just kind of observing and seeing how people react? Or is there some some form of kind of, um, you know, getting input from the audience, almost like a focus group where you’re kind of capturing, you know, different feelings about it.

Chuck Griffin: Um, filmmakers who are there, uh, get to do a Q&A after their screening. It’s a Q&A with either one of our jury members or us or, um, and it’s, you know, it can be like a 15 to a 30 minute Q&A, you know, talk about the film and then a question. Um, you know, hand the questions to the audience sort of thing. So there’s definitely some interaction there. And, um, just throughout the whole festival, um, just meeting the audience and being in the same room as, you know, people in the community as well as filmmakers, you kind of get that feedback there as well. So it’s definitely, um, definitely a good focus on the filmmaker when they’re there for their film. You know, we screen their film and, uh, you know, if they’re up for it, we, we kind of interview them and do a Q&A.

Lee Kantor: And that that’s an important component. And I’m sure you would recommend the filmmaker take advantage of that, right? Because you want to get as much authentic response as you possibly can.

Chuck Griffin: Yeah. I mean, it’s pretty commonplace for any film festival, especially if the filmmakers are there to sort of honor them with some time to talk about how they came up. You know, just answer any questions about their film. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: Now, in your experience, how are you viewing kind of the state of the Union when it comes to film? Um, you know, it’s kind of a transitional time for film and theaters. Um, what’s your take?

Chuck Griffin: Um. Oh, boy. You know, I don’t know if I’m, as, you know, as someone who hasn’t spent too much time in the film industry and just kind of like as an audience member, so to speak, I mean, everyone’s opinion is valid. Um, whether they’re in that or not. Um, I do feel like, you know, there is a bit of, um, isolation that’s, that’s, that’s gradually gotten, um, it’s gotten more isolating the, the, the viewer experience, um, not just in theaters, but just individually. Um, you know, streaming has kind of taken over you, you, you watch things on your phone, you know, the, the experience of watching a story or ingesting a story is is kind of isolated. Um, I seem to think that, um, you know, when you’re, I guess. Mm.

Lee Kantor: Well, I mean, that’s why a film festival is important because that you’re bringing human beings together to all experience this in a communal fashion.

Chuck Griffin: Yeah. And, and I think we, we see less and less of that in our daily lives. Um, you know, the theaters, uh, theaters are struggling, I would say. Um, and, um, it’s, it’s not mainstream to think that, you know, I’m going to go to a theater to watch this movie and enjoy it with other people. It’s more mainstream to be like, you know, this is available on my TV now. Do I have time? And you’re watching it and then you, you’re looking at your phone while you’re watching the movie. You know, it’s kind of there. Um, so things have just changed. I think, I think the, the whole programing of the whole thing has changed. And the, um, the industry is flooded with so many more films now. It’s like, where do you go? Um, uh, do you, do you, do you get this subscription? Do you get that one? Um, you know, it’s all over the place and we’re certainly, there’s certainly a lot of independence in seeking out films, but there is a disconnect when you’re kind of doing it on your own and, you know, the other person’s on some other platform and, you know, uh.

Lee Kantor: But are you seeing are you are you seeing more and more independent filmmakers, um, taking a shot and trying and making films? And I mean, if there’s 12000 film festivals, that’s a lot of people doing this, uh, you know, taking a shot no matter, you know, what’s happening, uh, theaters and on streaming and things like that. But they must believe that this is something, um, they should be doing or else there wouldn’t be this many people doing it.

Chuck Griffin: Sure. You know, I’m ever since doing this, I’ve gotten more, um, in touch with what’s going on. And you know how the independent, you know, uh, independent filmmakers and, um, you know, how many people are doing it, so to speak? I’m kind of, I’m, I’m amazed sometimes because it’s intimidating to me to, to make a film, you know, um, it’s, it’s hard to imagine doing it because, you know, I’ve always said it, it takes no money to write a song. It takes no money to write a poem or, you know, make a painting, but it takes a lot of money and a lot of people to make a film. Um, so many people are making it, you know, uh, there’s so many projects going on. Um, especially when doing this festival. We get so many from Georgia and locally. Um, it’s amazing to see. And I, I admire, uh, the, the, the passion and the commitment that it kind of takes to, you know, find a crew of filmmakers and, and get actors and just everything that goes into it. Um, and raising the money to do it, um, somehow find a way, you know, um, I think when you want to tell a story and you put yourself out there, You get a lot of support and people, um, who love, um, film and, you know, whether it’s acting or camera work or, you know, they want to do that, they’re hungry for it and they want to work and collaborate on, on making a film. It’s, it’s, it’s, it’s fun. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: And then you’re part of this community though. You’re a place where they can all come together as one and then network, like you said, you know, share their film with others, uh, you know, giving people a chance to see a lot of film in a short period of time. I mean, what you’re doing, you’re an important community member in this industry.

Chuck Griffin: Yeah. I mean, it’s nice to, um, provide that, um, you know, uh, I’m, I’m very focused on making sure, you know, the films that deserve to get in, get in. Um, and it’s hard to say no to so many because we want all of them, you know, we want as many show as many films as possible. And, you know, thinking about that audience. Um, just wanting to serve the audience. I think by proxy, we end up serving the filmmaker and doing doing it ends up doing its job. And filmmakers really make the most of the opportunity when you just kind of have it, the festival there, you know, um, and, and that’s, that’s good to know because, you know, I think they see the audience show up and they get that full experience.

Lee Kantor: So now, um, so what, what, when you first did this and said, okay, we’re going to do a film festival, what was kind of your expectations in terms of entries was that, were you blown away by the number of entries?

Chuck Griffin: You know, we made? Uh, most festivals charge a submission fee. That’s, that’s commonplace, like across the board. Um, because I needed this to be international. That was kind of my vision for it. Um, we ended up making submission fees free the first year and mostly the second. So we received about 5000 the first year. It was overwhelming. Yeah. I didn’t have many people helping me watch through the movies. So watching through 5000 and a lot of them were short films. Some of them were features. So, um, just the, the, the difference in the, the, you know, it was still a lot of time watching the films. Um, but 5000 is a lot. Yeah. It was overwhelming.

Lee Kantor: So how do you even kind of curate that? Like, do you just immediately have a okay, this isn’t, you know, you got to keep narrowing it down. Like, how do you, how do you even attack 5000 of anything?

Chuck Griffin: Um, I wish I remembered how exactly I went through that. Yeah. Um, it was kind of putting the films, you know, you, you saw something, it kind of seemed like it would belong in the festival and then you put it in one list, the others, you just kind of move on. Yeah. And then it whittling it down and further down, you know? Um, so I think that’s kind of the process that I started with and kind of stuck to. Now we have people a screening committee that kind of helps watch films, and I allow them to kind of make a lot of the decisions so I don’t have to.

Lee Kantor: So then they’re in charge of like a category. So somebody watching all the short comedies and somebody watching the short dramas or documentary, whatever your categories are.

Chuck Griffin: That’s right. Yeah, yeah. Documentary, horror, comedy. And some just want to watch anything. So, um, it’s all volunteer based. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: And then, uh, how long does it take to get through the, all the entries.

Chuck Griffin: Um, to get through all the entries? Gosh, uh, probably eight months.

Lee Kantor: Wow.

Chuck Griffin: I would say yeah, 7 to 8 months.

Lee Kantor: So then you get it down, you narrow it down and then you vote amongst who’s going to there’s a winner, right? In categories.

Chuck Griffin: Sure. Yeah. I mean, we, we kind of go through the best. Um, that all this after the screeners watch and the top, top ones in the list and just whittle it down to selections. Um, you know, and I usually have to make the final selections and after they’re selected, you know, the, the selections are notified. Um, we get their films and meanwhile a jury, um, we have a jury that kind of deliberates on the awards, you know, nominees and awards for different categories.

Lee Kantor: So, so that’s separate. So one pile is just who’s invited to the festival. And then amongst that pile, then a jury decides who are the winners of the different categories.

Chuck Griffin: Yeah. So it’s, it’s a decision on who’s, which films are in, in the, in, in the competition in the festival. And then a jury decides on those, um, that number. Yeah.

Lee Kantor: Uh, so then, um, the jury, then you have a different jury for each category or it’s the same jury for all the categories.

Chuck Griffin: We have a jury for um, narratives, which is like any narrative, um, films and then a jury for documentary. So just two separate juries.

Lee Kantor: So now, right now our tickets are available or they’re going to be available this week.

Chuck Griffin: Uh, the schedule is launching tomorrow. All the selections launching and tickets are on sale tomorrow. Yep.

Lee Kantor: And then what are the dates of the festival?

Chuck Griffin: Uh, the festival is August 20th 7th to August 30th.

Lee Kantor: And then so things are happening all throughout Athens.

Chuck Griffin: Yeah. No. Uh, from the 27 to 30, it’s it’s it’s film screenings at four, five different locations, uh, in Athens, downtown Athens. And, um, there will be some networking events and workshops and panels, uh, for filmmakers throughout throughout the festival. Um, but yeah, screenings, movie screenings, going on all day, every day. Um, during the festival.

Lee Kantor: So when you’re, it sounds like you have to, when you’re building a festival, you got to have the entries. How hard is it to get the entries seem like that’s not that hard. There’s lots of people that want to submit. What about kind of getting like industry folks there? Is that difficult?

Chuck Griffin: Um, I think it is in the beginning, you know, uh, it depends. I mean, I guess the, the, the more higher profile names you want, obviously that can be more difficult. But, uh, as far as industry folks, there’s so many in Georgia, um, that are so responsive and so generous with their time. It’s, you know, uh, just finding industry pros that are close to home. Um, that’s never really an issue. And they’re always willing to help and, and be involved and kind of offer, uh, you know, um, their strengths and, and whatever’s needed, whether it’s to host a Q&A or be a part of the jury or, um, help out with a panel or workshop. They’re it, it’s not, it’s, I don’t find it difficult in, in that sense.

Lee Kantor: So what are some of the, the big things that will happen this year?

Chuck Griffin: Um, so as far as, um, the big screenings, Um, I I’m happy to announce it’s now it’s in a press release. Um, the the band sugar, it’s a legendary band from Athens in the 90s. There’s a documentary about them. It’ll be world premiering at the Athens Film Festival, um, on Saturday afternoon at the Morton Theater. Um, and our opening night feature is a world premiere as well. So world premiere means they’re choosing Athens Film Festival to be the first place they’re showing the film at. So that’s, that’s exciting. And, um, we also have a workshop, um, that is being, uh, taught by an Oscar winning producer of short film, um, on Friday. So those are just a few things, a few highlights.

Lee Kantor: And then is the, the festival happens, like for what, five days or a week, uh, once a year, but is there kind of a community that’s built around, you know, the alumni of folks who are part of that, local creators, things like that? Is there a way for everybody to kind of stay connected outside of the festival, or is this something that, okay, the festival happens and then that’s it. I’ll see you next year?

Chuck Griffin: Um, yeah, no, there there’s, you mentioned Athens kind of having a film culture. I will say it’s it’s been here for quite a while. There have been people involved with film in this town for, for, for so long. And I stepped in, you know, 2024 and met these people. And I worked with a lot of them. I get their help on the festival. I get their advice and a lot of wisdom about just, um, just film in general and, and maybe things I need help with. Um, they, they show up for the festival and, and, you know, I see them throughout the year and there’s always, there’s always activity happening around in, in this film community in Athens. Do I make films with them? No, I’m, I’m running a festival. But, uh, watching that is really educational. And it’s, it’s, it, it allows me to kind of tap into this thing that already exists. And people have done it for a long time and continue to do it as a career. Um, so the, the, um, party keeps going, so to speak, even after the festival ends, you know, and that’s not on account of me. Um, you know, the festival is something to, uh, maybe foster more of that, you know, um, it’s, it’s really up to the people in Athens, I think in Athens, you, you kind of build something and, uh, people take it and, um, they, they make of it what they can throughout the year, you know, and keep the celebration going.

Lee Kantor: So what is something that when the festival is over, uh, like what’s an outcome that’ll get you high fiving your team?

Chuck Griffin: Uh, for me. Um, so, uh, I’ve been in, I was in radio for about eight years. I worked in terrestrial radio in the Athens market. Um, I’ll say this just because we’re on a radio show. So as you can imagine, I’m all about things running on time, hitting your marks and everything being on time. I’m very military about it as long to me as it sounds pretty, uh, rigid. But as long as things play on time and, uh, you know, everything goes smoothly, that will get me high five. And yeah, I’m very technical with the whole thing. Uh, very timely. Right.

Lee Kantor: Well, you want to deliver on your promise. You know, if the thing’s supposed to start at eight, it’s starting at eight.

Chuck Griffin: Well, you know, you don’t hit your post and you, you know, you you’re you’re aware of it. I mean, I’ve been in the sound room, uh, running the sound board countless times. And, uh, you know, you got to kind of be right on time.

Lee Kantor: So what do you need more of? How can we help you? Do you need more sponsors? Do you need more? Uh, you don’t need more entries, but you need people to show up. Uh, what do you need more of?

Chuck Griffin: Yeah, I mean, uh, we’re still open for sponsorships. It’s it’s a really good deal. You know, we’re very generous and like to customize sponsorships to what businesses are all about and what they’re looking for, how to give them the most exposure. Certainly, you know, you can go to athens.com and there’s a link to become a sponsor and check out those levels. Um, otherwise just we’re just promoting hard and really want to get that crowd outside of Athens to just experience, you know, one of these festivals in Athens that, um, we all kind of embrace, um, and, and, uh, get more of that crowd outside and, and around the, uh, metro Atlanta area for sure.

Lee Kantor: Good stuff. Well, congratulations on all the success and the momentum you’ve got. I mean, you’re doing important work and we appreciate you.

Chuck Griffin: Oh, thanks so much for having me.

Lee Kantor: All right, this is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on Atlanta Business Radio.