Best Film Made in Atlanta

Mere existence can be an act of rebellion for cultures on the margins. Thankfully, Atlanta’s always bubbling underground of black artisans and multidisciplinary creatives is quite capable of documenting its own renaissance. That community’s rise is the focus of IF YOU KNOW THE WORDS, FEEL FREE, the 2015 documentary produced in conjunction with AfroPunk Fest’s first foray to Atlanta. Though threatening weather canceled last year’s festivities, the film — expanded from a planned short to near-feature length — deservedly took center stage. Executive produced by Glynn Murph and directed by Artemus Jenkins, it follows well-known Atlanta artist and protagonist Sean Fahie on a quest for creative inspiration that, by proxy, introduces viewers to the scene’s vibrant cast of characters. The film’s artistic direction speaks volumes. Shot in black and white, Jenkins’ approach to documentary filmmaking flows like a free jazz ensemble. With Fahie’s first-person voiceover narrating the way, the doc unfolds like a haiku more than a history lesson. Artists including Vek Neal, Michi Meko, FRKO, Mr. Soul, and Miya Bailey articulate the need to balance creative ambition with entrepreneurial vision while upholding a sense of responsibility to a larger community in a gentrifying black mecca. In a city constantly typecast by mainstream media, If You Know the Words, Feel Free paints a subversive portrait of Atlanta’s heart and soul. www.artemusjenkins.com. less...

With all the major productions it can be easy for the spotlight to shift away from the indie filmmaker. The minds at WonderRoot, the Atlanta Film Festival, and Plaza Theatre understand that and have helped keep our local talent in the collective consciousness with WonderRoot's Generally Local, Mostly Independent Film Series. The quarterly series puts the underdog on top, one flick at a time. www.wonderroot.org. less...

Between Tyler Perry's Atlanta-based media empire, Georgia's financial incentives for film production, and Screen Gems' new deal to convert Lakewood Fairgrounds into a soundstage, the A has increasingly raised its profile as a destination for making movies and television shows. Perhaps no project could do more for the city's cachet than the local filming of "THE WALKING DEAD," American Movie Classics' undead miniseries developed by director Frank Darabont and based on the cult graphic novel series of the same name. AMC is essentially the new HBO, boasting such critically acclaimed fare as "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad." If "The Walking Dead" lives up to those shows when it debuts in November, it could boost our cool factor by several orders of magnitude. Either way, it's always fun having zombies around. &emdash;www.amctv.com/originals/The-Walking-Dead less...

Let's face it. Cable is full of reality TV shows that depict the fact and fantasy surrounding music's pop celebs — many of whom reside right here in our city. But none of the shows rep the real like the mini-doc series "THE STAND ON DEMAND." For three years, the Comcast OnDemand series (available under Real City TV) has documented the underground hip-hop talent rarely seen or heard on the boobage tubage, including such local artists as Binkis Recs, DJ Rasta Root and Floyd the Locsmif. A sense of the city's underlying culture emerges with each episode, as artists reveal the love of craft that keeps them committed in spite of their indie struggles. Produced by Eljay Williams, with still photography by his wife, Shari, "The Stand On Demand" is the best reason to re-up on that ovepriced Comcast subscription. www.myspace.com/thestandondemand. less...