Atlanta Film Festival 2025 (Day 7) Creative Conference - Creating Community in a Smaller Market

From the venue:

Creating Community in a Smaller Market

Moderator:

Creative Conference Director and Producer Linda Burns

Panelists:

Rhodes Farrell

Rhodes is a filmmaker who knows it takes a community. He is the founder of the Film Bar Greenville filmmakers networking group and the new Festival Director of Reedy Reels Film Festival in Greenville. He often refers to himself as a Film Support Specialist, doing whatever he can to support filmmaking in the Upstate of SC.

Hattie Smith

Hattie Smith is the owner of a thriving production company and the host of a premier film festival in partnership with the City of Sugar Hill. With a passion for storytelling, Hattie has been acting since the age of two and is dedicated to bringing creative visions to life. Through filmmaking and event curation, they continue to foster a community that celebrates the magic of the industry.

Ashley Crane

Ashley Crane is the Festival Lead and the Director of Education for the Tryon International Film Festival. She also serves as the City Producer for South Carolina's 48 Hour Film Project. Ashley is an actress and writer, and is grateful to have an incredible community of filmmakers to be a part of.

Angelina Beltrami

Angelina Beltrami is a passionate story teller with experience in film, TV, and theater. Having Directed and served as 1st AD, Script Supervisor, and PA, she brings a versatile skill set to every project. From short films to feature films and commercials, Angelina thrives in collaborative environments and is dedicated to storytelling excellence. She also loves improv and you can find her performing all over the Carolinas.

Ami McConnell

Ami McConnell founded and runs WriterFest Nashville, a gathering for writers of book, song, and film. She’s a publishing consultant who formerly served as Editor-in-Chief & VP at Simon & Schuster, acquired and edited at HarperCollins, and launched a successful fiction imprint. She works with artists of all stripes to create books including New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. For kicks and giggles she hosts The WriterFest Podcast and serves as President of the Nashville Women’s National Book Association.