Atlanta Film Festival 2025 (Day 8) - HOCA Studio presents: Making Independent Films Without Permission

From the venue:

HOCA Studio presents: Making Independent Films Without Permission

But in the development stage, even after honing the craft through years of experience, many indie filmmakers qualified and ready for their first feature come up against one form or another of rejection, inaccessibility, and gate keeping. We know this industry has never been a meritocracy. And in those moments, sometimes the best course of action is about not waiting for permission to tell your story. 

Coherence (2013) is a science-fiction film surrounded by, even a decade later, a worldwide cult following and an enduring genre legacy. But back when it was just a script, Writer/Director James Ward Byrkit recalls hearing nothing but reasons why it wouldn’t get made from the powers that be. So he set out to film it without permission, reverse engineering the script to keep it contained, while employing resources and skills he knew he already had access to. 

Using Coherence as a case study, Byrkit, along with local filmmakers in different stages of their own feature films, discuss the process of independent development and funding outside of an often inaccessible studio system. Creating locally in Atlanta, on our own terms, without permission, and without sacrificing safety.

Screening of Coherence to follow. 

Join us!

Speakers: 

James Ward Byrkit (Writer/Director)

Jenna Kanell (Director/Actor/Stunt Performer) 

Tony Poon (Producer) 

Christian Nolan Jones (Writer/Director) 

Moderator: 
 
Thang Ho (Producer/Director)