Spike Jonze meets “Citizen Kane” in the cutting edge, critically acclaimed independent films screening at the 24th annual Atlanta Film & Video Festival presented by IMAGE Film & Video Center, May 13 - 21, 2000. This year’s AFVF is proud to offer Atlanta audiences premiere screenings of over 120 award winning animated, narrative, experimental, student, and documentary works by such noted filmmakers as Director Jim McKay (“Girls Town,” “Our Song”), Animator Bill Plympton and Pulitzer Prize nominated Journalist and Director Kevin McKiernan. The Festival will also include educational panel discussions, informative seminars about video and filmmaking, guest appearances by filmmakers, video artists, actors and media professionals from around the world and a new feature entitled the “Digi-ATL: AFVF Media Showcase,” the Southeast’s premiere location to explore the new technological possibilities that have recently opened to independent filmmakers and their audiences.

Executive produced by Athens, GA native and R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe, “Spring Forward” presents a character study of an unlikely friendship. Liev Shreiber (“The Hurricane”), Campbell Scott (“Dying Young”) and Ned Beatty (“Deliverance”) lead an all star cast in the AFVF’s opening night film. The hit of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the Southeastern premiere of “Spring Forward” will be Saturday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Rich Auditorium of the High Museum of Art. A gala reception will follow at Center Space in the High.

One of the most talked about features at this past year’s Berlin Film Festival, “George Washington” will be the closing night film for the Festival. Lensed by Director David Gordon Green, “George Washington” is a raw, authentic portrayal of young people in a rarely seen corner of America. Set in the landscape of a small rural town, the film follows a group of working class kids caught in a tragic lie when the narrator, a twelve-year old girl, breaks up with her boyfriend because she has found another “man” in George, an older, albeit only by one year, boy. An unexpected event ensues thrusting the kids into a world of adult consequences where they must struggle to balance their own ambitions and relationships. The Southeastern premiere of “George Washington” will be on Sunday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. at United Artists Tara Cinema.

“This year’s festival should one of our largest ever in terms of the number of film programs, informative seminars about video and filmmaking and film industry panel discussions that we will offer,” says Atlanta Film & Video Festival Director, Genevieve McGillicuddy. “Most importantly, however, we are aiming to bring more artists from all over the U.S. and the world to Atlanta to show their films and share their knowledge about filmmaking. This is a very exciting time for us, and a great lead up to our 25th anniversary celebration planned for next year.” In addition to film screenings, Executive Director Brian Newman ads that Digi-ATL, the AFVF Media Showcase, is one of the most important additions to the Festival in its 24 year history: “Digi-ATL will allow Southeastern filmmakers to tap into the power of new technology by learning about the opportunities and resources available. In a very informative and educational, yet casual, environment, the Atlanta Film & Video Festival will be helping independent filmmakers to ride the digital wave to a better, and less expensive, future in filmmaking.”

Venues for the Festival include AMC Phipps Plaza 14 Theaters, Buckhead Backlot 6 AMC Theaters, Tara United Artists Theater, the Carter Center, the Rich Auditorium, the Walter Hill Auditorium and the Garden Hills Theater. Ticket prices range from $4 to $20, and may be purchased beginning May 2 by calling (404) 352-4254, or going online at www.ticketweb.com.