Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival
Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival
ATL Spotlight is Atlanta’s end of year short film festival. The event screens the top short films of the year across drama, comedy, horror, documentary, animation, experimental work and more.
About Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival
ATL Spotlight Film Festival
ATL Spotlight is Atlanta’s end of year showcase for the best short films of the season. Each December, the festival screens the top shorts from Georgia filmmakers and from the wider indie film community. The goal is simple. Bring the strongest work of the year together in one place.
Spotlight highlights drama, comedy, horror, documentary, animation, experimental films, and more. The event runs as a single day festival so every selected film plays in front of a full room. Audiences come ready to watch the best of the year, and filmmakers get a focused platform in the middle of Atlanta’s film scene.
Awards include Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Director, Audience Choice, and a full set of core categories that recognize standout short filmmaking. The festival also includes meetups and space for filmmakers to connect with each other and with local audiences.
If you’re searching for Atlanta short film festivals or planning to submit a short film in Georgia, ATL Spotlight brings together the top work of the year in one tight program.
Award Categories:
Film of the Year
Best Narrative Short
Best Drama Short
Best Comedy Short
Best Horror Short
Best Documentary Short
Best Local Short
Best Local Director
Best Student Short
Best Animated Short
Best Music Video
Best Micro Short
Best Experimental Short
Best Director
Best Performance
Best Ensemble
Jury Award
Audience Choice
Spotlight Icon Award
Winners Receive
A Spotlight crystal trophy
Live screenings and awards on stage at the year-end showcase
Featured promotion across our websites, press releases, and social media
Why filmmakers submit to Atlanta Spotlight
• It’s Atlanta’s end of year short film festival where the top films screen together.
• Every selected film plays in front of a full audience because the event runs in one tight program.
• The festival highlights the best short films of the year across all genres.
• Georgia filmmakers get strong visibility in a competitive year end lineup.
• Out of state filmmakers submit because the audience turnout is solid and the screenings feel curated.
• Awards cover key categories like Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Director, and Audience Choice.
• It’s one of the clearest platforms in Atlanta for short filmmakers who want their work seen by engaged viewers.