AWD South at Atlanta Film Festival
Photo by David Slocumb
AWD South had a wonderful time hosting a reception and screening of short films by our members at the Atlanta Film Festival! The Q&A was moderated by Cas Sigers, an AWD South Advisory Board Member.
The block of AWD films included:
Wise Love (Dir. Tomeka M. Winborne); Second Death (Dir. Courtney Chen); My Husband’s Escape Plan (Dir. Monique Younger); Commonality (Dir. Edina Kishonthy); Yasodhara (Dir. Shandra McDonald); A Soft Place to Fall (Dir. Elise Hines); Rain (Dir. Kristen McGary); Checkmate (Dir. Yasmin Neal)
From Live Action to Animated Futures:
Expanding the Director’s Toolkit
This panel explored animation as a powerful creative pathway for directors, using “Little Stories, Big Echoes” as a central case study. Directed by Dawn Richard and produced by Chris Hartley (Angelfish Productions), this animated series demonstrates how animation creates unique opportunities for collaboration, storytelling, and cross-disciplinary leadership.
Panelists shared both personal journeys and practical insights, examining why animation was the ideal medium for Little Stories, Big Echoes and how the project came together from concept to completion. Lisa Ferrell, former President of the Georgia Production Partnership and current Board member for ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), brings additional perspective from her work as Producer on the animated film MINE with SLOTHIQUE, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Know Your Rights Information Session with the ACLU
AWD invited their Directing and Ally Members, as well as friends and family to a Know Your Rights Information Session focusing on Immigrant Rights and First Amendment Rights.
Rosa Lopez from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will talk to members about their constitutional rights and answer questions.
The recording is in the Member Center.
Young Variety Mixer at CinemaCon
The Young Variety charity event co-sponsored by Alliance of Women Directors at CinemaCon offered attendees a mix of industry insight, networking, and exposure to upcoming opportunities through AWD.
Guests were introduced to AWD’s upcoming Back to Set event, giving them a clear understanding of how this program provides filmmakers with access to real production environments and mentorship opportunities. They also learned how major studios, and fellow sponsors, like Focus Features and Universal collaborate with advocacy organizations such as AWD to support diverse voices. This highlighted the importance of partnerships in opening doors within the entertainment industry and showed practical pathways for getting involved.
The event’s raffle and table materials reinforced awareness of AWD’s mission and resources, educating guests on how to engage with the organization, whether through membership, volunteering, or attending future events. Many walked away with a better understanding of how to build connections and stay informed about career-building opportunities in film through the Alliance.
Overall, the event blended education with access, giving attendees both inspiration and concrete next steps for engagement with the organisation.
AWD + Geffen Playhouse Community Partner Night
AWD was proud to be a Community Partner with the Geffen Playhouse for a recent performance of Master Harold…and the Boys. We had a great time connecting with theatergoers in the lobby, sharing more about our work, and experiencing a powerful production together. Looking forward to more collaborations ahead!
AWD South Book Club – “BE THE TRAIN” – Selina Ringel
April’s Book Club was an interactive session with Selina sharing that the inspiration behind her book was a simple but powerful idea: “Be the train”—stop waiting for others to open doors and instead create your own path forward. She walked attendees through parts of her journey, including how she raised $2 million to produce her film and secure distribution.
The session ended with a “popcorn brainstorm,” a place for directors to share challenges while Selina offered creative, outside-the-box solutions in real time.
Selina brought an incredible energy to the conversation that left attendees all motivated to embrace nontraditional approaches and move their projects forward.
Directing the Actor Lab Class #7
AWD’s Directing the Actor Lab is a popular annual program taught by AWD Founder and USC Professor Jennifer Warren. The selected Directors meet for monthly sessions to enhance their experience working with actors. Topics covered include in-depth scene breakdowns, rehearsal exercises and techniques, and playable direction and adjustments for actors.
Donna Wheeler, Jasia Ka, and Radha Mehta presented in-class rehearsals for feedback from Jennifer and their fellow directors.
Social Sunday in the Park
April’s Social Sunday was held in person in Los Angeles. AWD Directing and Ally Members and their families enjoyed the outdoors while catching up with each other and building community.
Conversations included our members’ Oscar-qualifying films, upcoming festivals and screenings, and films in production. Discussions were had about the best ways members can support each other and share resources.
Fade In – Writers Tool Workshop
AWD Directing and Ally Members were treated to a virtual training on Fade In Professional Screenwriting Software.
Participants learned how FadeIn streamlines screenwriting workflows, especially with features like auto-formatting (scene headings, margins, indentation) and auto-populating characters and locations, which saves time and reduces manual errors.
The group saw how advanced editing tools improve script quality, such as the dialogue tuner that isolates a single character’s lines to check for voice consistency, and the ability to create alternate lines or scene versions without duplicating entire documents.
A major insight was how revision and production tools align with industry standards, including color-coded revisions, locked page/scene numbering, and detailed reports (e.g., character dialogue breakdowns, location lists, inclusivity metrics) that support both writing and production planning.
Participants also explored collaboration and safety features, like cloud-based editing through FadeIn Access, real-time collaboration similar to Google Docs, and robust autosave/versioning systems to prevent loss of work.
Finally, they learned how tagging and export options bridge writing and production, allowing elements like props, wardrobe, or stunts to be tracked and exported into other production tools or formats.
AWD Directing and Ally Members can check their Member Center for a discount code.
Works in Progress Program
April’s Works in Progress Program event started with a candid discussion with Echo Lake managers Mike Marcus and Matt Horwitz. Topics included securing representation, best practices for working with your reps, and the current state of the industry.
Short films by Imole Ladipo and Vickie Sampson were then screened for feedback from fellow members.