AWD SOUTH at Cine Gear ATL
AWD South hosted a panel highlighting Southern women directors at this year’s Cine Gear Atlanta. AWD South Co-Chairs Elise Hines and Tomeka Winborne moderated this powerful discussion with filmmakers Terri J. Vaughn (AWD South Advisory Board Member), Angela Barnes (AWD Icon Member), and Monique Younger (AWD Board Member). Topics included why filmmakers chose to stay in the South while navigating their careers, prioritizing family, and pivoting from other roles to directing. AWD South also held court with a table throughout the convention, introducing the community to all that AWD offers its members, partners, and filmmaking community.
Writer X Director Mixer
AWD Directing Members got together with writers for an informal get-together in Los Angeles to inspire creativity and new projects. Held bi-annually, these mixers are a great place for directors and writers to connect for potential partnerships.
Immersive Storytelling with Dolby Atmos + Vision
Last month, AWD members were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at the legendary Dolby Vine Theater in Hollywood, where storytelling met state-of-the-art technology.
Led by Nate Jackson, Manager of Content Relations at Dolby Laboratories, the immersive demo explored how Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision are reshaping the way audiences engage with sound and image. From dynamic, multidimensional audio to breathtaking HDR visuals, attendees saw and heard firsthand how these tools can elevate emotional impact, deepen immersion, and amplify a director’s creative vision.
Nate also shared practical guidance on how directors can integrate these technologies into their workflows — whether they’re prepping an indie feature or pitching a studio project.
Pitching Event + Mixer with The Women’s List
AWD’s Pitching Event + Mixer with writers from The Women’s List was a fantastic event that consisted of “speed dating” pitches followed by a networking session. Each writer and director met for 3-4 minutes, getting to know each other and hearing feature pitches across genres.
The Women’s List works to change the narrative that women and gender-expansive writers are less accomplished than their male counterparts and that their stories are less significant. You can learn more, and see their list of writers/scripts on their website.
Works in Progress Program
October’s Works in Progress program was held virtually and screened the following great projects by AWD Directing Members:
My Hot Ex-Boyfriend Moved Next Door (Vertical) by Monique Sorgen
Rocketship (Short) by Iris Almaraz
Ballet Beyond Borders (Short) by Anise Fuller
Attendees provided thoughtful and encouraging feedback, making for a productive and inspiring event.
AWD South Book Club
AWD South held an intimate and detailed discussion with Maureen A. Ryan about production and her book, “Producer to Producer.”
“This was my first time attending an AWD Book Club, and it definitely won’t be my last! Our session with Maureen Ryan, discussing her book Producer to Producer, was such a great experience. Maureen was so generous and down-to-earth, really taking the time to answer all of our questions. I’m in pre-production on a feature I’m directing, so it was amazing to get her advice on things like fiscal sponsorship, building my team, and working with a child actor.” – AWD Directing Member M.C. Huff
Film Stream Mixer
AWD Members were invited to attend the monthly FilmStream Networking Group’s October Meet Up. It was a great gathering of industry professionals who work in all parts of production. Light bites and engaging conversations were had.
LTX Studio live demo
AWD recently hosted a dynamic live virtual workshop with LTX Studio, offering members a first-hand look at how AI can become a powerful creative partner in the directing process.
Designed specifically for filmmakers, the session walked attendees through how LTX Studio can support every stage of production – from early concepts and pre-vis to pitch materials and storytelling tools.
Using real-world examples, the team demonstrated how directors can:
• Instantly visualize concepts using AI-generated images and video
• Build storyboards directly from scripts or outlines
• Add voiceover, music, and motion to scenes — all within one intuitive platform
The result? A new layer of creative control and collaboration, tailored for directors ready to harness tech without compromising vision.
Thanks to the team at LTX Studio for sharing their tools and insights — and to all who joined us to explore the future of storytelling.