DATE: 2/20/24
TIME: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
LOCATION: Manuel’s Tavern
PRICE: Free
This month at Eat, Drink & B-Indie, join ATLFS for a moderated conversation with local independent filmmakers to discuss how they have built their brands as filmmakers, the ever-evolving use of social media, and the work that they all do in the Atlanta film community.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
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Ava Davis, Sundance Fellow ('21, Trans Possibilities Intensive) and known as the Duchess of Grant Park, is a trans Actress, Producer/Filmmaker, and Writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Degree in Comparative Literature. Ava has had notable performances in New York City's Pride50 Plays, as well as Atlanta productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Peril, The Odd Couple, and Burning Bones’ Malicious Compliance, an adaptation of Trojan Women. She is a fervent advocate for trans and queer representation, particularly emphasizing the importance of inclusion for black, brown, and beige minorities. In pursuit of this vision, Ava founded Studio Vosges in 2019, a production company dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices. Notably, she created, produced, and starred in The Duchess of Grant Park, a short film portraying a trans woman who asserts the Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta as her duchy. The film recently secured a deal with Atlanta's PBS affiliate, WABE, for a two-year screening and streaming arrangement. Ava’s commitment to fostering visibility includes helping to produce the works of others, including Hannah Patterson’s Late to the Party, Jacob McKee’s Super Smash, Bowie Nichols’ Sweet Star Grief, and Celeste Banks’ Black Girls and Fairytales. Currently, she is immersed in the production and financing of her debut feature film, The Waltz. This narrative follows a single young trans woman as she forms an unexpected bond with a reluctant dance partner while pursuing her dream of mastering the waltz. The film delves into themes of love, insecurity, and societal pressures. You can find Ava in the horror anthology, Give Me An A and the short film, Could This Have Been An Email, both making waves at festivals nationwide.
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Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, Abijeet Achar is an Emmy Award-winning Director and Cinematographer. In 2012, he earned his B.A. in Film Studies from the University of Georgia, before completing his M.F.A. in Media Art at Emerson College in 2016. In 2017, Abijeet co-founded Pineapple Cut Pictures, an Atlanta-based production company shedding light on underrepresented narratives. His latest film, Mysore Magic, was an Official Selection at the 2023 Hollyshorts Film Festival, Tasveer, Palm Springs ShortFest, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, and San Luis Obispo Film Festival. It also won “Best Local Short” at the 2023 Atlanta Underground Film Festival. Abijeet’s thesis film, My Indian Rhapsody, had its world premiere at the 2017 Atlanta Film Festival and went on to become a semi-finalist in the 44th Student Academy Awards. It was nominated for the 2018 Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema. Since writing and directing this breakout film, he has produced and been the Cinematographer for acclaimed independent films like Pageant Material (Feature), Water Horse (short), Thorns (short), Forgive Us (short), and Mabrook (short). Currently, Abijeet is developing Mysore Magic into a feature-length film.
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The underdog of indie filmmaking, Kiah Clingman finds purpose in uplifting the voices of the unheard and bringing awareness to ignored and misunderstood topics. Adopted by Atlanta, she is a passionate advocate for telling stories about her second home and making sure her crew and talent on screen reflect the city. In 2019, Kiah pursued storytelling full-time and has since created 2 features, 17 short films, 2 webseries, and various branded & digital content. She produced the film, Black Santa, which premiered at Tribeca Festival in 2022. Kiah wrote and produced her SAG short, Eavesdropping on the Elders, which received 17 Official Selections, won "Best Film" twice, and can be seen on Revolt. She produced two feature films, The Comeback and Boxed In 2, which both aired on Peacock in Fall 2023. Kiah was recently named the winner of AT&T Presents: Untold Stories program with Tribeca, where she and her team were awarded $1M to produce the feature film, Color Book., which will premiere in June 2024 at Tribeca.