The Athens Film Festival returns for its second year, August 14–17, 2025, bringing bold storytelling and world-class cinema to the heart of the Classic City. This year’s festival features an electrifying mix of world premieres across genres— including international, documentary, animation, horror, comedy—and an expanded music video category presented by Joker Joker TV.

New for 2025 is PitchFest, hosted by The Lightroom, premiering August 16, 2025 at 10:00AM - a live pitch event where emerging filmmakers can share their ideas directly with industry professionals. Visit athensfilm.com/pitchfest to learn more!

The Athens Film Festival promises four unforgettable days of screenings, filmmaker Q&As, hands-on panels, late-night parties and collaborations with some of Athens' most beloved cultural institutions. We invite you to enjoy films exclusive to the Athens Film Festival, with curated selections hailing from our own backyard as well as from Hong Kong, Iran, Kenya and France.

Powered by Purpose: The Automatic Film Society

The Athens Film Festival is fueled by the Automatic Film Society, the only membership-based association of film lovers that champions access and inclusion in independent film. The Society makes it possible to keep ATHFF passes affordable for our community, while also covering submission fees for international filmmakers—especially those facing political or economic hardship—ensuring their stories are seen and heard. Learn more about the Automatic Film Society here: athensfilm.com/automatic

Investing in the Next Generation of Creatives

The Athens Film festival is launching educational partnerships that provide local high school students with opportunities to explore careers in film and journalism. Through hands-on experiences and mentorship with industry professionals—and in collaboration with the Lyndon House Arts Center—students will gain real-world exposure to the art and business of storytelling.

Community-Supported, Creatively Driven

The 2025 Athens Film Festival is presented by Ciné, with generous support from the Athens Film Office, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, Bell Boys Media, Creature Comforts, Leslie Spornberger-Jones, Trillith Studio, Satisfactory Printing. Flagpole proudly joins as our official media partner.

Come celebrate independent film, local culture, and creative connection August 14–17 across downtown Athens!