The Athens Film Festival: Where Community Meets Cinema

Send us Fan MailStep into the vibrant world of independent cinema as the Athens Film Festival makes its triumphant return for a second year! Founder Chuck Griffin and PR coordinator Blaire Mars take us behind the scenes of this rapidly growing celebration of film that's quickly becoming a cultural cornerstone in the Classic City.For more information on the festival go to athensfilm.comBio:Chuck Griffin - I'm a Grady Alumni (2009), and studied Telecommunication Arts (now known as "Entertainment and Media Studies"), and got my degree with a concentration in screenwriting. I worked as a script reader for various companies. Despite my main career in software development, I carried my love and appreciation of film into my later years by founding and creating ScriptMother, a screenwriting platform for writers to workshop their script and collaborate with one another. And of course starting the Athens Film Festival in 2024.Blaire Mars - I’m a Public Relations professional with experience spanning the mental health field, ancient history, and sports reporting - each rooted in my love for storytelling, community building, and authentic connection. Currently, I serve as Screenwriting Coordinator for the UGA Industry’s Writer’s Room, where I manage workshops, writer showcases, and creative collaboration. I’m also the writer and director of the short film Lonely is the Muse, set to release this winter, and the PR Coordinator for the Athens Film Festival, where I help amplify local voices and give creatives an audience. I see film festivals as the peak celebration of storytelling and the Athens Film Festival sets the standard to meet.