Spelman College to launch film academy collaboration in 2026
Spelman College is the latest school in Georgia to get a slate of film and television courses, with two introductory classes set to begin in Spring 2026.
Georgia Film Academy partnered with Spelman to enroll students in the 18-hour film and television certification program. The “Film Academy” is a subset of the University System of Georgia, and 30 colleges across the state have already launched the workforce curriculum.
Spelman College is the first all-women’s and second HBCU to join the Georgia Film Academy. It will kick off with two classes: “Introduction to Film and Television Production” and “Introduction to Film and Television Post-Production.”
Students will be able to learn about Georgia’s entertainment industry through lectures, hands-on training and equipment demonstrations. The academy aims to train up young adults to enter the workforce with a hefty skillset.
Spelman College Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Mark Lee said the program will help prepare the “next generation of Black women storytellers, creators and leaders to make their mark” on the industry.
“This partnership opens new doors for our students who aspire to careers in narrative film production, post production and digital media, fields that are rich with opportunity for diverse voices and perspectives,” Lee said.
Georgia Film Academy was founded in 2015 to meet the state’s growing demand for skilled entertainment workers. It offers professional training and courses, as well as a robust internship program on actual sets. GFA has also partnered with major companies like Disney, Netflix and HBO.
“From the moment our students begin their training, they’re working with real-world tools and equipment,” Georgia Film Academy Assistant Vice Chancellor Scott Votaw said. “On day one, they’re setting up C-stands, operating industry-standard Blackmagic cameras and using the same technology found on professional sets.”
At Spelman College, one of the oldest HBCUs in the country, Votaw said the partnership will add a “new dimension” to the academy’s mission.
“Together, we’re expanding opportunities for more students to enter Georgia’s film industry with the skills, confidence and creativity to succeed,” Votaw said.
— Delaney Tarr
ATL Jewish Film announces award winners of inaugural Student Filmmaking Competition Showcase
The ATL Jewish Film announced the award recipients of its inaugural Student Filmmaking Competition Showcase, held on Nov. 19 at the Tara Theatre. The celebration brought together an audience of more than 200 students, families, educators and community members for a screening of all 10 student-produced short films. The films all centered around the theme “Building Bridges”, which focused on storytelling rooted in empathy and connection.
Three awards were presented to student filmmaking teams whose work exemplified creativity, collaboration.
2025 Student Filmmaking Competition Award Recipients:
- Building Bridges Award: “Opposite Equalities” — Georgia Cyber Academy
- Two high school girls, Hannah and Kim, must learn to overcome colorism and classism to work together to win a scholarship offered through their school’s robotics competition.
- Peer Award: “Mother’s Song” — The Lovett School
- Years after their mother had died, a young teen and her adopted older sister confront the vast distance that has grown between them.
- Artistic Excellence Award: “You Can Always Trust Me” — North Atlanta High School
- In a haunting dream that blurs fear and memory, 17-year-old Mara relives the pain of betrayal—by her girlfriend, her parents, and herself—only to awaken to the realization that healing begins when the cycle of mistrust ends.
— Megan Anderson
BofA Opens Financial Center in Druid Hills and donates half a million dollars to CHOA
Bank of America announced the opening of the Briarcliff Financial Center at 2562 Briarcliff Rd NE in Brookhaven, which continues Bank of America’s $128 million investment in the local financial center footprint since 2016, with plans to invest an additional $60 million by 2027. In Atlanta, Bank of America has also renovated 42 financial centers and serves clients through 105 financial centers and 453 ATMs. Bank of America employs more than 5,000 associates in its Atlanta market.
“Bank of America has served Atlanta for more than 100 years,” said Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta. “We’re proud to support local economies by creating jobs and fostering long-term relationships with clients and their communities.”
During a ceremony opening the center, BofA presented a $500,000 grant to its new neighbor, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The investment will help provide critical care for thousands of uninsured children and families who rely on the pediatric healthcare system.
— Megan Anderson
Goldbergs Fine Foods celebrates 53 years with 25-cent bagels
Goldbergs Fine Foods, Atlanta’s beloved New York-style deli and restaurant, is turning 53 and celebrating with a deal that’s as delicious as its bagels. On Monday, December 1, 2025, guests can enjoy freshly baked Goldbergs bagels for just 25 cents each at participating locations, all day long.
“We’re honored to have been part of this incredible community for more than five decades, and to us there’s no better way than to honor our anniversary than with the food that started it all,” said Bradley Saxe, Co-Chief Executive Officer for Goldbergs Group. “Our bagels are hand-made in our delis every day and represent tradition and connection. We look forward to celebrating 53 years with our community.”
Guests can choose from all their favorite Goldbergs bagel varieties from classic Everything, Egg, and Pumpernickel to sweet favorites like Blueberry or Chocolate Chip, plus a full lineup of signature schmears, including Plain, Strawberry, Veggie, Chive, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chipotle Avocado.
The 25-cent bagel deal is available December 1 only, at participating Goldbergs locations, excluding airport locations.
— Megan Anderson
Federal Transit Administration Awards $6.6 million for Cumberland autonomous shuttle network
The Federal Transit Administration has awarded the Cumberland Community Improvement District and Cobb County, Georgia, a $6.6 million grant to launch the Cumberland Autonomous Mobility Network, an ADA-accessible autonomous shuttle system scheduled to begin service in 2027. The funding comes through the agency’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, making the project the first autonomous transit initiative in the nation to receive support through the Low-No grant.
The network will deploy eight autonomous shuttles as part of Cobb County’s CobbLinc transit system, providing first- and last-mile connections across the Cumberland district. Planned routes will link major destinations including Truist Park, The Battery Atlanta, the Cobb Convention Center – Atlanta, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Cumberland Mall, and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Officials say the system is intended to improve access, reduce congestion, and support long-term mobility planning tied to the district’s broader Cumberland Sweep multimodal corridor.
Cobb County and the Cumberland CID will partner with Beep, Inc. to operate the service. Beep’s platform includes remote monitoring, real-time fleet orchestration, and safety-focused oversight. Local, state, and federal officials praised the grant as a significant step toward integrating autonomous transit into Georgia’s transportation network and building on the district’s earlier autonomous shuttle pilot launched in 2023. The initiative adds to more than $180 million in infrastructure and mobility investments made in the Cumberland district since the CID’s formation.
— Derek Prall
Piedmont Holiday Gift Market returns Thanksgiving weekend
The Piedmont Holiday Gift Market will return to Midtown’s Piedmont Park on November 29–30, offering two days of holiday shopping from more than 100 local and regional artists. The annual event, now in its third year and presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, invites attendees to browse handcrafted gifts, enjoy seasonal music, and take in the park’s fall atmosphere over Thanksgiving weekend.
The market will feature painters, photographers, sculptors, glass artists, leather and metalworkers, jewelers, and other makers offering a wide range of gift items. Visitors can explore the open-air market while sipping hot beverages and strolling through one of Atlanta’s most popular public spaces. The event is free, open to all ages, and dog friendly.
The market runs Saturday, November 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1071 Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta. More information is available here.
— Derek Prall
Yeppa BeltLine debuts Après-Ski–inspired Yeppa 69 Lodge for winter season
Yeppa BeltLine has introduced Yeppa 69 Lodge, a seasonal après-ski–themed experience that transforms its Eastside Trail patio into a winter escape featuring fire pits, snowfall effects, and a retro Alpine atmosphere. The pop-up, open through the Winter Games in Milan, incorporates vintage ski-culture elements from the 1970s and 1980s, blended with Italian influences from Emilia-Romagna and the energetic pace of Atlanta’s BeltLine.
The lodge features twinkling lights, wood-burning fire elements, and a cold-weather cocktail menu designed for the winter setting. On Friday nights, the space shifts into a “snow storm” activation with artificial snowfall, a DJ, and a party-like après-ski ambience. Yeppa’s team describes the weekly event as a blend of Atlanta nightlife and mountain-lodge escapism, complete with shot-skis and a celebratory late-night feel.
Since opening in May, Yeppa BeltLine has developed a reputation for convivial hospitality and a menu centered around house-made pastas, focaccia pizzas, seafood, and Italian comfort dishes. The winter lodge adds a seasonal layer to its patio-forward identity, offering guests a space to gather around fire pits and enjoy heartier dishes during colder months.
Yeppa BeltLine is located at 667 Auburn Ave., Suite 120, along the BeltLine between Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner, weekend brunch, and late-night service on Fridays and Saturdays. More information and seasonal updates are available here.
— Derek Prall
Meals on Wheels Atlanta Announces Four New Board of Trustees Members
Meals On Wheels Atlanta has appointed four new members to its board of trustees: journalist Karyn Greer, marketing executive Tavia Pitts, former NBA player and entrepreneur Theo Ratliff, and attorney Keshia Tiemann. The organization, which provides meals and essential services to Atlanta’s seniors, announced the additions as it approaches its 60th year of service.
CEO Charlene Crusoe-Ingram said the new trustees bring broad expertise that will support the organization’s growing mission. Greer, a longtime Atlanta news anchor with WSB-TV, joins the board with decades of reporting experience and a strong record of community engagement. Pitts, senior vice president at Paramount Global, brings more than 20 years of brand and media leadership across major companies including BET, Coca-Cola, and Hershey.
Ratliff, who played 16 seasons in the NBA and previously served as vice president of the NBA Players Union, now works in sustainable energy and diagnostics through several companies he co-founded. Tiemann, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, advises clients on labor, employment, and corporate matters and has been recognized among the legal industry’s rising leaders.
Meals On Wheels Atlanta provides meal delivery, home repair, and emergency food services to seniors across the city.
— Derek Prall
