Atlanta Pride, Out On Film present “REEL RESISTANCE” event honoring southern LGBTQ+ history
Atlanta Pride and Out On Film have partnered to present REEL RESISTANCE, a two-day event blending film, history and activism, taking place Aug. 1 and 2, 2025, at Agnes Scott College.
The centerpiece is a restored screening of Andy Warhol’s Lonesome Cowboys, marking the anniversary of a 1969 police raid on the film’s Atlanta debut—an event that became a catalyst for Southern LGBTQ+ activism.
The summit will feature panels, community reflections and conversations with queer historians, artists and advocates. A new filmmaker stipend will also launch to support short documentaries exploring LGBTQ+ resistance.
“This event reminds us that queer Southerners have always organized and risen up,” said Atlanta Pride Executive Director Chris McCain.
Funded by The Community Corps and South Arts, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the summit aims to connect generations and spark continued advocacy through art and storytelling.
Click here for tickets and info.
— Derek Prall
Georgia Film Academy, Assembly Studios announce workforce training partnership
The Georgia Film Academy is partnering with Assembly Studios to launch a new workforce training center in metro Atlanta aimed at preparing students for Georgia’s booming film and television industry.
The 32,000-square-foot facility opens Aug. 18, 2025, adjacent to the Assembly Studios campus in Doraville. It will offer hands-on instruction and certifications in film and TV production, post-production, live production, streaming and esports.
Assembly Studios, built on the former GM plant site, features soundstages, filmable locations and production services. The location is accessible via MARTA and major highways.
“This partnership gives students real access to working sets and industry professionals,” said GFA’s Assistant Vice Chancellor Scott Votaw.
The center expands GFA’s statewide presence and builds on its partnerships with major studios like Disney, Marvel and Netflix. GFA also offers a paid apprenticeship program, placing students on professional productions.
Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
New board leadership at Town Center CID
The Town Center Community Improvement District has elected Britt Fleck as chairwoman and Michael Davis as vice chair of its Board of Directors.
Fleck, a Georgia Power executive, brings over 35 years of land and community development experience. She previously served as vice chair and holds leadership roles with Kennesaw State University and the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Davis, co-founder of D&G Development Group, joined the Board in 2024. He brings deep expertise in real estate, including leadership of the $1 billion Avalon project.
— Derek Prall
SCAD’s DW Moffett receives Governors Award at 2025 Southeast Emmys
DW Moffett, chair of film and television at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), was honored with the 2025 Governors Award at the Southeast Emmy Awards on June 14. Presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Southeast Chapter, the award recognizes individuals who have made a lasting impact on the media industry.
A working actor, director and producer, Moffett’s four-decade career includes acclaimed roles in “Switched at Birth,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “May December.” He joined SCAD in 2016 and has since led the creation of industry-level curriculum and facilities, including the university’s 11-acre film backlot.
“DW is a true visionary,” said Andra Reeve-Rabb, dean of SCAD’s School of Film and Acting. “He’s transformed student experiences into real-world, on-set learning.”
Moffett credited the award to his commitment to storytelling and teaching, saying, “My mission is to prepare students not just for success, but for sustainable, respectful careers in the industry.”
Moffett’s leadership and mentorship have helped SCAD graduates find success on Emmy- and Oscar-winning productions, cementing the university as a global leader in film education.
— Derek Prall
SCAD SERVE reaches record impact in 2024/25 academic year
SCAD SERVE, Savannah College of Art and Design’s community engagement initiative, partnered with over 60 nonprofits across Georgia during the 2024/25 academic year, delivering design solutions, donated goods and nearly $2 million in grant funding.
Students contributed work across disciplines—architecture, UX, industrial design and immersive media—for organizations including American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army and Nicholas House Atlanta. Design for Good courses produced real-world strategies and prototypes valued at over $2 million.
In addition to service projects, SCAD SERVE’s Buzz Bus delivered art supplies to local schools, while end-of-year move-out donations topped 50,000 pounds of goods given to Goodwill and 3,000 pounds of food to the Salvation Army.
“This level of student commitment reflects the very heart of SCAD SERVE’s mission: using art and design to uplift, empower and inspire lasting change,” said SCAD SERVE VP Scott Linzey.
The SCAD SERVE Community Fund awarded grants ranging from $100,000 to $1 million to support housing, food, safety and education. From shelter redesigns to user-centered service models, SCAD students applied creativity with measurable community impact—making 2024–25 the most impactful year in SCAD SERVE history.
— Derek Prall
The Urban Advocate marks 10 years, hosts annual Summer Solstice Block Party
The Urban Advocate will host its 3rd annual Summer Solstice Block Party on Friday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Windsor Plaza in Mechanicsville. The event marks the first day of a gun violence-free summer and celebrates the organization’s 10-year anniversary during National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Centered around the “Guns Down Mechanicsville” mural, the celebration uplifts local voices and community-led healing through storytelling, art and action. The mural depicts neighborhood leaders standing against violence and reclaims the long-impacted Windsor and Richardson intersection.
Summer Solstice is part of a broader violence prevention initiative led by The Urban Advocate, a long-standing leader in Atlanta’s fight to address the root causes of gun violence.
Founder DeMicha Luster said: “This event re-centers our collective power to heal, reclaim spaceand demand change.”
The celebration comes as national funding for gun violence prevention faces setbacks. The Urban Advocate stands in solidarity with communities impacted by the $820 million in DOJ cuts to intervention programs nationwide.
Click here for more on the event and initiative.
— Derek Prall
Lenox Square to host 2025 WWAAC AsianFest
ATLANTA — Lenox Square will host the 2025 WWAAC AsianFest on Saturday, June 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the mall’s Luxury Wing. Presented by the Who’s Who in Asian American Communities (WWAAC) Alliance Foundation, the free event celebrates the richness and diversity of Asian cultures.
Returning for the first time since 2019, the festival will feature live performances, including a Lion Dance by Chien Hong School of Kung Fu, Indian and Thai dance routines and theatrical drumming by the Eisa Taiko Drum Group.
Distinguished guests include Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carla Wong McMillian, Philippine Honorary Consul General Raoul Donato and Japan Consul General Mio Maeda.
The event will conclude with a cultural fashion show, spotlighting traditional attire from over a dozen Asian regions.
“Lenox Square is proud to host this celebration of Asian heritage and community,” said General Manager Robin Suggs.
Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
OYE Fest announces 2025 lineup and new venue at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta’s OYE Fest returns on Oct. 4, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s iconic Lot 432, celebrating Latinx voices with a dynamic lineup of artists. Headliners include Puerto Rican rapper Álvaro Diaz, reggaeton duo Alexis y Fido (returning after ten years), Mexican-American rapper Snow tha Product, TikTok sensation Macario Martinez and Latin GRAMMY winner pablopablo.
Curated by co-founders Randall Ruiz and Margarita Rios, OYE Fest blends music, culture and activism, spotlighting Afro-Latinx, queer and women-identifying artists. The festival supports immigrant advocacy groups like United We Dream and emphasizes community pride and inclusivity.
The one-day event also features emerging talents such as Grupo Rye, DJ EU, Lilly Yan and more. Hosted by Luis Trevino and Julio Angel, OYE Fest offers general admission and VIP tickets, with all ages welcome.
Tickets start at $65 and are on sale now at OYEFest.com. Follow @OYE.Fest on social media for updates.
— Derek Prall
Decatur Book Festival keynote and ‘kidnote’ announced
The Decatur Book Festival (DBF) marks its 20th year on Oct. 3 and 4, 2025, featuring acclaimed authors Saeed Jones and Angie Thomas. Angie Thomas will deliver the “Kidnote” address on Oc. 3 at Agnes Scott College, sharing her new sequel, “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi.” The book, inspired by African American folklore, promises to inspire young readers.
Award-winning poet Saeed Jones will keynote at the First Baptist Church of Decatur, discussing “The People’s Project: Poems, Essays and Art for Looking Forward,” a hopeful anthology co-curated with Maggie Smith.
Jones shared, “I’m honored to join DBF’s milestone. Let’s get free together!”
DBF partners with local bookstores Brave + Kind, Charis Books, Eagle Eye Books and Little Shop of Stories. The festival offers free events including Q&As, signings and activities, with registration encouraged for the keynote and kidnote.
Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
