The 14th Annual Peachtree Village International Film Festival (PVIFF 2019), the Southeast’s premiere international film and arts festival returns with exciting new partners, educational forums and networking from Oct.24-27th, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

JARO is proud to sponsor its 2nd Annual Short Film competition on behalf of PVIFF. This year, documentaries will be included and the acclaimed African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) will be joining the jury. Over 70 short film and documentaries were reviewed by PVIFF, JARO and AAFCA jurists with the top 19 finalists selected for presentation and public vote on JARO Magazine. The top three winners of the PVIFF Shorts Competition sponsored by JARO will receive special awards, cash prizes, cross promotion, and a minimum of three months distribution on the platform. “We’re excited about this partnership with PVIFF at JARO. Our goal is to find great content that attracts a wide viewing audience and we believe that PVIFF has a variety of great content to choose from through their talented filmmakers that submit each year,” said JARO’s Founder/CEO, Richard DeVaughn. “You can see some of this great content, support Indie Filmmakers and cast your vote to help determine the final winners at JARO Magazine.”

This year’s festival will also bring new exciting films, screenplays, documentaries, panels, workshops and special events you do not want to miss. For the first time, filmmakers will have an opportunity to win up to $100,000 in Post-Production services Investment Prize at one of the top Post-Production facilities either in the U.S. or abroad. Three chosen winners will have access to complete their present or next film in one of three award-winning facilities in New York, Los Angeles or London. This sponsorship is possible through DCR Finance Corp’s involvement in cultivating cinematic Voice of the Future. DCR, A Media Fund headed by NY Financier Adi Cohen and Legendary Producer Mark Damon, currently in the process of raising a 100 Million in a Private Placement, intended to invest in Films and Media. The Fund, alongside PVIFF’s CEO, Len Gibson, will make the festival to be one of the first recipients of their special programs geared towards supporting diverse film festivals, conferences and film schools. The highly anticipated film “Last Full Measure” starring Ed Harris and Samuel Jackson has major funding participation by DCR, in concert with DCR’s Managing Partner Adi Cohen who is providing a significant part of the P&A budget of the film. “Partnerships like this are at the core of our fund. We are excited to give emerging filmmakers an opportunity to receive the support they need to compete in a challenging industry. We are proud to sponsor PVIFF and we look forward to assisting their top filmmakers to achieve their dreams, said DCR Finance Corp Co-Founder, Adi Cohen.

“Our festival has gained a reputation for showcasing groundbreaking films and acclaimed screenplays. Our line-up this year will be first class – from the films being screened, workshops and top-rated panels,” said PVIFF Founder, James “JB” Brown. Each year PVIFF selects a film and or television series to celebrate an anniversary year. With the success of BET’s “American Soul” series, PVIFF will be highlighting not only the biographical series this year but they will also celebrate the original series “Soul Train.” Invited guests include original Soul Train dancers, a family of the late great Don Cornelius, cast from “American Soul” and more.

With the state of Georgia, continuing to be a go-to state for film and television production, film investment knowledge is highly sought after. Filmmakers are consistently seeking investment for their projects and investors are constantly seeking insight on what to invest in. This year PVIFF will be bringing one of the top film financers and producers in the business to Atlanta for an intense 2 hour Film Finance Master Class. The instructor will be Matthew Helderman of BondIt Media & Buffalo 8. Helderman and his team have financed 275+ films and television series such as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Aftermath,” “Shock & Awe” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Harrelson, “The Con are On” starring Uma Thurman and Tim Roth and many more. Helderman will share working knowledge on how to develop and finance an independent film and the proper way to invest in them. This master class will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, 11-1 p.m. at Hotel Indigo downtown Atlanta. PVIFF will continue to announce additional panelists, special guests and more as they get closer to this year’s conference.

PVIFF will take place at the beautiful Indigo Hotel in Downtown, Atlanta. Special rates for PVIFF guests are available for a limited time at HOTEL INDIGO.

“We’re excited about how our line-up is coming together this year as we focus on increased quality programming for emerging filmmakers. With partnerships with companies like DCR and JARO, we are excited to help foster and cultivate young as well as veteran filmmakers. With all we have planned for this year we know that we will leave a lasting impression for all those that attend,” said Len Gibson, PVIFF CEO/Founder.

Festival Highlights:

PVIFF’s 2019 centerpiece screening will be EPIX Network’s highly anticipated “Godfather of Harlem” starring Forest Whitaker, Giancarlo Esposito, Lucy Fry, Markuann Smith and Vincent D’Onofrio on Friday, Oct. 25th at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. A conversation with the Executive Producer and actor in the film Markuann Smith on his journey to navigate and help create the God Father Of Harlem alongside Narcos and Hoodlum Creator Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein. From Concept to Screen will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. at Hotel Indigo, Downtown Atlanta. PVIFF will also feature a 2-day workshop with talent manager Susan Barr of Apollo Talent Management and Juilliard award-winning acting coach Anthony Aibel.

Click here to watch and vote for this year’s PVIFF finalists. For more information about Peachtree Village International Film Festival​, please visit pviffatl.com. 

“Rose From Concrete” filmmakers pose with JARO team as first place winners of the 2018 JARO PVIFF Short Film competition