Because a Doc is a terrible thing to waste

Okay, quick, name the top five U.S. documentary film festivals.  How ‘bout the top three... One? 

Joseph McClelland (left) and Eric Panter know how to get their name out in front. (photo: Nathan Flood)

Docufest, the brainchild of Eric Panter and Joseph McClelland, is an outgrowth from another fest they started and run, AUFF, (or the Atlanta Underground Film Festival, this year it runs from Aug. 23-27, see http://www.auff.org/ for more info.) and the inaugural festival was held this year from April 26^th to 30^th at Push Push Theater in Decatur.

The Docufest is all about celebrating documentaries. So if you like documentaries, you'll love Docufest.  With the laid back atmosphere that is Push Push, (and Decatur in general) the experience was akin to going over to your friend's place and plopping on the couch (they actually did have a few couches) to watch a few movies with your buddies.  Real relaxed.  Not only that, you get to feel a bit more intelligent about yourself because you're watching a documentary.  

According to Eric, the festival's start mainly came about because, "We were getting hundreds of submissions (for AUFF) and the ones that were really standing out for me were the documentaries, so I decided that a dedicated documentary festival, outside of AUFF, would be a great way for people to focus on these great documentaries."  He adds, "Where AUFF is much more a social event with parties and bands along with the films, this festival is meant for a broader audience."

With films from all over the world, this year's festival showcased films across the spectrum; from the humorous Guinnesssize Me, a film about two Irishmen that journeyed across Ireland trying to survive on nothing but Guinness, to the topical Walking the Line, a critique of the Mexican border policy, to the local WRAS, a short about the Atlanta's own student run college radio station.

And next year?  It's already scheduled for Earth Day weekend (March 20, 2007).  "We're definitely going to get a lot of related films" says Eric but he adds that that's not the only type they're looking for, "We want to focus on good films and want to make Atlanta one of the main east coast cities for film".  To that extent they welcome any and all submissions from the local film community, and in their own words, "We love local films, because when you show local films, local people show up to watch".

So if you're a documentary film enthusiast looking to help, get in touch with them at  http://www.docufest.com/ and if you're a documentary filmmaker be sure to submit to the 2^nd Annual Docufest.

And go next year.  Because a good documentary, is a terrible thing to waste.

Nathan Flood is an editor for CinemATL and a local screenwriter currently working on his second feature length script, "Science Fair Project."