LGBT films and filmmakers of Pink Peach add color to AFF’s 40th anniversary as festival lays out 10 days of cinematic excellence in venues across the city.

Since launching in 1976, the Atlanta Film Festival has served as a major outlet for independent filmmakers to show their art to Atlanta’s film lovers. Screening at various venues across the city April 1-10, this year’s festival celebrates four decades of film and educational programming through special screenings and related events.

Nearly 5,000 films were submitted for this year’s festival, with 51 feature films and 100 short films making the final cut. Among this year’s LGBT highlights are special screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on April 1 and 8, and a special 25th anniversary presentation of Fried Green Tomatoes on April 3.

The festival’s Pink Peach track highlights LGBT-specific narrative features, documentaries and short films as well as LGBT filmmakers. This year’s Pink Peach features four narratives, two docs and two short films representing a variety of origins and stories, from a young drag performer attempting to reconnect to his father to an exploration of furry culture.

Viva
Jesus works as a hairdresser at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, though he dreams of becoming a performer himself. With some encouragement from his mentor, Mama, Jesus eventually gets the chance to make his stage debut. But when his estranged father suddenly reenters his life, his world is turned upside down. The two men deal with their opposing expectations, struggling to try and understand each other so they can reconcile as a family.

Tuesday, April 5 • 7 p.m. • Plaza Theatre, Main Screen
Cuba/Ireland • 2015 • Spanish • 100 minutes

Fursonas
Quick refresher: as Zootopia pointed out in its first trailer, anthropomorphic animals are animals with human characteristics. That’s one way to approach Fursonas, which explores furry fandom by exploring the lives of people interested in anthropomorphic animals. This riveting documentary explores individuals learning to define their own lifestyles, whether embracing, or more importantly, breaking away from furry stereotypes.

Saturday, April 2 • 2:30 p.m. • 7 Stages Theatre
USA • 2015 • English • 81 minutes

Te Prometo Anarquía (I Promise You Anarchy)
Teenagers Miguel and Johnny spend their days in Mexico City exploring their sexuality, skating through the city, and trafficking blood in the black market. A contact hooks them up with drug traffickers in need of blood, which seems like a great way to make a lot of money. But when the scheme goes off the rails, Miguel and Johnny find themselves in over their heads.

Sunday, April 3 • 5 p.m. • Plaza Theatre, Main Screen
Mexico/Germany • 2015 • Spanish/English • 100 minutes

Sisters of the Plague
Still reeling from her late mother’s absence, a ghost tour guide in New Orleans seeks help from a medium. What she learns, though, is that she faces a vengeful power far beyond her control.

Sunday, April 3 • 7:35 p.m. • Plaza Theatre, Upstairs Screen
USA • 2016 • English • 74 minutes

The Tricks List

A gay man attempts to document and memorialize every sexual encounter he’s ever had.

Part of the CORAL (Crucial and vibrant.) Short Films block.
Wednesday, April 6 • 7 p.m. • 7 Stages Theatre
USA • 19 minutes

B.
Shy and insecure B. is torn between her cold relationship with K. and her feelings for another woman. Is it possible for her to finally stop living a lie and follow her heart?

Part of the WOOD (Some assembly required.) Short Films block.
Thursday, April 7 • 7 p.m. • Center for Puppetry Arts
Germany • 15 minutes

Hunky Dory
Sidney struggles to meet the expectations of his unfulfilled glam rock dream. When the mother of his child goes missing, Sidney finds himself forced to take responsibility of his 11 year old son, George, and finally put his rock star persona to rest.

Saturday, April 9 • 12:30 p.m. • Plaza Theatre, Main Screen
USA • 2015 • English • 86 minutes

Presenting Princess Shaw
By day, Samantha Montgomery takes care of the elderly in one of New Orleans’ toughest neighborhoods. By night, she writes and performs her own songs as Princess Shaw, and uploads the recordings to YouTube. Meanwhile, across the globe, Ophir Kutiel creates video mashups of performers under the name Kutiman. Separated by 7,000 miles, the strangers begin to build a song together.

Sunday, April 10 • 5 p.m. • Plaza Theatre, Main Screen
Israel • 2015 • English • 80 minutes

Atlanta Film Festival takes place April 1-10. Purchase tickets online, and see the full schedule at atlantafilmfestival.com.

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Originally published in David Atlanta.