Atlanta Production Notes: Festivals, Big Shoots, and Permit Steps for Early October
Atlanta video production is active this week with studio-scale shoots, several city film festivals, and clear permit rules crews must follow to avoid delays.
Atlanta’s production ecosystem blends major studio work and a busy independent festival circuit. Over the next 1–2 weeks (Sept 26 → Oct 10, 2025) crews and producers should watch three things closely: (1) festival and screening schedules that create pop-up crowd/parking challenges, (2) municipal permit rules and “hot spot” guidance from the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment and ATL311, and (3) active studio or feature-scale shoots that may trigger lane or street control and require police or traffic plans.
What’s happening on the calendar
Out on Film (Atlanta’s LGBTQ film festival) runs Sept 25–Oct 5 with screenings at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema and neighborhood venues — a good window for festival programmers, DPs, and local crews to network and scout short-form content opportunities.
The Atlanta Women’s Film Festival expanded to multiple days (Sept 24–28) at 7 Stages Theatre, offering panels and local filmmaker showcases — expect higher foot traffic around that venue and adjacent streets during evening screenings.
The broader festival calendar also lists specialty events (shorts blocks, genre nights) and other small neighborhood screenings through early October; if you plan pickups or B-roll, check each venue’s schedule before booking.
Quick production alerts
- Millie Bobby Brown is filming a Netflix romantic comedy (“Just Picture It”) in the Atlanta area this fall; the production timeline extends into October and may use regional locations and studio facilities.
- A feature in preproduction, “Scary Movie 6,” is slated to begin at Tyler Perry Studios around Oct 1, which could increase local nighttime street activity and crew hiring.
Permits, insurance, and planning
The Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment explains when city permits are required and offers an online permitting workflow; ATL311 confirms commercial shoots must meet insurance minimums and other conditions before approval. For lane or street closures, submit applications early (lead times vary by type of closure) and follow the city’s hot-spot guidance — some areas are restricted to limit neighborhood fatigue from constant filming. The Georgia Film Office does not issue municipal permits (that’s handled city-by-city), so always check Atlanta’s office and the ATL311 knowledge base for the most accurate steps.
Studios, local crew, and production capacity
- Trilith (formerly Pinewood/Pinewood Atlanta) and Tyler Perry Studios remain major local hubs for stage and backlot work; monitor their press pages and the state’s “Now Filming in Georgia” list for production updates.
- For day-player hires and extras, Backstage and local casting boards are still the fastest channels; social accounts like @atlanta_filming often publish on-location photos and informal casting notices.
How this affects your shoot
If you’re scheduling a commercial, branded spot, or small narrative shoot in Atlanta over the next two weeks: confirm venue availability (festival bookings can reduce rental windows), verify insurance and submit film-permit requests to AMOFEN or ATL311 with adequate lead time, and plan for alternate parking or basecamp locations in case nearby festival traffic restricts street access. For larger shoots that impact city right-of-way, be prepared to coordinate with APD traffic control and to show a security/traffic plan as part of your permit package.
Final notes and practical links
Atlanta’s production pulse right now mixes community festivals with studio work — that means both opportunity and the need for careful scheduling. Bookmark the Mayor’s Office film pages and ATL311 for permit guidance, monitor the Georgia “Now Filming” feed for active productions, and track local festival calendars (Out on Film, Atlanta Women’s Film Festival) so your crew doesn’t get surprised by sudden street closures or crowds. Plan permits and insurance early, and use local casting boards to fill day players quickly.
