ATLwood: Updates from the Atlanta Film Festival

? Back in December 2014, the Atlanta Film Festival announced the first wave features (all directed by women),  and now we have more insight into the rest of the lineup. First up ATLFF announced the films included in the narrative and documentary feature competition, which includes the world premieres of Brigitta Wagner's Rosehill and Lanre Olabisi's Somewhere in the Middle. Call it the local film Olympics, with productions coming from 11 countries comprised of Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Haiti, India, South Africa, Sudan, and the United States. Check out the full list here.
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? Next on tap, was the announcement for the 30-plus films competing for the Academy Award qualification via narrative, documentary, and animated short jury prizes. Why is that a big deal? Well, winners of the ATLFF narrative, animated, and documentary short jury prizes are eligible for consideration at the Academy Awards without having to go through the ringer of an actual theatrical run. Only 14 other film festivals in the country are Oscar-qualifying in three or more categories. Last year's winners, The Dam Keeper and Butter Lamp, both received nominations for the 87th Academy Awards. Side note: CL film critic Curt Holman likes The Dam Keeper's chances.
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? Earlier this week, ATLFF announced the slate of  two dozen films with Georgia ties. Twelve of those features such as Jef Bredemeier's Dante's Down the Hatch and Sam Carter's Good Grief Suicide Hotline come from local filmmakers and were shot entirely in Atlanta. Sixteen of the short films have local ties, such as Brian Lonano's Crow Hand, a the tale of man who gets in over his head after finding a mysterious crow totem. Other shorts such as Bar and Frog Legs come from Savannah College of Art and Design students. The 16 shorts will screen in waves, or along with features during the festival. Check out the full list of GA-tied films, here. For everything else, be sure to visit the ATLFF website.
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? Filming Updates
>> James Franco's bringing an all-star cast to ATL for his new movie, In Dubious Battle, which apparently takes place in 1936 California, and comes from John Steinbeck's novel of the same name. What does it all mean? Walter White is coming to ATL, yo! 

? >> Georgia may not have won a lot of sports titles in recent years, but we are the back-to-back champ in the competition for being the production site of the highest-grossing film. 
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? Sightings
===>> Here's Anna Kendrick playing Trivia Crack while standing in Hartsfield-Jackson. OK, so maybe she's just sifting through USA Today's list of her best singing moments. ===
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? >> Jeff Foxworthy hit up the Buckhead Diner and http://buzz.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/17/jeff-foxworthy-at-the-buckhead-diner/" rel="external">got himself some fried chicken and mac n' cheese. 
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? >> Honey Boo Boo's leaving her OTP digs for the metro area. You've been warned. 
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? >>  Vamps errrrwhere aka "The Vampire Diaries" Official Convention is a thing. 
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? Deals and Payoffs:
===>> ICYMI: Rick Ross and Maybach Music have moved their operations to ATL. Chances we see RAWSE on an ATL-based reality show? Pretty ... pretty ...===
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? Castings
======>> The aforementioned In Dubious Battle is looking for folks to fill out their locally based production crew.
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? >> The Accountant, the Ben Affleck-featured film that follows an assassin disguised an an accountant, is looking for "UPSCALE/Clean Cut hotel staff" for filming on Mon., Feb. 23.======
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? Miscellany
======>> "People are sitting in Los Angeles thinking of where they will shoot, and Vancouver and Toronto are suddenly options after they may have been looking at Atlanta and Louisiana."
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? >> The biggest winner of the Atlanta Hawks unprecedented success this season? Uh, apparently 92.9 The Game. Oh, and Boom 102.9 is closing the ratings gap on 97.9. Who will be ATL's old-school hip-hop king?
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? >> Some might argue that a zombie apocalypse like the one in "The Walking Dead" would be bad for local business. http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/walking-dead-georgia-small-business/" rel="external">Others would beg to differ.
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? >> Planning on watching the 87th Academy Awards this Sunday? Plan on winning the office pool? Before any of that can happen, you'll need to read our Oscar predictions. 
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? Have any tips? Sightings? Encounters? Pictures? Filming news? We need 'em! Drop me a line: gavin.godfrey at creativeloafing.com; or send me a tweet at @WriteGavinWrite. Don't forget to use the hashtag #ATLwood.