Christopher Escobar, govt director of the Atlanta Movie Competition, likes to check the annual occasion that kicks off April 21 to quite a lot of gatherings: a music competition, a qualifying occasion for the Olympics, and a farmers’ market. 

Like a music competition, the Atlanta Movie Competition has its headliners, known as Marquee titles, that embrace a mixture of Hollywood star energy and the most effective of unbiased movie. The 46-year-old competition, one of many largest and longest-running within the nation, can be one of many few the place brief movies can qualify for the Academy Awards, the Olympics of the movie business. 

Mass-produced meals from mega farming conglomerates isn’t bought at farmers’ markets, identical to blockbuster films from main film studios aren’t screened on the Atlanta Movie Competition. 

“These are natural movies dropped at you straight from the supply,” stated Escobar, who owns the historic Plaza Theatre, one in every of a number of screening venues.

“They is probably not completely packaged, they usually is probably not a model you’ve heard of, however in the event you strive them, you will discover one thing actual and real and pure and interesting.”

This yr’s competition consists of greater than 150 digital and in-person screenings, a hybrid mannequin put in place over the previous two years as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Indoor screenings can be on the Plaza Theatre and Dad’s storage and outside screenings are deliberate on the Carter Middle and Atlanta Botanical Backyard. All digital screenings and occasions can be offered by way of Eventive.

In an interview this week, Escobar talked about why the hybrid mannequin works; how the pandemic has impacted our viewing habits; and concerning the $4 million renovation and restoration of the Plaza Theatre now underway.

The interview has been edited and condensed for readability. 

Why did the Atlanta Movie Society (the non-profit group that places on the fest) resolve to proceed with a hybrid mannequin prefer it has the previous two yr?

Escobar: “The visibility is tough to disregard. That’s why we exist — to create visibility for movies that might in any other case not be seen. The truth that we had folks watching our content material from all 50 states and 19 nations is slightly too huge to disregard. Digital doesn’t actually substitute the in-person expertise which is, frankly, restricted to the quantity of people that can slot in a room and the quantity of people that can get there. The final couple of years, we noticed north of 20,000 viewership on-line through the movie competition. We’ve been in-person the final couple of years however it’s clearly been restricted in quite a few methods, each within the variety of in individual screenings and variety of venues. We didn’t have any in-person social occasions. We didn’t have any in-person academic occasions. It was solely screenings on a restricted foundation. It’s nice to have these again once more this yr. We actually have been hoping to be again to regular by now. Nevertheless it simply wasn’t possible. We’re nonetheless easing again into it, however not less than it feels way more like 2019 than 2021.”

How have our viewing habits modified over the previous couple years?

“Increasingly persons are watching digitally, nearly, and with streaming, we are typically slightly bit extra keen to take a threat. Now the choices are typically overwhelming too. Netflix or Hulu or Amazon. They’ve algorithms that try to be like, ‘Properly, based mostly on what you’ve seen, I feel you’ll like this.’ We have now people who’re going to actually look via 10,000-plus submissions of movies and screenplays and we’re going to select not solely the most effective, however essentially the most particular, the most effective match for our neighborhood. We are attempting to verify we’ve alternatives the place the huge range that’s in Atlanta, not simply in ethnicity, however orientation and gender and all different areas, is represented. We wish to present a chance for everybody to see themselves and their tales and their experiences mirrored on display screen. However simply as importantly, we wish to present alternatives to reside within the footwear of different individuals who have experiences which are very totally different from our personal.

And you’re additionally embarking on a $4 million renovation of the Plaza Theatre. How is that going?

“We have now the longest lease within the Plaza Theatre’s historical past, coupled with the biggest funding within the Plaza Theaters historical past. We bought a 25-year lease that we’re presently one yr into, and we’re going to be doing a $4 million restoration, renovation and revitalization in three components. We’re nearly completed with half one, which is a conversion of our balcony into two smaller, intimate 40-seat screens so we may have three separate auditorium indoors. Optimistically, this can be finished by Thursday [April 21]. However we’re coping with quite a few points, between provide chain stuff and labor scarcity. It’s sort of a toss up if we might truly use the brand new house this weekend. At the very least the competition can be an opportunity to get a sneak peek of it if we’re not utilizing it. The second section can be a rehab on the concession stand, bar, loos, in addition to to the outside, recreating components which have been lacking for simply half a century. The bulb lighting beneath the marquee, the outside field workplace, the Artwork Deco streamlined-style entrance doorways, the Artwork Deco, streamlined-style components and coverings across the poster instances. The third half would be the greatest and that’s the place we’re going to be including dressing rooms backstage so we will have extra identify expertise and particular occasions. We’re going to be including the first-ever elevator, creating handicap accessibility to the second flooring. After which the elevator may even go to the rooftop the place we may have a rooftop patio bar and display screen. Optimistically every little thing can be finished by the tip of subsequent yr.”