Atlanta, GA
Atlanta in running to take over hosting duties of acclaimed Sundance Festival in 2027 – WABE
Like some of the lucky filmmakers at Sundance, Atlanta may be in the running for a major win.
It’s been based in the resort town of Park City, Utah, since its inception in 1978, but growing financial and development concerns have led festival organizers to seek a new location. That announcement has been met with a slew of U.S. cities with strong cultural arts ties planning bids.
Now that includes Atlanta, according to Chris Escobar, owner of the Plaza and Tara Theatres.
“We’re throwing our name in the hat,” he told WABE on Monday. “They’ve got some things we have to do, some information we have to provide … it’s all about what commitment we can make.”
The annual film festival is considered one of the most prestigious and highly-attended film festivals in the U.S.
Escobar says the city is in the preliminary steps of seeing whether or not Atlanta officials will be invited for a request for proposal, a decision that is set to be made on May 6. He believes that Atlanta is more than capable of the opportunity.
“Atlanta is the perfect place,” said Escobar, who is also executive director of the Atlanta Film Society, which produces the Atlanta Film Festival. “This is one of the top production hubs in the world, and even before that, it’s already a creative place as we see through our vibrant arts and culture community.”
He said the city’s diverse talent and culture is in alignment with Sundance’s mission of showcasing marginalized artists.
“There’s literally no single place in the planet to be doing that and supporting that, fostering new voices,” he added.
While Atlanta does have a strong infrastructure, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and many hotel and tourism resources, Escobar admits that Sundance would be the first for the city as far as a culture and arts festival of its size.
If selected, arrangements may serve as a challenge to city officials, who did not respond to a request for comment before this story was published.
Escobar notes that while events like the Atlanta Film Festival and Atlanta Jewish Film Festival are popular with filmgoers, they bring in a small percentage of the city’s overall population.
“There’s always a lot of uncertainty sometimes when something that big moves into town, especially in the context like ours when philanthropic and public dollars for arts and culture can already be incredibly limited,” said Escobar.
“But I’m trying to be more optimistic and glass half full about this and maybe it will change the paradigm.”
If selected, Atlanta would begin hosting the festival in 2027, with the potential opportunity of a lucrative long-term contract with Sundance.
Escobar says it’s no coincidence that the decision for Atlanta’s bid will be made just one day after the final screenings at this year’s Atlanta Film Festival.
“It’s one of those crazy star alignments … almost a great little reminder, sort of like a little sample case, of what’s possible,” he said. “In my biased opinion, in the interest of Sundance, we are not only ready for it. We are the best place for it.”
Named after Academy-Award-winning director Robert Redford’s film institute of the same name, the Sundance Film Festival has gained notoriety for showcasing some of the most critically acclaimed independent films. Previous Sundance winners include the 1994 comedy “Clerks,” the 2009 drama “Precious” and more recently Jordan Peele’s Academy Award-winning thriller, “Get Out.”
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – After months of waiting and speculating, the 2024 schedule has dropped.
You can view the Falcons schedule in its entity here, but to keep things fresh, below are a few themes for you to ponder as you work through the 2024 schedule.
RETURN TO THE BENZ: The Atlanta Falcons’ home opener is always a game to mark on the calendars. But this year? It probably means just a little bit more for a number of reasons. For starters, a new-look Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town with a bunch of new faces – and a new quarterback (or two) in tow. Speaking of quarterbacks, it’ll be the first chance for anyone to see Kirk Cousins not just in full action but in a Falcons game-day uniform. That in itself is reason enough for excitement among the fan base. However, that’s not all: The Sept. 8 matchup will also see the return of former head coach Arthur Smith to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, this time as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. Oh, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson… and wide receiver Scotty Miller… and tight end MyCole Pruitt. Basically, there will be a lot of name recognition on the field to start the 2024 season.
IN THE PRIME TIME, PEOPLE: For the first time since 2022, the Falcons will have a prime-time game. Well, technically, they’ll have four. Yes, four. The last time the Falcons were in a prime-time slot, it was a cold, rainy and simply put dreary evening in Charlotte, North Carolina. I won’t rehash that experience here. We’re looking ahead to new horizons. So, here’s the breakdown, which includes two Monday Night Football matchups, one Thursday night bout on Amazon Prime and, for the first time in a long time, a Sunday with the lights on:
- Monday, Sept. 16: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Sunday, Sept. 22: Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
- Thursday, Oct. 3: Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video
- Monday, Dec. 16: Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Falcons haven’t had a Monday Night Football game since losing to the Green Bay Packers in 2020.
Atlanta is the only winless team in prime-time games since 2021. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is 12-19 in career prime-time games.
The 2024 NFL schedule will officially be released Wednesday night, but the Atlanta Falcons’ first-three matchups appear finalized.
The Falcons are slated to begin the season at home for the fourth-consecutive season, hosting former head coach Arthur Smith and the Pittsburgh Steelers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Smith, who was fired Jan. 8 after three seasons at the helm, and a quartet of former Falcons – running back Cordarrelle Patterson, tight end MyCole Pruitt and receivers Scotty Miller and Van Jefferson – will return to Atlanta on Sept. 8.
Thereafter, the immediate road only gets tougher for the Falcons.
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Atlanta is slated to travel to Philadelphia for a primetime matchup with the Eagles on Monday Night Football, coming Sept. 16, before returning home to face Patrick Mahomes the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 22, according to WSB Ch. 2.
The contest against Kansas City is expected to be on Sunday Night Football, per 11Alive’s Maria Martin. It marks Atlanta’s first such game since 2019, while its Monday Night Football appearance will be the first since 2020. The team played no primetime games last season.
The Falcons have the easiest strength of schedule based on projected win totals, per Sharp Football Analysis, but their seeing no such glimpses of ease to kick off Raheem Morris’s first season back on the sidelines.
Morris, however, said Tuesday he isn’t particularly concerned with the schedule release.
“A little less exciting probably for coaches because we’re always one game at a time anyway,” Morris said. “But it’s always exciting just for the National Football League just in general. We found a way to make another event and I know it’s exciting for you guys and it’s exciting for us to be out and doing those things and exciting for our community, more importantly and all of our guys.”
The Falcons’ full 17-game schedule will be announced at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The Atlanta Braves received another positive update from third baseman Austin Riley, who exited Sunday’s game with soreness on his side. An MRI revealed that there was just some inflammation and that a move to the injured list would not be necessary.
David O’Brien of The Athletic reported that Riley told manager Brian Snitker that he was feeling much better on Tuesday.
Austin Riley felt “much better” today and was even having trouble finding the spot that’s sore in his side, Snitker said. Still day-to-day, but sounds like IL definitely not needed, barring any setbacks.
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 14, 2024
After this news, it is still likely that Riley will return to the lineup this week.
More Braves News:
Chris Sale was dominant as the Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 7-0 to win the series. The Braves are now 6-4 in their last 10 and trail the NL East by two games.
Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves’ No. 3 prospect, has been promoted to Double-A Mississippi. The 23-year-old has manufactured a 2.53 ERA in High-A Rome this season.
Over the past week, AJ Smith-Shawver has turned in two starts and EJ Exposito has kept his hot streak alive. For more, check out the Braves’ Prospects Weekly Report.
Braves Podcasts:
MLB News:
Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco was ejected on Tuesday night after a foreign substance check. The glove is being sent to the commissioner’s office.
Minnesota Twins reliever Justin Topa will be shut down for six weeks with a partially-torn patellar tendon in his left knee. There is a surgical option for Topa, but as of right now, he has declined it.
The Milwaukee Brewers placed first baseman Rhys Hoskins on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. He is expected to miss two to four weeks.
The Chicago White Sox moved right-hander Michael Soroka to the bullpen after a tough season in the rotation spot thus far. He has put together a 6.39 ERA in nine starts.
The New York Mets designated two players for assignment in infielder Joey Wendle and reliever Yohan Ramirez.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer, New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday.
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