Atlanta Underground Film Festival - AUFF
Atlanta Underground Film Festival
Atlanta Underground Film Festival (AUFF) is one of the longest running underground film festivals in the United States, founded in 2004 and held each August in Atlanta, Georgia. The 23rd Annual Atlanta Underground Film Festival takes place August 7 - 9, 2026 at Limelight Theater.
AUFF has always been a home for films that live outside the mainstream and for filmmakers who create work their own way. The idea has never changed. Show independent films that push boundaries, challenge form, or explore stories the wider industry ignores. Some films are strange, some are rough around the edges, and some hit harder than you expect. That mix is what makes AUFF feel real. It’s the kind of festival where you discover something you weren’t looking for, then spend the rest of the night talking about it.
Filmmakers and audiences stick around after the screenings to talk, hang out, and compare notes. The conversations spill into the lobby, onto the sidewalk, and into the after-parties. It’s a relaxed space where people who care about underground film actually meet each other. No pretense. Just film and community.
AUFF isn’t about polish or glamor. It’s about independence. It’s about filmmakers who make work because they need to say something, not because they’re chasing trends. If you want a film festival in Atlanta that stays true to underground filmmaking and still screens everything live on a big screen, AUFF keeps that tradition going every year. AUFF is part of the Atlanta Film Series in Atlanta, Georgia.
Film Festival Entries
Submit your work now and be part of a festival that champions creative vision and truly independent cinema.
Atlanta Underground Film Fest Awards
Atlanta Underground Film Festival Awards
Best Feature Film
Awarded to a feature that captures the raw, fearless spirit of underground cinema.
Best Short Film
Given to a short that stands out with a clear voice and original style.
Best Director
For a filmmaker whose direction brings the film to life in a memorable way.
AUFF Spirit Award
For the film that best reflects the DIY energy and risk-taking at the heart of underground film.
Underground Visionary
For a filmmaker with a strong voice and fresh perspective we want to see more of.
Mindbender
For the film that pushes boundaries and takes the audience somewhere strange or unexpected.
Best Emerging Filmmaker
Awarded to a new filmmaker whose work shows real promise and a strong point of view.
Best Local Short Film
For a standout short made in Georgia or by a Georgia-based filmmaker.
Best Local Feature Film
For a standout feature made in Georgia or by a Georgia-based filmmaker.
Audience Award (short and feature)
Picked by the crowd. The film that hit hardest with our audience.
Jury Award (short and feature)
Chosen by the festival jury, this award goes to a film that stood out for its craft, vision, or impact. Something that truly deserves recognition.
Winners in each category will receive a custom crystal trophy to mark their achievement.
