Atlanta youth film festival moves to Georgia State for Nov. 13
Founder Sahar Simmons says the event will focus on workshops and networking after losing its original venue in Atlantic Station.
By Jillian Foster ·
Middle and high school students in Atlanta will participate in a film festival on Nov. 13 at Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute. The event, known as the Mobile Movie Makers Youth Film Festival, was originally set for Oct. 17 at Microsoft’s Campus in Atlantic Station.
The organization changed the date and location after losing the original venue. Founder Sahar Simmons cited unforeseen circumstances in an Instagram post, noting that the community response allowed the event to proceed. She described the support as extraordinary and stated that the mission to empower young storytellers is larger than the obstacles faced.
The venue change resulted in a major shift for participants. The festival will not screen student films this year. Simmons explained via email that the team decided to prioritize a curated experience over screening content. The focus will be on providing students with opportunities to learn, connect, and gain inspiration through panels and workshops.
Simmons said the organizers plan to address the lack of screenings individually. She stated that the team will work with each student privately to honor their work either this summer or at the next festival. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 13. The schedule includes sessions on gaming, set design, songwriting, music business, and acting.
The festival, founded in 2018, encourages students to use mobile phones for filmmaking. Simmons, who has a background in film and television, said she wants to help students move from consuming content to creating it. She noted that phones allow young people to direct, write, and produce media while thinking strategically about their output.
Participants select their interests during the application process. Options include music, television, film, technology, and AI. Simmons said the organization curates each student's schedule based on those choices to ensure relevance. The full list of panels is available on the M3 website.
The organization is also building a program called the M3 Youth Film Crew. This group allows high school students to cover real events using their phones. Last year, students traveled to Houston, Texas, to cover the 2025 National Battle of the Bands. Simmons said the goal is to provide a pathway for youth into the entertainment industry.
