The Peachtree Village International Film Festival returns to Atlanta with a packed 2026 lineup featuring film premieres, industry conversations, masterclasses, networking, awards, and signature special events.
Set for Nov. 5-8, PVIFF will bring together filmmakers, actors, journalists, producers, entertainment executives, entrepreneurs and emerging creatives for four days of programming rooted in the festival’s long-standing philosophy: “It Takes a Village.”
This year’s festival is expected to feature appearances and programming connected to Soledad O’Brien, Dr. Rashad Richey, Obba Babatundé, Margaret Avery, Christine Swanson, Brely Evans, Hawthorne James, Carl Gilliard and more.
The festival will include screenings, panels, workshops, industry access, awards programming and special events designed to support both emerging and established creative voices.
Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Rashad Richey Lead Marquee Conversation
One of the festival’s major conversations will be “Beyond the Headlines: Truth, Power & Purpose,” featuring Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien in a career retrospective moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist and political commentator Dr. Rashad Richey.
The discussion will explore O’Brien’s career in journalism, documentary filmmaking, production, and media entrepreneurship. It will also examine the responsibility of telling meaningful stories, creating opportunities for underrepresented voices, and understanding the relationship between journalism, culture and social impact.
The conversation is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. at the Courtland Grand Hotel in Atlanta.
Cast Me If You Can Returns
PVIFF’s popular “Cast Me If You Can” panel will return with an industry conversation focused on auditions, preparation, and building sustainable careers in film and television.
Designed for aspiring and working actors, as well as filmmakers seeking a better understanding of the casting process, the panel will address audition preparation, self-tapes, callbacks, character development, professionalism, networking, personal branding, handling rejection, and turning opportunities into lasting careers.
Cigars & Success Brings Business and Brotherhood to PVIFF
Business, brotherhood, entertainment and entrepreneurship will come together during PVIFF’s “Cigars & Success” panel, sponsored by Bongani Cigars.
Hosted by actor Carl Gilliard, the conversation will feature members of The Atlanta Renaissance Brothers in a candid discussion about success, entrepreneurship, leadership, relationships, business ownership, and legacy building.
The special PVIFF experience is designed to offer perspectives on navigating professional and personal success while creating opportunities for the next generation.
Obba Babatundé Presents The Language of the Lens
Emmy Award-winning actor, director, and producer Obba Babatundé will lead the immersive two-day masterclass “The Language of the Lens” on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7.
Created for actors, writers, producers and directors, the masterclass will examine how different creative disciplines interpret a scene and how those perspectives must work together to serve a unified cinematic vision.
Participants will gain insight from Babatundé’s decades of experience across stage, television, and film while exploring performance, directing, visual storytelling, collaboration, and the relationship between the actor, director, and camera.
A Soulful Christmas Opens the Festival
PVIFF will officially open Thursday, Nov. 5, with the animated Christmas feature “A Soulful Christmas,” written and directed by acclaimed playwright and dancer Stepp Stewart.
Distributed by GO Media Productions, the animated holiday feature includes the voices of Keith Robinson, LaToya London and Eric Williams.
The opening-night presentation will launch four days of screenings, conversations, networking and celebrations. The opening-night location will be announced.
Featured Premieres and Screenings
PVIFF’s 2026 film slate will showcase independent filmmakers and stories from emerging and established creative voices.
Among this year’s featured premieres is “In The Matchbox,” directed by and starring Mike Rae Anderson and Hawthorne James. The film will make its featured PVIFF premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Tara Theatre in Atlanta.
Members of the cast and crew of “In The Matchbox” will also participate in PVIFF festivities throughout the weekend, including the festival’s centerpiece Masquerade Mask Christmas Ball.
PVIFF will also present “Beyond The Diagnosis,” directed by Meo Kellerman and Rafael Cherry of Ourconic, LLC.
Audiences will have another opportunity to experience “Project 313,” written and directed by Jay White, as the film returns for a special encore screening following its recognition as a PVIFF 2025 winner.
Also featured is “The Message,” directed by Lem Collins and starring Clifton Powell and Jason Louder.
Together, this year’s films reflect PVIFF’s continued commitment to giving independent filmmakers a meaningful platform while connecting their work to audiences, entertainment professionals, distributors, and potential collaborators.
Masquerade Mask Christmas Ball Anchors Saturday Night
The PVIFF Masquerade Mask Christmas Ball will serve as the festival’s official 2026 centerpiece theme party.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 p.m. at the Courtland Grand Hotel in Atlanta.
This year’s theme combines the elegance and mystery of a masquerade ball with the festive energy of the holiday season, creating a late-night celebration that brings together film, fashion, music and entertainment.
DJ Hershey will provide the soundtrack as PVIFF welcomes celebrity guests, filmmakers, honorees, industry professionals and festival attendees. The celebration will also feature special appearances by the cast and crew of “In The Matchbox,” along with many of the actors, filmmakers and guests participating throughout the weekend.
Special Guests and Honorees
PVIFF will welcome a range of entertainment professionals, special guests and award recipients throughout the weekend, including Nzinga Imani, Tisha Campbell, Carl Gilliard, Margaret Avery, Hawthorne James, Obba Babatundé, Christine Swanson, Brely Evans, CoCoa Brown and Christine Houston.
Additional celebrity guests, filmmakers, entertainment executives, panelists, honorees and industry professionals are expected to be announced.
Damion Hall Brings Music to Closing Celebration
PVIFF will close Sunday, Nov. 8, with its awards ceremony celebrating filmmakers, artists, entertainment professionals and creative visionaries.
Following the awards ceremony, R&B artist Damion Hall will bring music into the closing celebration with an exclusive sneak-peek listening experience featuring material from his new album during the official PVIFF Closing Party.
The presentation will help close four days of film, culture, education, entertainment and networking.
It Takes a Village
For more than two decades, PVIFF has worked to connect independent filmmakers and emerging creatives with established actors, directors, producers, executives, investors and entertainment industry decision-makers.
“PVIFF has always been about more than screening films. It is about creating access, building relationships and giving talented people an opportunity to move their careers and their stories forward,” said Len Gibson, CEO & Founder of PVIFF. “This year represents everything we believe a festival should be—a place where great films are discovered, meaningful conversations happen, knowledge is shared and relationships are created that can change the trajectory of someone’s career. From Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Rashad Richey to Obba Babatundé and the incredible filmmakers bringing their projects to Atlanta, we are building an experience that truly demonstrates why it takes a village.”
PVIFF President & Founder James “JB” Brown said the festival’s growth reflects the community that has supported its mission from the beginning.
“When Len and I started this journey, the vision was to create a village where filmmakers and creatives could have a seat at the table,” said James “JB” Brown, President & Founder of PVIFF. “That mission remains at the heart of everything we do. We want the filmmaker attending their first festival to have the opportunity to learn from someone who has spent decades in this business. We want relationships to become collaborations, collaborations to become productions and productions to become careers. PVIFF is about opening doors, sharing knowledge and making sure the next generation of storytellers understands that there is a village ready to support them.”
Sponsors and Community Partners
PVIFF is made possible through the support of sponsors, partners and organizations committed to strengthening the creative community.
An abbreviated list of sponsors and partners includes JaroGO, C.A.M. Productions, Bongani Cigars, Dolapo Erinkitola, Tri-Cities High School Culinary Arts, Georgia Film Office, Kredit Verse, Fulton Films, Truth Honey and additional partners to be announced.
About PVIFF
Founded in 2005 by James “JB” Brown and Len Gibson, the Peachtree Village International Film Festival has developed into a global platform connecting filmmakers, actors, producers, writers, entertainment executives, entrepreneurs and audiences.
Through film screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses, networking opportunities, special events and its annual awards program, PVIFF works to educate, inspire and create opportunities for independent storytellers and entertainment professionals.
Guided by the philosophy “It Takes a Village,” PVIFF remains committed to building bridges between emerging talent and established industry professionals while providing filmmakers with opportunities for their voices and stories to be seen and heard.
Festival Information
PVIFF 2026 is scheduled for Nov. 5-8 in Atlanta.
For festival information, schedules, passes and tickets, visit www.pviffatl.com.
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