‘Made in Georgia’ panel talks cultivating state talent at Sundance

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The "Made in Georgia" panel at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City (Photo by Sammie Purcell). The “Made in Georgia” panel at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City.

Credit: Photo by Sammie Purcell

Georgia film industry professionals gathered in Park City, Utah, over the weekend to discuss the state’s film future at Sundance.

During a panel discussion called “Made in Georgia” on Jan. 24, different industry leaders talked about their views on what makes Georgia special and how it can continue to grow within a constantly changing film industry. 

The panel was moderated by Georgia Entertainment CEO Randy Davidson and included Elisa Logan, a visual VFX producer and co-founder of Regenesis Pictures; Jeff Stepakoff, president of the Trilith Institute; Joel Slocumb, the film commissioner of Columbus, Ga.; and Drew Sawyer, founder of Moonshine Post. 

One of the main topics of the panel was the importance of cultivating Georgia filmmakers and telling Georgia-based stories. The panelists often discussed different methods of helping to develop a new, up-and-coming group of Georgia artists. 

“It really is getting back to, who’s telling these stories? What are they? And can we provide an intentional new opportunity for the next generation of writers, the next generation of storytellers?” Stepakoff said. 

Both Slocumb and Stepakoff discussed the different ways in which the city of Columbus and Trilith are attempting to create more opportunities for local filmmakers. Film Columbus offers grant opportunities for artists, and this year’s application promises up to $25,000 set aside for up to eight filmmakers. Slocumb was hopeful the grant program would help promote different types of films and filmmakers in the city. 

“In Columbus, it has been independent features,” Slocumb said of the types of films that get made in the city. “What we have also realized is that we are going to have to work a little harder in Columbus. The reason I say that is to grow in our area in a time … of changes, we are going to have to widen our lens of what we look at.”

Stepakoff discussed the different types of resources the Trilith Institute provides for filmmakers, including the institute’s Emerging Creative Residency for Writers and Directors. The program gives filmmakers up to $100,000 and a year to create original screenwork for the Trilith Institute and their production company. 

“If there’s any message I want to get across about it, it’s a story about collaboration,” Stepakoff said. “It’s a story of a community coming together to get behind an up-and-coming filmmaker, a script that we all believe in, and put our best foot forward.” 

Filmmaker Ebony Blanding was the program’s first filmmaker in residence. According to Blanding, the working title for her film is “A Mess of Memories,” a family drama with some comedic elements about a mother whose hoarding obsession is jeopardizing the family home. Blanding’s residency officially ends this month, but the film itself is now in post-production. Her focus going forward will be on finishing up the film and submitting it to festivals. 

Making movies costs money, and finding funding in the state of Georgia is something that so many independent filmmakers struggle with. While $100,000 might not be all that much money when it comes to feature filmmaking, Blanding said that she appreciated the Trilith Institute for creating an opportunity for filmmakers in Georgia to get funding that could help them get their projects off the ground. This type of support, she said, made her feel like pursuing her filmmaking career in Georgia is a real possibility. 

“The ECR program has been more than just a career-building opportunity; it’s been a profound reminder that when resources and community align, artists are empowered to push boundaries and explore their talents,” Blanding said in an emailed statement. “I am profoundly grateful to the Trilith Institute for believing in my potential and supporting this monumental step in my filmmaking journey.”

Blanding said she hoped that more local filmmakers are able to gain access to funding opportunities right here at home. 

“Looking ahead, my hope is for Georgia filmmakers to have more robust funding opportunities to grow and expand their creative visions,” she said. “We need greater resources and investment to keep Georgia’s storytellers thriving right here at home.” 

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta.