“Behind the Mise en Scène”: Inclusion, Authenticity, and the Politics of Representation within the Atlanta Film Society and Festival Programming

“Behind the Mise en Scène” examines how cultural representation is produced, negotiated, and experienced as a social practice within the programming of the Atlanta Film Society (ATLFS) and its Atlanta Film Festival (AFF). Drawing on both emic and etic perspectives, the study situates participant experiences within their broader political, economic, and cultural contexts, in which cultural representation is largely interpreted and negotiated in terms of identity, access and inclusion. Expanding the framework of representation, this project employs the theoretical frameworks of authenticity, embodiment, and materiality. Methodologically, in addition to the standard ethnographic approaches, the project also encompasses several visual methodologies that culminate into the formation of the companion ethnographic film. Ultimately, findings show that cultural representation is an organic and active social practice that is shaped by accessibility and social understanding rather than simply curated. Essentially, this study argues that cultural representation extends beyond the screen, functioning as an active, social process shaped by structural and material conditions.