SR389: SR389 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival; commend

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It honors the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. The resolution recounts the festival's history: founded in 2000 by the Atlanta Regional Office of the American Jewish Committee, it grew from about 1,900 filmgoers in its first year to roughly 15,000 by 2008, and by 2015 had become the largest Jewish film festival in the world with more than 38,600 moviegoers. The Senate formally commends the festival for its contributions to the arts and for fostering understanding across religious, ethnic, and cultural lines, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the resolution to the festival.

• Formally commends the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on its 25th anniversary through a Georgia Senate resolution.
• Recites the festival's growth history, from about 1,900 attendees in 2000 to more than 38,600 by 2015.
• Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement, since it is a commendation rather than a statute.

The resolution directly names the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and its founding partner, the Atlanta Regional Office of the American Jewish Committee. It has no regulatory effect on other individuals, businesses, or state agencies.

The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives official state recognition to a long-running cultural institution and its impact on interfaith and intercultural engagement in Georgia, but it does not alter any Georgian's rights, obligations, or funding.

• The whereas clauses describe AJFF's founding in 2000 by the American Jewish Committee and its growth from about 1,900 to over 38,600 attendees by 2015.
• The first resolving clause has the Senate commend AJFF for its contributions to the arts and community bridge-building.
• The second resolving clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute a copy of the resolution to the festival.

1. 2025-03-13Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Jason Esteves (D, SD-035)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)

• Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
• Georgia Senate resolution
• arts and culture
• Jewish community
• legislative commendation