Office of Film, Entertainment & Nightlife

Welcome to Office of Film, Entertainment & Nightlife

The Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Entertainment is the official office for Film, Entertainment and Nightlife (AMOFEN) for the City of Atlanta.

To support the city’s rapidly expanding entertainment industry; the AMOFEN office streamlines the permitting process for film productions, and creates film, entertainment and nightlife related educational and training opportunities. Safeguarding the interests of residents and businesses affected by film, entertainment and nightlife is our top priority.

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Meet our Team

Cardellia Hunter, Director

Entertainment

The Entertainment Division is the City of Atlanta’s official resource for creatives and entertainers of all backgrounds. Resources including training programs, event partnerships, educational seminars and community engagement events. Our goal is to build out sustainable infrastructure for creatives to live and thrive by creating opportunities. The Entertainment Division supports a wide entertainment ecosystem including:

• Music
• Fashion
• Gaming/Tech
• Sports

Nightlife

The Nightlife Division’s Core Functions
Nightlife Liaison: Facilitate outreach engagements and serve as point of contact to address nightlife matters and inquiries
Promote Nightlife & Culture: Promote equitable economic and cultural campaigns to support Atlanta’s vibrant nighttime economy. Identify best practices that promote safety and the security of nightlife establishments, patrons, and local communities. Provide information to nightlife establishments on training and education programs offered in partnership with the City of Atlanta
Inter-Agency Collaboration: Facilitate the curation of a collaborative network of agencies and organizations affiliated with Atlanta’s nighttime economy in order to identify common areas of interest and develop support. Utilize inter-agency network to connect nightlife establishments to key decision makers to resolve issues and obtain relevant licenses, permits, and approvals.
Policy Recommendations: Research and develop local policy solutions in conjunction with community leaders, nighttime economy stakeholders, and city officials.
Training Day: A series of workshops designed specifically for nightlife industry leaders with City agencies to learn about policy and regulatory information in the nighttime industry. Work sessions include First Aid and CPR training, alcohol awareness training, how to engage with Neighborhood/Business Associations and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU) and more.

crhunter@atlantaga.gov

Bio

Cardellia Hunter is a 15-year entertainment industry veteran with experience in music, television and film production. She is currently the Director of Film, Entertainment and Nightlife for the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office, where she serves as the liaison to the State film office and collaborates with other city stakeholders on film and workforce development initiatives. She leads the permitting process for productions of all sizes and promotes first-in-class engagement between film productions and the local community via Set South Atlanta - an initiative she launched in 2018. Cardellia oversees all community engagement platforms pertaining to filming, from production to liaisons. Some of her favorite films that she has worked with include Fast & Furious Franchise, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Baby Driver.
Cardellia has received numerous accolades from her peers, including the Locations Manager Guild International Award for her work on the film Baby Driver. She is certified by the Association of Film Commissioners and is an active member of Women in Film & Television Atlanta and Black Women's Film Network. She was acknowledged with an award by her alma mater Grambling State University, Office of Alumni Affairs as a 2019 Gramfam Influencer. Cardellia graduated from Grambling State University with a B.S. in Marketing. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration degree at Syracuse University, School of Maxwell with an anticipation graduation, Spring 2027.

Phillana Williams, Director

Film 

The Film Division streamlines the permitting process for film productions, facilitates employment of local talent, creates production-related educational and training opportunities, and safeguards the interests of residents and businesses affected by film productions.

In addition to streamlining the permitting process for film productions in the City of Atlanta, film division is also responsible for the following:

• Facilitating communication between film productions and city agencies.
• Minimizing potential inconveniences to residents and local businesses affected by film production.
• Supporting the provision of education and training opportunities in film and television.
• Partnering with the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office to market Atlanta as a leading center for film, culture, and entertainment.
• Activations through partnership on all things film on a local and national level.

phwilliams@atlantaga.gov

Bio

Phillana Williams is a powerhouse at the intersection of entertainment, politics, and cultural strategy. She has a proven track record of managing global superstars like P!NK, Ciara, Kanye West, and Miguel, and has translated her expertise into the political sphere, driving key victories for leaders such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Currently serving as the Director of Film, Entertainment & Nightlife for the City of Atlanta under Mayor Andre Dickens, Williams ensures the city remains a global leader in creativity and production. She also consults for the Democratic National Committee, where she helps shape the intersection of entertainment and political movements.
A lifelong advocate for community and culture, Williams is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and holds leadership roles such as Arts & Festivals Chair for the City of Mount Vernon and Gala Chair for the Foundation of Westchester Clubmen. Her numerous accolades include The Network Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, the Grey Goose Rising Icons Award, and the ASCAP Women Behind the Music Award.
Now based in Atlanta with her two children, Williams continues to reshape the worlds of entertainment and politics, leveraging influence to drive meaningful change.

Film Division

Entertainment Division

Nightlife Division

Learn More

The Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Entertainment is also responsible for the following:

• Issuing permits to productions filming on public property in the City of Atlanta.
• Providing support and best practices for Nightlife stakeholders.
• Supporting the wider entertainment industry in bridging the gap for creatives with sustainable industry standard infrastructure.


Click here to view the atlanta nightlife impact report



Click on the Filmapp logo above to learn more about the film permitting process..



Click here to go to set south, our community engagement platform for all things entertainment for city of atlanta.



Click here to go to training day, our resource for nightlife.

The Mayor’s Office of Entertainment (AMOFEN) is here to serve Atlanta’s creative industries through providing resources and advocacy across disciplines. Our office is here to build and sustain infrastructure for professional creatives to capitalize on. Atlanta is the gateway to the south and has worldwide influence from music to film, fashion, to nightlife, tech, and beyond. We partner with stakeholders, community innovators, and industry professionals to support the culture, rich history, and creative trends of the future. Together we can create a community where all constituents can thrive in the creative and entertainment industries of tomorrow.

Film

The Film Division streamlines the permitting process for film productions, facilitates employment of local talent, creates production-related educational and training opportunities, and safeguards the interests of residents and businesses affected by film productions.

In addition to streamlining the permitting process for film productions in the City of Atlanta, film division is also responsible for the following:

• Facilitating communication between film productions and city agencies.
• Minimizing potential inconveniences to residents and local businesses affected by film production.
• Supporting the provision of education and training opportunities in film and television.
• Partnering with the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office to market Atlanta as a leading center for film, culture, and entertainment.
• Activations through partnership on all things film on a local and national level.

Entertainment

The Entertainment Division is the City of Atlanta’s official resource for creatives and entertainers of all backgrounds. Resources including training programs, event partnerships, educational seminars and community engagement events. Our goal is to build out sustainable infrastructure for creatives to live and thrive by creating opportunities. The Entertainment Division supports a wide entertainment ecosystem including:

• Music
• Fashion
• Gaming/Tech
• Sports

Nightlife

Nightlife Liaison: Facilitate outreach engagements and serve as point of contact to address nightlife matters and inquiries.

Promote Nightlife & Culture: Promote equitable economic and cultural campaigns to support Atlanta’s vibrant nighttime economy. Identify best practices that promote safety and the security of nightlife establishments, patrons, and local communities. Provide information to nightlife establishments on training and education programs offered in partnership with the City of Atlanta.

Inter-Agency Collaboration: Facilitate the curation of a collaborative network of agencies and organizations affiliated with Atlanta’s nighttime economy in order to identify common areas of interest and develop support. Utilize inter-agency network to connect nightlife establishments to key decision makers to resolve issues and obtain relevant licenses, permits, and approvals.

Policy Recommendations: Research and develop local policy solutions in conjunction with community leaders, nighttime economy stakeholders, and city officials.

Training Day: A series of workshops designed specifically for nightlife industry leaders with City agencies to learn about policy and regulatory information in the nighttime industry. Work sessions include First Aid and CPR training, alcohol awareness training, how to engage with Neighborhood/Business Associations and Neighborhood Planning Units (NPU) and more.