Hello, bonjour, olá, nǐ hǎo to everyone from the Atlantis Awards team. One of the inevitable aspects of running an awards show or film festival is the impact of current events and natural disasters. While The Atlantis Awards were born out of the COVID lockdown, we are now faced with a changing political climate and the recent devastation of the wildfires that swept across Los Angeles. These fires have destroyed thousands of structures and tragically led to the end of many lives. 

In a moment such as this, we found ourselves reflecting on what we feel upholds our core values; giving voices to the voiceless, and helping artists find a better path toward their dream future. Based on this, it seems inappropriate to host a live event when so many people have been forced from their homes. 

For this upcoming season, we have decided to cancel our live event. We will instead donate the funds that would have been used for the expense to a variety of organizations to benefit recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area. We will maintain the published schedule – and organize an online event where everyone – whether still safe in their home, or displaced to other areas of the country – can join in and appreciate the work. Also, we are going to open up our typical format, in order to allow more projects to be seen in full. All nominees will be contacted with future details. 

Following this season, the Atlantis Awards will be taking a brief hiatus to ensure our team has time to focus on recovery. We are fortunate that no one was hurt and property damage is minimal – but the effects of the fires will linger regardless. 

Thank you for your consistent support and having patience with us during this time.  We will have more details coming soon! After this online only event, we will return to our traditional live formats – but just as the story of Atlantis lives on in all corners of this globe, so too might the Atlantis Awards. We are seeking a new venue, and considering multiple options around the world. Just as the Olympics and the World Cup are hosted by other countries, we may look to create something similar – hopefully giving more opportunities for all of you talented artists around the world to be recognized – so stay tuned!

If you or your friends and loved ones were impacted by the fires, our thoughts and hearts are with you. Stay safe as we navigate these sometimes rough and unpredictable times, we will get through this! 

Best Wishes!

-The Atlantis Awards