Born and raised just north of Atlanta, Melissa Simpson is the Co-Founder of Film Impact Georgia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of independent filmmakers in Georgia, and the Education Director at the Atlanta Film Society, which produces the Atlanta Film Festival. 

Melissa is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of diverse storytellers. Her passion for film is reflected in her extensive experience within the industry. She was a founding director of the Georgia Film Festival and served as Creative Director for TERMINUS Conference + Festival. Her diverse roles at various film festivals include the Rome International Film Festival, the WIFTA Short Film Showcase, and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Additionally, she spent two years at Eventive, a virtual streaming platform for independent film, where she collaborated with filmmakers and film festivals worldwide.

Melissa currently serves on the board of Directors for the Sarah Jones Opportunity and the Film Festival Alliance while remaining actively engaged in the Georgia film community, producing independent projects such as Come Correct, Wokman, and Christmas with Jerks. She was recently named one of the 200 Most Influential of Georgia’s Creative Industries by Georgia Entertainment and honored at the Women in Film and Television Atlanta’s 50th Anniversary Gala.

Beyond her professional life, Melissa is a devoted animal lover with a home full of rescue pets and won a hula hoop contest at the age of eight.