A Conversation with Documentarian Alahna Lark: Producer for the Games in Black and White at the 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival
- Mandisa A. Johnson, MS, MFA
- May 13
- 3 min read
A few weeks ago, The Games in Black and White premiered at the 49th Annual Atlanta Film Festival at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia. Centered around the enduring friendship of Ambassador Andrew Young and 1996 Olympic CEO William Porter “Billy” Payne—a relationship characterized as the most successful Black and White partnership in the American south in the civil rights era—the film presents the first comprehensive story of the Atlanta Olympic Games—from the bid to the legacy and the transformation of the city that followed.
We were fortunate to ask documentarian Alahna Lark, one of the producers for the Games in Black and White a few questions about her expereince.
Atlanta Film and TV: During your radio interview, you mentioned you weren’t born during the 1996 Olympics. Why was it important for you to be a part of such a historical documentary?
Alahna Lark: I was two years old when the Olympics came to Atlanta, so I didn’t fully experience it—but I’ve felt its impact my whole life. I’m the product of a Black Atlanta love story, and I carry that with me into every project. I love telling Atlanta stories, and history fuels nearly every film I’ve worked on. This documentary checked all the boxes: it was local, historical, and deeply meaningful.
Atlanta Film and TV: As a follow-up, what was it like to hear stories about the 1996 Olympics from those you interviewed?
Alahna Lark: It was powerful. Every story felt like a thread in a larger cultural tapestry. It made me proud of my city and more appreciative of Atlanta’s global footprint. We weren’t always a world-renowned city, but leaders like Ambassador Young, Billy Payne, and Maynard Jackson helped put us on the map. Now, Atlanta influences everything. What an honor to help tell that story!
Atlanta Film and TV: What did it mean to you to work with Ambassador Andrew Young and 1996 Olympic CEO Billy Payne?
Alahna Lark: As a documentarian with a focus on Black culture and history, I’ve had the honor of working with Ambassador Young a few times throughout my career. He’s a living legend—a giant among us. I’ll actually be working with him again soon on a project about Dr. King and I look forward to the stories he'll tell. As for Billy Payne, he has a very kind and witty spirit. Being part of a project that celebrated his contributions to Atlanta was special. He helped shape a major chapter in our city’s story, and it was a joy to help tell it.
Atlanta Film and TV: What was your favorite story or memory shared about the 1996 Olympics?
Alahna Lark: It’s hard to pick just one. Every time I mentioned I was working on this project, people’s eyes would light up as they launched into their own ‘96 Olympic memories—whether they were volunteering, selling t-shirts, or just soaking in the energy. That response told me everything I needed to know: this film would resonate. We were going to take audiences back to a moment in time that mattered, and help them see it in a new light. That’s what filmmaking is all about.
Also in attendance at the premiere of the Games in Black and White were Ambassador Andrew Young and the CEO of the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympics, William Porter "Billy" Payne, along with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, as well as film and music producer, Dallas Austin, who produced the soundtrack for the documentary.
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