Atlanta Documentary Film Festival 2026 Highlights "Never Get Busted!"

The festival's second day features a film about a former Texas narcotics officer turned anti-drug war activist.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:30pm

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The 21st annual Atlanta Documentary Film Festival is taking place March 19-22 at Synchronicity Theatre in Midtown Atlanta, with an additional online program from March 23 to April 6. On the second day of the festival, March 20, the film "Never Get Busted!" will be screened. The documentary follows Barry Cooper, a former highly decorated Texas narcotics officer who, after a raid gone wrong, quits the force and creates a DVD series teaching drug users how to hide their stash. When the police retaliate, Cooper begins busting crooked cops on camera, in his fight to turn the tide on the War on Drugs.

Why it matters

The Atlanta Documentary Film Festival is a highly anticipated annual event that showcases powerful investigative films, personal stories, and documentaries that challenge perspectives. "Never Get Busted!" is a timely and controversial film that explores the complex issues surrounding the War on Drugs from an unconventional angle, highlighting one man's crusade against perceived police corruption.

The details

"Never Get Busted!" is directed by David Anthony Ngo and Stephen Mccallum. The 105-minute documentary follows Barry Cooper, a former highly decorated Texas narcotics officer who, after a raid goes wrong and destroys a family similar to his own, quits the force. Cooper then creates a DVD series teaching drug users how to hide their stash, becoming an instant media sensation. But when the police retaliate, Cooper ups the ante and starts busting crooked cops on camera for all the world to see.

  • The Atlanta Documentary Film Festival runs from March 19-22, 2026 at Synchronicity Theatre in Midtown Atlanta.
  • The festival will also present an online program from March 23 to April 6, 2026.
  • "Never Get Busted!" will be screened on the second day of the festival, March 20, 2026.

The players

Barry Cooper

A former highly decorated Texas narcotics officer who, after a raid gone wrong, quits the force and creates a DVD series teaching drug users how to hide their stash. He then begins busting crooked cops on camera in his fight against the War on Drugs.

David Anthony Ngo

Co-director of the documentary "Never Get Busted!".

Stephen Mccallum

Co-director of the documentary "Never Get Busted!".

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What’s next

The Atlanta Documentary Film Festival will continue through March 22, 2026, with the online program running from March 23 to April 6, 2026. Audiences can check the festival's website and social media channels for updates on additional film screenings and events.

The takeaway

The Atlanta Documentary Film Festival's presentation of "Never Get Busted!" underscores the festival's commitment to showcasing thought-provoking films that challenge conventional narratives and provide new perspectives on important social and political issues, in this case the ongoing War on Drugs.