Like last year, the 2025 Nashville Film Festival once again proved itself as the premier film event in Middle Tennessee, drawing in cinephiles, industry insiders and first-time festival goers alike. The sheer range of films on display — from intimate indie dramas to incredible documentaries and everything in between — showcased just how strong and diverse the global filmmaking community is right now. What makes this festival stand out isn’t just the movies, but the atmosphere:
Nashville brings its own Southern charm and hospitality to the event, turning screenings into conversations and premieres into celebrations. The collection of talent on display — both established voices and exciting new storytellers — felt nothing short of inspiring, reminding us why this festival has become a must-attend destination for film lovers across the region.
And just like last year, I found myself drawn toward the short film track — but this time, I wasn’t content to stick only with the animated selections. I broadened my horizons and dove headfirst into the lineup of live-action shorts, and that choice paid off in spades. The Graveyard Shorts collection proved to be a late-night showcase that was bold, creepy and wildly entertaining, packed with stories that pushed boundaries and lingered long after the credits rolled.
Even though I couldn’t make it downtown in person this year, the festival’s Virtual Cinema ensured I didn’t miss out. It’s a fantastic option for those of us outside the city — or anyone who can’t attend every screening — because it keeps the festival’s energy alive and accessible. In many ways, streaming these films from home not only extends the reach of the Nashville Film Festival, but it also strengthens its community spirit, allowing more audiences to discover and celebrate the incredible talent on display.
With eight shorts available from this track, I decided to do something a little different this year: rank my personal picks. That said, let me be clear — regardless of placement, every single filmmaker represented here deserves the highest of praise. Crafting a film of any length is a monumental accomplishment, and short films often demand even more precision, creativity and discipline to make their impact in such a limited window.
Each of these selections showcases a unique voice and vision; together they highlight why the Graveyard Shorts block remains one of the festival’s most exciting offerings.
8. Blondi
At the height of Adolf Hitler’s reign, his administration sought ways to soften the dictator’s public image. One such effort came with his adoption of a German Shepherd named Blondi. This short, told entirely from the dog’s point of view, offers a strikingly unique perspective on the Führer. Through Blondi’s eyes, the audience witnesses the final days inside the bunker, culminating in the moments leading up to — and including — Hitler’s suicide.
True to its subject matter, the dialogue in Blondi is mostly spoken in German. And unfortunately, that is a language I have no background in. I even tried to use Google Translate on my phone to understand what was being said, but the technology was lacking for me. Thus, I really have no clue what was being said.
Still, a person with even limited historical knowledge could probably figure out what was being said, simply by using the body language of those on screen. Blondi gives a never-before-seen perspective of one of the darkest times in world history.
7. Shitfly
John works as a delivery driver for the ABRA Corporation in a wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles, bound to the company through forced servitude in order to pay off his father’s mounting medical debts. While his father lies dying, John is unable to visit him, chained instead to endless routes and crushing quotas. The pressure slowly erodes him, both mentally and physically, until the inevitable moment when he finally snaps.
Shitfly is a strange, unsettling little film — and that’s exactly why it works. ABRA is a thinly veiled critique of mega-retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, exposing the inhumane demands placed on workers to keep our consumerist machine humming. The metaphor becomes literal as John begins to fall apart, piece by piece — his body breaking under the same relentless grind that’s crushing his spirit.
It’s darkly funny, grotesque and deeply cynical in all the right ways. The only stumble comes at the end, which doesn’t quite tie everything together, leaving me more puzzled than satisfied.
Still, the ride getting there is compelling.
6. Chew Toy
CJ and Mary Beth are an expectant couple settling into their new home, eager to start the next chapter of their lives. At first everything seems idyllic — until the neighbor’s dog begins to bark. And bark. And bark. Five days of nonstop noise leaves them exhausted and frayed: their sleepless nights spiraling into paranoia and bitter accusations. When Mary Beth suspects CJ of infidelity, the couple’s tension finally boils over, and their anger shifts toward the one thing they can agree on: the dog. Together, they hatch a plan to end their torment once and for all.
Chew Toy is deliberately grating, and that’s the point. Director Nick Richman weaponizes the relentless sound of barking to drive not just the characters, but the audience to the edge of their nerves. Yet the real horror isn’t the dog at all: it’s the cracks in CJ and Mary Beth’s relationship, cracks that the noise merely exposes.
The couple may unite in their desperate solution, but it’s a temporary patch on much deeper wounds. As the short closes, it’s clear their nightmare isn’t over; it’s only been delayed. Chew Toy succeeds in making its audience squirm, and for that, I respect exactly what it set out to do.
5. Take Care
Leah is obsessed with an ER nurse at her local hospital. So, she does what any well-adjusted person would do: she constantly injures herself in order to meet her. But when her latest attempt only ends with stitches and a dismissal from the hospital, her next idea may keep her in for a longer time.
Take Care takes a twisted premise and turns it into something darkly funny and unsettling. Leah’s obsession is both cringeworthy and oddly sympathetic, and the short balances satire with stalker horror perfectly. Smart, sharp and memorable — I fully approve.
4. Whitch
After getting her daughter to bed, Aura finds an old lady in her living room. But before she can get her to leave, the elderly woman strips naked, kills a bunny and begins to perform a blood ritual. But a single phone call puts a pause on the chaos and leads to some awkward apologies.
Whitch is a bizarre little gem that blends folk-horror dread with pitch-black comedy, and it works beautifully. What starts as a terrifying encounter quickly spirals into blood-soaked madness, only to be hilariously undercut by the most awkwardly timed phone call imaginable.
The short thrives on that balance between horror and absurdity, leaving me both unsettled and laughing — an offbeat standout in the lineup.
3. Palate Cleanser
Bart Lewis is a father desperate to find a way to pay for his daughter’s cancer treatment. When he lands an interview with a company rumored to offer excellent benefits, hope seems within reach. That hope quickly dims when it becomes clear — especially under the sharp eye of Ms. Goodwin, the hiring manager — that Bart is painfully unqualified for the position.
Yet his sincerity shines through, and after an impassioned plea, he’s given one final task that could secure the job of his dreams. The only question is: Will he do what’s asked?
Watching Palate Cleanser, I genuinely had no idea where the story would land. Bart is portrayed as such a well-meaning, sympathetic man that the moral crossroads he faces feels unbearably tense. By the time the film delivers its final blow, the result is both heartbreaking and infuriating. To evoke such powerful, conflicting emotions in a short runtime is no small feat — and it’s exactly what makes this film linger long after the credits roll.
2. A Minute on Each Side
While a man waits for his dinner to heat in the microwave, he receives a phone call from an FAA agent delivering devastating news. In the span of a few minutes, his life unravels into an emotional nightmare — and the audience experiences every second of it, framed entirely from inside the microwave.
Director Jon Walkup manages to do the impossible with A Minute on Each Side: in just five minutes, he delivers the full spectrum of human emotion. I felt sadness, relief, anger and fear all in rapid succession, proof of how precise and powerful the storytelling truly is. It’s the mark of a filmmaker with a masterful touch, and I can only hope this short is the beginning of much more to come from him.
1. The Pearl Comb
The year is 1893. A woman captures the attention of medical professionals are she is the first person to ever cure a victim of Tuberculosis. A male doctor, upset that a woman was able to cure this disease, pays her a visit to discredit her. But he soon finds out her healing powers are real and come with a deadly cost.
Though brief in runtime, this film carries an epic weight. Most of the central drama unfolds within the intimate setting of a modest cottage, yet the story refuses to feel confined. Through its haunting backstory, we’re transported far beyond those four walls: out to the rugged edges of the ocean and even into the mysterious depths beneath the waves.
These sequences expand the scope of the narrative, giving the tale a mythic, almost folkloric quality. The contrast between the cottage’s quiet simplicity and the vast, otherworldly imagery of the sea elevates the film into something much larger than its length might suggest, leaving it to linger like a legend whispered through time, simply making it my favorite short from the Nashville Film Festival this year.
The Graveyard Shorts block at the 2025 Nashville Film Festival once again proved why it’s a cornerstone of the event. From unsettling body horror to sharp satire and pitch-black comedy, each short brought something distinct to the table, reminding us of the sheer power of storytelling in small doses.
Whether experienced in a packed midnight screening or streamed at home through the Virtual Cinema, these films showed that horror thrives in both brevity and boldness. I’ll be eagerly awaiting what strange, twisted visions creep out of the shadows for next year’s lineup.