Tennessee filmmakers young and old from across the state strut their stuff as the 57th Annual Nashville Film Festival premieres show off local talent.
Celebrating the art of film, music and culture, the Nashville Film Festival was originally founded in 1969 as one of the first film festivals in the United States showcasing American independent films and documentaries by veteran, up-and-coming and first-time filmmakers. And through the NashFilm Creators Conference, musicians, filmmakers, screenwriters, producers and industry pros come together to connect, collaborate and elevate their craft through panels, Q&As, workshops and networking events.
Film and screenwriting competitions offering cash and prizes valued at more than $100,000 are up for grabs through categories dedicated to showcasing Tennessee creators, student work and even episodic projects. Winners of the Short Documentary, Short Narrative and Short Animation competitions will also qualify for Academy Award® consideration.
I would like to take a moment to highlight the NashFilm selections of Tennessee Features for this year’s event:
Little Hollywood, Tennessee
The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts selects 24 Tennessee high-school students to create a narrative feature film for one month during the summertime. This creative crash course helps them learn the craft of filmmaking and the art of navigating creative differences, while becoming a coming-of-age film. Having grown up in Tennessee and worked professionally in Los Angeles as an actor, this one instantly grabbed my attention. I’ll have my review of the film posted soon.
Clean Hands
Based on a true story, police officer Kevin Simmers fought to keep drugs off the “Heroin Highway” of Hagerstown throughout his career, but when his 19-year-old daughter gets addicted, both father and daughter fight for their lives and to reconnect while eliminating the drug from their lives.
Flint
As an adaptation of Louis L’Amour’s novel, James Kettleman (portrayed by LOST‘s Josh Holloway) must deal with the demons of his past as he returns home to Montana while getting mixed up with a ruthless land speculator and a notorious assassin.
The Lorraine
Walter and Loree Bailey’s Lorraine Motel became a destination for many of the best musicians of the 20th century, where black and white artists collaborated to write many musical hits, but it also became a place where civil rights demonstrations were planned in Memphis until Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside Room 306. Documentarian Sam Pollard explores that evolving Memphis history.
One Plant
Jordan Berger lost his mother to alcohol and opioid addiction, but wonders as a filmmaker and hemp farmer, if hemp could have changed her fate. On his journey, he speaks to farmers, scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs to discuss the many possibilities for this one plant.
Shed
In director Mila Vilaplana’s feature film debut, she brings a body-horror tale highlighting grief, trauma and the overall female experience to the big screen. As a junior associate obsessed with perfectionism gets chosen to promote a women’s lifestyle empire built on beauty, wellness and reinvention turns into psychological terrors, the only way that she can turn the tide is to focus on herself for change… and her physical body pays the price.
Where the Hell is Anna?
Listed as a genre-blending supernatural thriller with a comedic twist about female friendship, cult psychology and trying to save a friend who might not want to be saved, Where the Hell is Anna? might have the most commercial appeal out of all of these movies. As a friend retreats into a mysterious cult-like commune, brainwashed possibilities, along with blood rituals and fertility experiments abound, along with my heightened interest.
Along with the aforementioned features is another creative category for aspiring local filmmakers: Tennessee Shorts. Sometimes overlooked because of its brevity (but it’s also Jason’s favorite format), this category is a great entry point for beginners trying to break into the industry. This year’s festival highlights 19 offerings, including:
For more information, please visit the Nashville Film Festival’s webpage for screening details and ticket information to this year’s events.