Founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) has been voted one of the top 25 film festivals worthy of the entry fee by MovieMaker Magazine and was highlighted as One of the Best Film Festival Prizes by Film Festival Today. In addition, Brooks Institute named it one of the top 5 festivals in the United States.
NaFF stated mission is to amplify “collective and individual awareness by bringing the world to Nashville to celebrate innovation, music and the many voices of the human spiritthrough the art of film.”
With Academy Award status, the festival is a draw for up-and-coming directors, first-time filmmakers and veterans alike. Programming includes the best in World Cinema, American Independents, documentaries and shorts. Past films screened include 13 Assassins, (500) Days of Summer and Academy Award nominees I Am Love, Dogtooth and Ajami.
Known widely as Music City, Nashville is proud of its musical heritage and has showcased numerous memorable songs from its plethora of songwriters and musical artists. Consequently, NaFF provides workshops that foster collaboration between music makers and film professionals from Hollywood and from around the globe.
With a strong commitment to independent and innovative filmmaking, NaFF offers distinctive and unique awards including cash and prizes totaling $37,000 along with television broadcasting contracts. Other special awards include prizes for the best LGBT film, best film by a black filmmaker, best Hispanic film, as well as awards for Tennessee directors.
As one of only 17 film festivals worldwide share this special designation with its winners of Short Documentary, Short Narrative and Short Animation competitions automatically qualifying for Academy Award consideration.
And, NaFF gets more than its fair share of celebrity guests. Celebrity honorees and participants have included Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon, William Shatner, William H. Macy, Al Gore, Danny Glover, Vincent D’Onofrio, Joey Lauren Adams, Rob Thomas, Craig Brewer, Harmony Korine, Ashley Judd, Kiefer Sutherland, Joshua Jackson, Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, Patrick Swayze, Rick Schroder, Christine Vachon, John Waters, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Redford, James Cromwell, Harry Belafonte, Barbara Kopple, Michael Moore, D.A. Pennebaker and director of the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man, Marc Webb.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting, fun-filled and musically infused festival. Until then, I’ll see you at the movies!
