Posted by Larry Gleeson

Cool Night On the Red Carpet
with Legends John Oates, John Carter Cash,
Joanne Cash and more!

Photos by Donny Evan

DON’T MISS THESE FILMS!

Reckoning | Directed by Ruckus Skye, Lane Skye

Tues. Oct 8, 8:00 PM
Wed. Oct 9, 1:00 PM

At the top of a mountain, forty miles from the power grid, Lemon Cassidy manages to scratch out a humble living for her family. When her reckless husband, Tarlee, doesn’t come home several days, she begins to suspect the worst. Armed with only her wits and tenacity, she navigates the strange and dangerous world she lives in while attempting to stay within the boundaries of this society’s strict Creed, where crimes are punished by chopping off body parts. TICKETS

Climate of the Hunter | Directed by Mickey Reece

Wed. Oct 9, 8:30 PM
Fri. Oct 11, 9:00 PM

Reece’s narratives and characters are complicated and so very human. And, just as you settle into his film, he tilts it “wonderfully off its axis”. Two sisters come to their remote house to reconnect with a friend after twenty years. When the three get together for dinner it has all the makings of a lovely adult melodrama about loneliness and the desire to connect. But then, Reece adds to the mix: Wesley could be a vampire. TICKETS

Swallow | Directed by Carlo Mirabella-Davis

Wed. Oct 9, 8:00 PM
Fri. Oct 11, 2:30 PM

Hunter (Haley Bennett) is a newly pregnant woman whose idyllic existence takes an alarming turn when she develops a compulsion to eat dangerous objects. As her husband (Austin Stowell) and his family tighten their control over her life, she is forced to confront the dark secret behind her uncontrollable obsession. From the producers of “The Rider” and “The Tale”, and executive producer Joe Wright (“Darkest Hour”), SWALLOW plays like a warped fairy tale. Anchored by Bennett’s knockout performance, this bold and atmospheric film marks the feature directorial debut of Carlo Mirabella-Davis. TICKETS

Ernie & Joe | Directed by Jenifer McShane

Wed. Oct 9, 6:30 PM
Thu. Oct 10, 3:30 PM

Texas police officers are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls. The film takes you on a personal journey, weaving together their experiences during their daily encounters with people in crisis. Guns tucked away, Ernie and Joe de-escalate confrontations, divert people to desperately needed mental health services, and save lives. TICKETS

Mickey and the Bear | Directed by Anabelle Attanssio

Wed. Oct 9, 5:00 PM
Thu. Oct 10, 12:00 PM

Mickey Peck (Camila Morrone) is doing what she can to keep her single, veteran father (James Badge Dale) afloat, navigating his mercurial moods, opioid addiction, and grief over the loss of his wife. When his controlling, jealous behavior turns destructive, Mickey must decide between familial obligation and personal fulfillment as she puts everything on the line to claim her own independence. TICKETS

The 2019 Nashville Film Festival features over 300 of the year’s best independent films from all over the world. Watch the official 2019 Nashville Film Festival trailer.

THE OFFICIAL 2019 FESTIVAL TRAILER

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Jeezy and Bubba Sparxxx on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

Jeezy aLauren Jenkins on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

Compelling and engaging panels, sell-out screenings, and film industry from around the world made up the first four days of the Nashville Film Festival 50th Anniversary. Opening night red carpet included the cast of ‘Born In The Gig,’ ‘Foster Boy,’ Jeezy, and Bubba Sparxxx. Day two welcomed the Berry family who came to support the world premiere of the ‘Chuck Berry’ documentary by filmmaker Jon Brewer. HBO’s Len Amato panel, Johnathon Shcaech and Jessica Barth’s #METOO panel, and an all-star comedy panel were just a few highlights from day three. The girls from NashFilm’s Living Reel Project debuted their song and short created for the festival, and ‘Who’s The Girl? The Ashley Cleveland’ had a sell-out crowd on day four.

The Berry Family on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

After party at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

Nashville Film Festival continues this week with Lahna Turner and the world premiere of ‘What’s Eating Ralphie May’ tonight at 6 pm. ‘The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash’ also screens at 6 pm. Tomorrow NashFilm will host the Tennessee premiere of ‘Bluebird’ with Amy Grant, Tenille Townes, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Callie Khouri, Ruby Amanfu, Tony Arata, Dave Barnes, Steve Buchanan, Gary Burr, Roger Cook, Barry Dean, Tom Douglas, Mark Germino, Don Henry, Claude Kelly, Luke Laird, and more coming out to support the Nashville film. Find the full schedule through Oct. 12 here.

ABOUT NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL

The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally-recognized non-profit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers.With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film and partners with the Thompson Nashville to host guests from all over the world. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and is celebrating its 50th Anniversary October 3-12, 2019. For more information, visit www.nashfilm.org.

(Source: Courtesy of NashFilm)

(sourced from

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Lost Bayou, a film from Director/Producer Brian C. Miller Richard, made its Southeast Premiere at the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival. Lost Bayou is a poetic portrait of a Cajun Traiteur and life out in the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp in the United States. Richard set out to make a film about Cajun life in the Basin having grown up and lived there most of his life. Nick Lavin and Hunter Burke wrote the screenplay that deals with a young woman, who appears to have an addiction, and her connection with her faith-healing father.

The film opens with a piece of footage bordering on the macabre that sets the tone as a man in a swamp states he was declared legally dead by a medical doctor only to wake up with a man kneeling over him praying. A fade to black transition reveals the story’s main character, Gal, portrayed by Teri Wyble, in a vehicle popping a pill and chasing it down with a swig of hard liquor. She asks the driver to wait for her as she exits the vehicle. The driver pulls away hurriedly. Apparently, Gal forgot what day it was and missed her young son’s birthday.

A fortuitous call comes in from Gal’s father, Pop, portrayed by Dane Rhodes. Pop speaks with a Cajun dialect and requests that Gal come home as her mother has a serious complication. The only issue is Gal’s mother has been deceased for two years. Gal finally agrees after Pop’s insistence. After the call ends, a bird flies into Gal’s door. Gal picks up the lifeless bird and takes it to the water whereupon a surreal moment takes place with a French prayer and the bird begins moving under its own power.

Needless to say, when Gal gets down to Pop’s floating raft-house the situation is about life and death and who decides who can cross the divide and when. Pop feels the swamp allows for better communication with his God, whereas Gal believes not knowing and not believing “ain’t such a bad thing.” Along the way, several tense moments and sharp camera operation kept my attention focused and the life in the bayou is revealed in a southern gothic style. Life on the bayou has its unique ways and Richard manages to let us in on it stylistically.

The film’s production values are strong. Exquisite cinematography from Natalie Kingston, production design by Mark and Matthew Whittle, and Mehgan Cornay’s costuming deliver an ethereal feel to the film while realistically capturing life in the region. The musical score was provided by the Grammy award-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers. The Ramblers are known predominantly for their acoustic Cajun style and seem to hit the right notes and melodies to drive the emotionality of the film’s scenes. The editing team of Richard and Robert Grigsby Wilson stitch and weave images in a seamless continuity. And, from an acting standpoint, Wyble does most of the heavy lifting. Rhodes adds a powerful presence honed from his theatrical stage work and the ensemble cast worked very well.

In the Q & A following the film, Richard revealed the inner workings of the project. Numerous members of the team had close relatives working on set including Richard’s own father. With a run time of 87 minutes, the film seemed a tad short….probably because I wanted to see more!

Highly recommended!

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Cat Rhinehart’s documentary, What’s Eating Ralphie May?, made its world premiere at the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival. “I thought Nashville’s 50th was the perfect time and place to premiere. Ralphie loved Nashville – and he talks about it in the film. I could tell the audience felt that affinity – so I couldn’t imagine a better fit. Ralphie would have been proud,” said Rhinehart.

Ralphie May was an American stand-up comedian known for his extensive touring and television comedy specials. Ralphie appeared to be living the American Dream with a beautiful wife, Lahna Turner, and two perfect children. May suffered from obesity. He loved making people laugh. And, people loved Ralphie in return.

Rhinehart began documenting May as he set out to lose weight. He asked his lovely wife, Lahna, to help him. Turner could see a bright future with a successful documentary and possibly a book deal for Ralphie. After losing 300 pounds from a starting point of 800 pounds, Ralphie plateaued. Unable to get through, he turned to pain medicine to alleviate his suffering. He decided not to have weight loss surgery.

After Ralphie landed a year-long contract to perform in Las Vegas, tensions became unbearable. Lahna decided to focus on herself. One night after a show Ralphie came back to his room and fell smashing his skull on a table on the way down. Shocked and bewildered, Turner and Rhinehart dedicated the footage they had and decided to honor Ralphie with What’s Eating Ralphie May?

Utilizing traditional documentary filmmaking techniques, including archival footage, direct interviews and still photographs, Rhinehart traces Ralphie’s early life including his difficult childhood in Arkansas, his fascination with comedian Sam Kinison, his runner-up finish debacle in Jay Mohr’s Last Comic Standing in 2003 and documents his marital strife.

Following Ralphie’s untimely death, Rhinehart decided to interview Ralphie and Lahna’s daughter for the film. When asked if she wanted to say anything about her dad, she replied, “I love my dad and hope he feels better now that he’s out of that body.” Lahna continues to perform her stand-up comedy.

What’s Eating Ralphie May? is more than direct cinema. It’s an important film documenting and illuminating issues about marital relationships and obesity, and how people deal with them. Ralphie’s New York Times obituary read that he died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease. No mention was made of Ralphie suffering from obesity, a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Ralphie confesssed to Lahna he didn’t want to be fat. Lahna wanted Ralphie to get healthy.

Unfortunately, the film never quite answers the question of what caused Ralphie’s addiction to food. Instead, it portrays Lahna as a victim (which she denies vociferously) unable to do for Ralphie what he couldn’t do for himself. Ralphie opted to continue working, doing what he loved most, making people laugh, despite – or maybe in spite of – his unhealthy obesity.

Highly recommended film.

Posted by Larry Gleeson

The 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival is showing hot films while the temperatures are cooling. Try the Nashville Film Festival App and Plan Your Fest! Find it the App stores.

Fest in style with a VIP Badge! Available here: NashFilm

Check out a few of yesterday’s candid shots!

Upcoming Hot Tickets

The Sheriff of Mars | Directed by Jason Ressler, Matthew Woolf
Mon, Oct 7, 1:30 PM

This is an uplifting tale of the musical redemption of a lovable, complex artist who exudes a magical and unique authenticity. Daniel Antopolsky is a country singer/songwriter who was discovered in France when he was 65. He had with him “he had 500 of the best songs no one had ever heard”. Today, he has released 4 albums with major media attention and toured the world with his music. Watch his rise as a Nashville recording artist and concert musician. TICKETS

Lost Bayou | Directed by Brian C. Miller Richard
Mon. Oct 7, 6:30 PM
Tues. Oct 8, 12:00 PM

In this hauntingly evocative Southern Gothic mystery, a struggling addict ventures into the Louisiana swampland to reconnect with her faith healer father, only to discover he is hiding a troubling secret aboard his houseboat. TICKETS

The Wall of Mexico| | Directed by Zachary Cotler, Magdalena Zyzak
Mon. Oct 7, 7:30 PM

Veteran actors Esai Morales and Mariel Hemingway join with some newcomers to spin a fantasy about rich Mexicans turning the tables on poor white people. Inspired by the Trump Presidency, The Wall of Mexico premiered at SXSW is a role-reversing fantasy about a wealthy Mexican-American family that decides to build a wall to deter the intrusion of poor white people in the vicinity. TICKETS

SCREAM, QUEEN! MY NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET | Directed by Roman Chimienti, Tuler Jensen
Tues. Oct 8, 6:00 PM

Mark Patton travels to horror conventions across the U.S. Each new city unwraps a chapter from his life that is met with equal parts joyful and bittersweet detail, as he attempts to make peace with his past and embrace his legacy as cinema’s first male “scream queen.” TICKETS

Berry Hill | Directed by Buzz Cason and Mark Harper
Tues. Oct. 8, 2:30 PM 

Nashville‘s Berry Hill, now home to 40 music studios, took off when Buz Cason opened Creative Workshop there in 1970. He quickly recorded five number one hits by the Gatlin Brothers, and followed up with top artists like Gene Cotton, Kim Carnes, Dottie West, Kenny Rogers, the Doobie Brothers, Olivia Newton-John, Roy Orbison, The Faces, Merle Haggard, Leon Russell, Elvis Presley and more. The studio, known now as Blackbird, is owned by John McBride, and is one of Nashville’s premier recording studios, sound engineer schools and equipment rental companies. TICKETS

Bluebird | Directed by Brian Loschiavo
Still Tickets Available
Tues. Oct. 8, 5:30 PM / 7:00 PM / 7:15 PM / Sat. Oct. 12, 12 PM

It was 1982, and Amy Kurland, a 27-year-old culinary school graduate, was opening a café in the strip mall of an upscale Nashville suburb. She had no idea it would eventually become the most influential listening room in America. Over the next three decades, with Amy’s unwavering passion to showcase and nurture new talent, this unassuming venue would help birth legendary careers of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift and countless more. The film features unforgettable performances by Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Maren Morris, Vince Gill, Jason Isbell and many more. TICKETS

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Documentary Shorts 1:Sun, Oct 6, 6:30 PM & Wed, Oct 9, 3:00 PM
Documentary Shorts 2: Mon. Oct 7, 12:30 PM & Tues. Oct 8, 6:00 PM

Everything You Wanted to Know About Sudden Birth* (*but were afraid to ask) is the amazing story of how the Berkeley police department, the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, an Academy Award winner and Mr. Spock are all connected by “Sudden Birth”, one of the most unintentionally hilarious and disturbing educational films ever created.TICKETS

The Lumineers III | Directed by Kevin Phillips
Sat., Oct. 12, 4:30 PM

The Lumineers’ III is a visual exploration of the band’s third and latest album. In three chapters corresponding with the album’s ten tracks, we follow three generations of a working-class family in the American Northeast. TICKETS

See you at the movies!

*Featured photo: Emmett Anderson, left, and Talya Klein, finalists for Drama Feature Screenwriting Competition

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Jason Ressler has uncovered a treasure trove of outlaw country music and is bringing it to the world via the big screen in a heart-warming, soul-touching film, The Sheriff of Mars about Daniel Antopolsky, a cohort of legendary country singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt. After watching Van Zandt nearly die from an overdose, Antopolsky, kept Van Zandt alive getting him to emergency care minutes before what would have been a fatal overdose. The experience left the sensitive Antopolsky shaken and he not only left the music business, he left the country landing in France where he took up farming. All the while, he wrote songs secretly hoping someone would “discover him.” By the time Ressler found Antopolsky in France’s Bordeaux region, Antopolsky had written 500 songs.

Ressler was taking a break from filmmaking when his path crossed with Antopolsky. Hearing the song “Sweet Lovin’ Music,” Ressler soon realized he had discovered the missing link between the outlaw country music of Willy Nelson and Kris Kristofferson and the hard country anthems of life’s difficulties. Ressler persuaded Antopolsky to submit a sample of his work to Nashville. Grammy nominated producer Gary Gold was stupefied at what he heard and brought Antopolsky to his home recording studio to begin recording an album.

And, despite forty years having passed, Antopolsky, “kept on keeping on” dealing with each obstacle and hurdle he encountered in a manner consistent with his life philosophy honed from Jewish schooling and his time spent with nature on the farm. He feels he always has a choice between anxiety and patience realizing patience allows life to work situations out much like a seed germinating and growing to maturity. And sometimes, he has to pull some weeds. Antopolsky struggled more managing to release four albums, gaining national media attention and has  been playing all over the world after the age of 65.

Hats off the Ressler as he’s able to capture Antopolsky at work, driving his truck, interacting with his wife and twin daughters as he spent time uncovering a self-claimed “closet musician.” Moreover, Ressler manages to dislodge difficult childhood experiences that impacted Antopolsky way of life revealing a wonderful, lovable character. In several heartfelt moments, Antopolsky appears emotionally touched at memories and at the beauty around him. In addition, Ressler weaves the early years Antopolsky spent with Van Zandt and questions Antopolsky about Van Zandt’s “Poncho and Lefty,” a Grammy winning song Willy Nelson and Merle Haggard covered. Humble to the bone, the left-handed Antopolsky stated he didn’t know if the song was about him or not.

As with any good documentary film, Ressler interviews those who orbited in Antopolsky space including his brothers, Nashville music executives and a live 1972 radio interview with Townes Van Zandt where the main topic seemed to be Antopolsky. And, Ressler adds some subtle touches to elevate the work such as his Hitchcockian cameos and including Antopolsky’s humorous first music video as Antopolsky pays homage to the silent film era with text tiles and antics reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin.

In the end, The Sheriff of Mars, with a run time of 93 minutes, is an entertaining, “uplifting story of the musical redemption of a complex artist and character who exudes a magical and unique authenticity.” The film is co-directed by Matthew Woolf. Highly recommended!

*The Sheriff of Mars screens October 7th, 2019, at 1;30 P.M. at the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival, Regal Hollywood 27 Theater 5.

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Alice, from Writer/Director Josephine Mackerras, is a bold and audacious drama that digs deep into the female psyche from start to finish. Martin Swabey, portraying the husband, Francois Ferrand, opens up the film with legendary French actor, Jean Gabin masculine looks and presence, while Emillie Piponnier, portraying the wife, Alice Ferrand, looks on with loving eyes. Jules Milo Levy Mackerras portrays, the couple’s innocent young son, Miles. Jules Milo Levy Mackerras portrays the couple’s young son, Miles.

Cinematographer Mickael Delahaie quickly draws focus into the world of Francois and Alice with his hand-held verite style camera operation as a world of love and friendship abounds – seemingly.

Life changes in an instant for the happy-homemaker, however, as she is forced to deal with harsh realities of the human condition as her husband has depleted their bank account and is months behind in the rent due to his penchant for a high-end escort service. Alice reaches out to family and friends for financial support but is stonewalled. Alice turns to prostituting herself in an effort to keep her home and take care of Miles after Francois disappears.

The journey becomes bumpy and is full of a few twists and turns as Alice finds friendship and a new soulmate in another prostitute, Lisa, who has no qualms in supporting herself with high-end prostitution. For Alice, however, the journey becomes bumpy and is full of a few twists and turns as she finds a liberation in living her life on life’s terms. Yet, the stigma of being a prostitution puts her in a precarious situation after Francois returns seeking reconciliation.

Alexander Levy Forrest adds a driving sound track that heightens tension in dramatic fashion when Alice discovers Francois has absconded after squandering their savings. Marsha Bramwell edits with a somewhat non-linear artistic edge that works beautifully.Meanwhile, Alexandre Montes keeps Alice and her newly found prostitute friend, Lisa, portrayed by Chloe Boreham (The Unicorn, 2018), fresh and enchantingly mesmerizing as they meet and become friends. Lisa becomes both a confidante and mentor to Alice.

Alice is in the running for the Nashville Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize, Bridgestone Narrative Feature Competition, after pulling down top honors for narrative at the 2019 SXSW Festival along with Mackerras winning the CherryPicks Female First Feature Award.

The film is in the French language with easy-to-read English subtitles and with a runtime of 103 minutes is very watchable, although American audiences might find the the business-as-usual depiction of prostitution a little off putting. Yet, Mackerras is a first-rate story-teller and delivers an exceptional package with strong production values, compelling performances and exceptional writing. In addition, she deftly poses questions of social ethics while inviting discussion on the topic of double standards in society. Highly recommended!

Alice is screening again at the 50th Anniversary of the Nashville Film Festival on Wednesday, October 9th, at 12:00 PM, Regal Hollywood 27,  Theater 4.

See you at the movies!