Lights, camera, action — The 54th Nashville Film Festival returns later this month — Thursday, Sept. 28-Wednesday, Oct. 4. The annual event unites filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, and movie buffs for 140 film screenings at five locations in the Nashville area.
The festival goes beyond the silver screen with filmmaker Q+As, industry panels, live music showcases, and social events (think: opening and closing night parties). Before you punch your ticket and head to concessions, let’s take a look at the lineup and other need-to-knows.
Festival overview
- Browse the complete film lineup
- See the list of screening venues + days
- Secure festival badges ($375+) or individual tickets ($15)
- Become a Nash Film member or donate to the nonprofit
Festival highlights
Opening night presentation | A red carpet event and screening of “Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive” with Gloria Gaynor and director Betsy Schechter participating in a Q+A directly following the film.
Closing night presentation | “Foe,” starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, will screen at the Belcourt Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.
Special presentations | Some of the notable films include Apple’s “Fingernails” (starring Jeremy Allen White and Annie Murphy), Neon’s “Eileen” (starring Anne Hathaway), A24’s “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” and “I Used to Be Funny” (starring Rachel Sennott).
Tennessee films | In addition to the Tennessee features competition, “Spotlight Nashville” is a special slate of films highlighting Music City’s rich history beyond music: country comedy and delicious bites. Watch “Minnie Pearl: Facing the Laughter” and “Food Roots,” which follows Sunda owner Billy Dec.
Creators Conference | Explore topics ranging from film budgeting and independent filmmaking to a deep dive into the television industry.
Pro tip: Curate your festival experience by selecting various filters on the interactive schedule. Navigate to the “filter events” tab and find films based on topic or screening location.
