Not many people today would believe that the Nashville Film Festival, now one of the most popular film festivals in the South, was once called the Sinking Creek Film Celebration. Both the name and the festival have evolved since its inception in 1969. Now, the NaFF is one of the longest-running film festivals in the country, and widely recognized as one of the premiere film fests in America. MovieMaker Magazine called it one of the “20 Festivals worth the entry fee,” and Film Festival Today says it offers “one of the best Film Festival Prizes.” Keep in mind, too, that while film is obviously the main draw of this festival, no one ignores that Nashville is, first and foremost, Music City; as a way of honoring that cultural heritage, the festival has a section called “Music Films in Music City,” which focuses on music in films, particularly songs and scores written by Nashville songwriters and musicians.
Usually held in the spring of each year, the festival, which brings an average of 26,000 attendees, garners nearly 1700 submissions and selects fewer than 250. The festival dedicates its programming to the best in world cinema, independent film, documentaries and shorts in the industry. In the past, some of the impressive roster has included films like (500) Days of Summer, Buck, Nowhere Boy and Project Nim, and Academy Award nominees like I Am Love. (CC)
(April)
- Public Transportation: Good (a short walk from buses 2 and 7 at Abbott Martin Road/Hillsboro Circle)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Approximately 250 films are presented during the festival and include narrative features, short films, and documentaries, crossing all genres including drama, comedy, family, experimental, and animation
- Ticket Prices: Individual tickets are $12.
