Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) wraps up today
The 38th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) wraps up today, continuing its annual record-breaking attendance streak.
The World Premiere of the Gillian Grisman-directed Rob Thomas documentary MY SECRET RECORD OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BIZ kicked off the Festival on Thursday, April 19 with Grisman, Thomas and Marisol Thomas in attendance. Other highlights included Walton Goggins of "The Shield" fame joining writer/director and actor Ray McKinnon for the WORLD PREMIERE of his comedy RANDY AND THE MOB. Lawrence Bender ("Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," "Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2," "An Inconvenient Truth") took home the President's Award after a panel discussion and former Vice-President Al Gore made a surprise appearance on April 21 to present the REEL CURRENT Award to "Manufactured Landscapes" Director Jennifer Baichwal.
Niall Heery's SMALL ENGINE REPAIR was named the NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL / REGAL CINEMAS DREAMMAKER AWARD winner for best feature without U.S. distribution, while Marco Williams' BANISHED took home the award for Best Documentary. Ray McKinnon's RANDY AND THE MOB snagged the Audience Award for Best Feature, while Keith McDaniel's THE CLINTON 12, in addition to winning the NPT Human Spirit Award, picked up the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Robert S. Lynn's thriller ADRENALINE could be the breakout success story of the Festival, racking up the Tennessee Independent Spirit Award for best film by a Tennessee filmmaker.
Big Kenny Alphin of the band Big & Rich used his star power to bring further attention to the tragedy of genocide in Darfur by joining DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK Director Annie Sundberg and photographer Brian Steidle for its April 25 screening and reception. The film's appearance at the festival was accompanied by the photo exhibit DARFUR/DARFUR. Joining the filmmakers at films and events during the week were filmmaker and actress Kim Williams-Paisley, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and Mary Gauthier. The festival closes with the World Premiere of AMERICANIZING SHELLEY with rising star Namrata Singh Gujral.
"We really broke out this year," says Brian Gordon, NaFF Artistic Director. "The quality of the films, the high enthusiasm from the audience and the fantastic regional and national attention have been outstanding. A continued desire to connect an international festival to a regional and community experience has always been our intention, and this year it truly clicked. We are extremely proud of what we've accomplished."
Attendance at the Festival is estimated at over 20,000, a 26% increase over last year. In total, the festival was comprised of over 240 films from 40 countries, and included panels, workshops and over a dozen special receptions and music events.
"These attendance numbers, and our increase from last year, indicate that we have truly tapped into what filmmakers and filmgoers, both nationally and in our community, want out of this festival," said NaFF Executive Director Sallie Mayne. "The films are always at the core, but we've always aimed for a larger and better shared experience that combines education, entertainment and enlightenment. This was our year."
