Check back here for information on the Call for Entry 2014.
An Academy qualifier for short films, The Nashville Film Festival will screen 254 films in 2013, and received 3,004 entries. NaFF will host guests from all around the world, including filmmakers from Iraq. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will partner with NaFF to welcome filmmakers and present panels.
Founded in 1969 as the Sinking Creek Film Celebration, Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) is one of the longest-running film festivals in the country and one of the most acclaimed festivals in the South. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville, NaFF attracts enthusiastic film lovers from all across the country and has been praised by filmgoers and filmmakers alike for its unique combination of big city film festival atmosphere and laid back Southern hospitality.
Laurels for Accepted Filmmakers
Official 2013 NaFF Laurels – Black with Transparent Background
Official 2013 NaFF Laurels – White
Take One Video Contest
Deadlines & Fees
Call for Entry Form
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SELECTION PROCESS
All notifications of acceptance status was given by March 1, 2013
Our process is clear and transparent. Every film submitted is seen at least two times (most receive three viewings). If one of the first two viewers says yes, the film goes before our third level of pre-screening – members of the professional filmmaking community, including directors, writers, and critics. From there, our programming staff hones the films down to the final selection.
Criteria for film selection includes a strong story line told in a unique way. We are always looking for new and up-and-coming filmmakers. Filmmakers such as Craig Brewer and Sean Baker each won their first awards at NaFF.
FILM PROGRAMS
NaFF provides its community with innovative, inspiring and culturally diverse film programs by celebrating the latest and best works of filmmakers from all over the globe. Competitive programs for feature filmmakers are: the Narrative Feature Competition and the New Directors Competition for narrative features; the Documentary Competition and the Gibson Music Films / Music City Competition for documentary features and the Ground Zero Tennessee Spirit Competition for Tennessee-based filmmakers. Competitive programs for shorts filmmakers are: Best Narrative and Best Animated Short Film (both qualifying to Academy Award consideration); Best Documentary Short; Best Experimental Short; Best College Student Short; and a Young Filmmakers Competition for filmmakers under the age of 18. The final prizes are the Ground Zero Award for best Tennessee Narrative Short and Documentary Short.
AWARDS
Recently named one of the Five Best Film Festivals in America by the Brooks Institute and voted one of “25 film festivals worth the entry fee” by MovieMaker Magazine, NaFF offers filmmakers outstanding cash and prizes valued at over $45,000. NaFF is unique in our emphasis on music in films. All films compete for several prizes for music composition, supervision, and collaboration. Winners of the Short Narrative and Animation competitions automatically quality for Academy Award consideration. Other short films categories compete for cash prizes. Additional independently jurried awards include prizes for the best LGBT film, best film by a black filmmaker, best Hispanic film, and for best film by a female filmmaker.
NOTABLE FILMS & GUESTS
NaFF presents the best films by veteran masters, up-and-coming and first-time filmmakers. Our films have won the highest honors in the film world. We screened “Beauty is Embarrassing”, “Big Easy Express”, “The Intouchables”, “Submarine”, “Terri”, “Another Earth”, “Nowhere Boy”, “The Concert”, “Teenage Paparazzo”, “500 Days of Summer”, “Encounters at the End of the World,” “Talk to Her,” “Young@Heart,” “The Devil Came on Horseback,” “Murderball,” “Hustle and Flow,” “Spellbound,” and “Born Into Brothels”.
NaFF is an international event for filmmakers and celebrities. Our guest list includes: Nicole Kidman, Famke Janssen, Beth Grant, Carrie Preston, Paul Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Harmony Korine, Emmylou Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, William Shatner, Hal Holbrook, Al Gore, Vincent D’Onofrio, Craig Brewer, Gale Anne Hurd, Giancarlo Esposito, Ray McKinnon, Steve James, Brad Paisley, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Ben Folds, Sheryl Crow, LeeAnn Womack.
Attendees from earlier years have included Oprah Winfrey, William H. Macy, Danny Glover, Joey Lauren Adams, Ashley Judd, Patricia Neal, Rob Thomas, Lawrence Bender, Kiefer Sutherland, Joshua Jackson, Peter Falk, Paul Reiser, John Pierson, Patrick Swayze, Rick Schroder, Christine Vachon, John Waters, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Redford, James Cromwell, Harry Belafonte, Barbara Kopple, Michael Moore, and D.A. Pennebaker.
