Nashville, Tenn. -- August 26, 2021 -- The Nashville Film Festival today announced its official program selections for its Music Documentary Features, Tennessee Features and Tennessee Shorts Programs for the 52nd annual event, taking place both in-person and virtually from September 30 - October 6, 2021.
Selections for the Music Documentaries competition include opening night’s selection Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road along with a-ha: The Movie, Fanny: The Right to Rock and I’m Wanita. Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road explores Brent Wilson’s (no relation) chronicle of the musician’s storied life and iconic work while honoring the festival’s deep ties to music and the music industry. Both filmmaker Wilson and Jason Fine, executive producer and featured in the film, will be in attendance on September 30.
True to its Tennessee roots, this year’s program features 29 films made in or with connections to the state. Selections for the Tennessee Features competition include Everybody is Looking for Some Light, The Fable of a Song, Faye, Invisible, A Hard Problem, Leftover Feelings: An RCA Studio B Survival and Thistle. The films represent a diverse range of moving stories about legendary music icons, human resilience, self-discovery and much more.
"We're proud to present the 52nd Nashville Film Festival as a fully immersive experience, offering both in-person and virtual platforms to best serve our filmmakers and audience members this year," said Jason Padgitt, Executive Director of the Nashville Film Festival. "We’re looking forward to delivering a memorable event that honors all the reasons we’ve become known as a premier event for content creators and film enthusiasts.”
“We’re excited to present a vibrant line-up of films from right here in Tennessee as well as across the country and around the world as part of the 2021 festival line-up,” said Lauren Ponto, Director of Programming for the Nashville Film Festival. “From stories of legendary musicians to personal accounts from our own Nashville community, this year’s films provide perspective and entertainment across a variety of genres, and we’re thrilled to showcase these narratives.”
Additional details on selections for the Music Documentary Features, Tennessee Features and Tennessee Shorts Programs are below. The full festival program, including official film selections, live music performances and the line-up for the annual Creators Conference, is available online at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.
Music Documentary Official Selections
a-ha: The Movie (directed by Thomas Robsham) - a-ha is Norway’s biggest pop success with their hit “Take On Me!”
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road (directed by Brent Wilson) - The legendary songwriter and cofounder of The Beach Boys takes viewers on an impressionistic road-trip through his life and music in this intimate and unconventional cinematic memoir.
Fanny: The Right to Rock (directed by Bobbi Jo Hart) - FANNY: The Right to Rock reveals the untold story of a self-formed garage band -- which included Filipina American and queer bandmates -- that morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny, the first band of women to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970).
I’m Wanita (directed by Matthew Walker) - A renegade Australian country music singer attempts to hold things together long enough so she can get to Nashville, record her definitive album and fulfill a lifelong dream.
Tennessee Feature Official Selections
Everybody is Looking for Some Light (directed by Caleb Chapman) - “Everybody is Looking for Some Light” blurs the line between a concert film and an adventure documentary, with insightful and clever commentary from an independent rock band.
The Fable of a Song (directed by Andy Strohl) - Four Nashville songwriters converge on a studio apartment to write a hit song and film the process. Featuring music from The Young Fables, Oneno & Liz Longley.
Faye (directed by Kd Amond) - Faye L. Ryan is a successful personal growth author mourning the loss of her husband. She retreats to a cabin on the bayou to finish her next book only to find that more than just her past will haunt her.
Invisible (directed by T.J. Parsell) - To be an openly gay artist in country music is nearly impossible, yet this group of gay women (and one trans man) persevered anyhow.
A Hard Problem (directed by hazart) - After the death of his mother, Ian must pack up the house where he cared for her in her waning years.
Leftover Feelings: An RCA Studio B Survival (directed by Lagan Sebert & Ted Roach..) - Nashville music icons John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas team up to record their first-ever collaboration “Leftover Feelings” in Elvis’s favorite studio, RCA Studio B, reviving the magical sounds and musical history of this iconic room.
Thistle (directed by Ryan Camp) - Stories of survival from the women of Thistle Farms.
Tennessee Shorts Official Selections
Against the Wind, Director: Hollis Bennett
Between Your Ear, Director: Noah Miller
Born Again, Director: Tommy Davis
Carthage House of Beauty, Director: Allison Inman
A Family That Steals Dogs, Director: John C Kelley
Galileo, Directors: Ryan Gentle & Austin Quarles
In A Bad Way, Director: Kyle Taubken
Miss Responsibility, Director: Clint Till
A Moment In Time, Director: Brandon Russell
Porch Pirates, Directors: Zack and Jeremy Frost
The Recipients, Director: Chad Cunningham
Renaissance Man, Director: Carson Hunt
The Shadowing, Director: Aaron Wheeler
Sky Blossom, Director: Richard Lui
Tennessee Triumph: Making A Monument, Directors: Karen Bullis & Kathy Lee Heuston
Untwined, Director: Alexandra Fehrman
White Flight, Director: Jay Curtis Miller
The White Hill Syndicate, Directors: Zack and Jeremy Frost
Additional programming announcements for Nashville Film Festival’s event will continue through early September. Film stills and logos are available upon request.
Passes and Tickets for the 2021 Nashville Film Festival
VIP Festival Badges are now on sale at www.nashfilm.org. General public tickets for individual films, events and online access begin September 1.
About Nashville Film Festival
The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally recognized nonprofit 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. Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will host its 52nd festival from September 30 - October 6, 2021. For more information, visit www.nashfilm.org.