Nashville Film Festival Begins Today

The Nashville Film Festival (NaFF), presented by Nissan, starts today (4/19) at the Regal Green Hills Cinemas, running a full week until next Thursday (4/26).

The festival will open with dual premieres of After, directed by Ryan Smith, and Beauty is Embarassing, directed by Neil Berkeley.

Musical films are always a highlight of NaFF, and this year’s selections will include co-closer Big Easy Express, co-presented by the Americana Music Association and Nashville Scene. The film follows Old Crow Medicine Show, Mumford & Sons, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on a train journey from California to Louisiana. The film will screen for free at 8 pm Thursday (4/26) in Nashville’s Centennial Park. Also closing the festival is the documentary Paul Williams: Still Alive, about the legendary songwriter and music executive.

Songwriter Hank Cochran will be the focus of a bio-documentary called Hank Cochran: Livin’ For a Song. Wes Pryor of Reel Cool Films directed the film, which features appearances by Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare, Elvis Costello, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, and more. The documentary premieres at 7 pm on Wednesday (4/25).

Just in time for Record Store Day on Saturday (4/21), record store documentary Brick and Mortar and Love will screen Friday (4/20) during NaFF and again at Grimey’s New and Pre-Loved Music on Saturday.

Also included is Welcome to Nash Vegas, a documentary directed by Julie Dove about the long and tough road to stardom in Nashville. Interviewed in the film are Darius Rucker, Lee Brice, Sherrie Austin, Joe Galante, Wayne Halper, Lisa Johnson, Trey Bruce, and more. The film shows at 8:30 pm Monday (4/23).

Among the daily panel discussions is “The Evolution of Women Behind the Camera,” taking place at 4:30 pm on Saturday (4/21), with actor/producer Nicole Kidman, as well as fellow actor/directors Famke Janssen, Carrie Preston, and Beth Grant.

The popular music supervisors panel will also return with Evyen Klean (Hemingway & Gellhorn), Tricia Holloway (Middle Men), PJ Bloom (Glee, American Horror Story), Wende Crowley (Friends With Benefits), Jenee Deangelis (Cold Case), and Michael Freeman (music producer, Ogilvy & Mather). Music supervisor panels take place Tuesday (4/24) and Wednesday (4/25).

For tickets, laminates, and a full schedule visit nashvillefilmfestival.org.