Nashville Film Festival Announces First Music-Focused Titles

The Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) has announced the first six titles for the upcoming 46th annual Nashville Film Festival, April 16 – 25 at Regal Green Hills Cinema. Music-focused titles include: Country: Portraits of an American Sound, How Sweet the Sound – The Blind Boys of Alabama, Love & Mercy, and Made in Japan.

“Already, this year is lining up to break records,” said NaFF Artistic Director, Brian Owens. “We had 3,550 entries from 125 countries, that’s an increase of over 450 entries from 2014.”

• Country: Portraits of an American Sound | USA (Director: Steven Kochones) –Explores the history and culture of country music through the lens of the photographers who have captured the ideals, lifestyles and personalities of country music artists for over 80 years. Featuring the work of photographers Les Leverett, Leigh Weiner, Henry Horenstein, Henry Diltz, Raeanne Rubenstein, David McClister and Michael Wilson. Cast: Rosanne Cash, Roy Clark, Merle Haggard, Lyle Lovett, Charley Pride, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, The Band Perry, Keith Urban.

• How Sweet the Sound – The Blind Boys of Alabama | USA (Director: Leslie McCleave) – Filmed over the course of ten years to tell the story of The Blind Boys of Alabama–who met as children in the 1930s at a segregated state-run vocational school and would become one of the last great gospel groups. Shot over a period of ten years–the surviving band members relive their unlikely success story as we see a rare, and frank view of life on the road with these renowned performers now in their 70s and 80s.

• Made in Japan | USA, Japan (Director:  Josh Bishop) – From Executive Producer Morgan Spurlock, a remarkable story of Tomi Fujiyama, the world’s first Japanese country music superstar. It is a funny yet poignant multicultural journey through music, marriage and the impact of the corporate world on the dreams of one woman. Cast: Tomi Fujiyama, Elijiah Wood.

• Love & Mercy | USA (Director: Bill Pohlad) – Focusing on Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys, Love & Mercy paints an unconventional portrait of the artist by interweaving seminal moments in his life, from his artistic genius to his profound struggles, and the love that keeps him alive. Cast: Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, John Cusack and Paul Giamatti.

Additional titles announced include Adult Beginners (Ross Katz), and Slow West (John Maclean). More than 200 film events will be held in six theaters with a VIP tent and Red Carpet.