NaFF

From a NaFF press release:

The dates for the 37th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) are set for April 20 through April 26. The Festival returns to Regal Green Hills Stadium 16 in Nashville, TN, with four state-of-the-art theaters and plenty of parking.

NaFF is one of the best-known arts events in Tennessee and is the biggest film festival in the mid-South with a world-known emphasis on music in film. Notable guests like Oprah Winfrey, Al Gore, Billy Ray Cyrus, Paul Reiser, Robert Redford, Susan Surandon, Béla Fleck, Matthew McConaughey, Peter Falk, Michael Moore, Rick Wakeman, Rick Schroder, Patrick Swayze and John Waters are just a few that have come out to support the film Festival.

“I can feel the excitement build as we are prescreening films, meeting with our Festival team members and planning fabulous parties. The celebrity guest list is growing,” Sallie Mayne, Managing Director of the festival, remarks. “This is truly a community event with dedicated sponsors and volunteers returning each year to help us make this happen”

NaFF is pleased to have Current TV as a sponsor for the second year, presenting the Reel Current Award for the documentary that provides the most extraordinary insight into a contemporary or social global issue. The winning documentary will be selected by Current TV and former Vice President Al Gore, who will present the award on Thursday afternoon, April 20. The Reel Current Award winner will be selected from five documentaries screening at the Festival, which will be announced in mid-March. The 2005 0winner was Taggart Siegel’s The Real Dirt on Farmer John.

In 2005, the Festival was picked as “One of 20 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine; and “Best Film Festival Prizes” for its DREAMMAKER AWARD by Film Festival Today. With an increase of 14% in 2005 attendance and 2006 submissions up to 1644, this year’s festival promises an eclectic international array of features, documentaries, shorts, animations, experimentals, music videos and young filmmakers (18 and under) films.

Artistic Director Brian Gordon said, “From the films submitted and the scouting we’ve done at other Festivals, as well as the increased awareness of the Festival in the film community, it has become both easier and more exciting to put together a high-quality, diverse selection of films, guests, panels and live music for our enthusiastic audiences. Every year gets better, and the 2006 edition will be no exception.”

With the festival located in “Music City,” NaFF offers two unique music awards: Best Music in a Feature Award for the feature film with the best score composition or music supervision; and Impact of Music Award for the film that best exemplifies the importance of music in our everyday lives. Tickets go on sale in March online at nashvillefilmfestival.org