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Lawrence Bender, Rob Thomas, Big Kenny Alphin and Al Gore All Part of Attendance-Record Breaking 2007 Nashville Film Festival

"Small Engine Repair," "Banished," "Randy and the Mob" and "The Clinton 12" Take Home Trophies

Nashville, TN -- APRIL 26, 2007 -- The 38th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) wraps up today, continuing its annual record-breaking attendance streak. The World Premiere of the Gillian Grisman-directed Rob Thomas documentary MY SECRET RECORD OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BIZ kicked off the Festival on Thursday April 19 with Grisman, Thomas and Marisol Thomas in attendance. Other highlights included Walton Goggins of "The Shield" fame joining writer/director and actor Ray McKinnon for the WORLD PREMIERE of his comedy RANDY AND THE MOB. Lawrence Bender ("Pulp Fiction," "Good Will Hunting," "Kill Bill Vols. 1 and 2," "An Inconvenient Truth") took home the President's Award after a panel discussion and former Vice-President Al Gore made a surprise appearance on April 21 to present the REEL CURRENT Award to "Manufactured Landscapes" Director Jennifer Baichwal.

Niall Heery's SMALL ENGINE REPAIR was named the NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL / REGAL CINEMAS DREAMMAKER AWARD winner for best feature without U.S. distribution, while Marco Williams' BANISHED took home the award for Best Documentary. Ray McKinnon's RANDY AND THE MOB snagged the Audience Award for Best Feature, while Keith McDaniel's THE CLINTON 12, in addition to winning the NPT Human Spirit Award, picked up the Audience Award for Best Documentary. Robert S. Lynn's thriller ADRENALINE could be the breakout success story of the Festival, racking up the Tennessee Independent Spirit Award for best film by a Tennessee filmmaker.

Big Kenny Alphin of the band Big & Rich used his star power to bring further attention to the tragedy of genocide in Darfur by joining DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK Director Annie Sundberg and photographer Brian Steidle for the film's April 25 screening and reception. The film's appearance at the Festival was accompanied by the photo exhibit DARFUR|DARFUR. Joining the various filmmakers at films and events during the week were filmmaker and actress Kim Williams-Paisley, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and Mary Gauthier. The festival closes with the World Premiere of AMERICANIZING SHELLEY with rising star Namrata Singh Gujral.

"We really broke out this year," says Brian Gordon, NaFF Artistic Director. "The quality of the films, the high enthusiasm from the audience and the fantastic regional and national attention have been outstanding. A continued desire to connect an international festival to a regional and community experience has always been our intention, and this year it truly clicked. We are extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished."

Attendance at the Festival is estimated at over 20,000, a 26% increase over last year. In total, the festival was comprised of over 240 films from 40 countries, and included panels, workshops and over a dozen special receptions and music events.

"These attendance numbers, and our increase from last year, indicate that we have truly tapped into what filmmakers and filmgoers, both nationally and in our community, want out of this festival," said NaFF Executive Director Sallie Mayne. "The films are always at the core, but we’ve always aimed for a larger and better shared experience that combines education, entertainment and enlightenment. This was our year."

Nashville Film Festival is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and receives funding from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, H. Franklin Brooks Philanthropic Fund, William N. Rollins Fund for the Arts of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, TheFrist Foundation, The Memorial Foundation, Nashville Metro Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Ragsdale Family Foundation, Target Stores, Tennessee Arts Commission, The Cal Turner Family Foundation, and its generous patrons and sponsors.

Please visit nashvillefilmfestival.org for more information.

2007 Nashville Film Festival Award Winners

NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL / REGAL CINEMAS DREAMMAKER AWARD (for best feature without U.S. distribution): Niall Heery (SMALL ENGINE REPAIR)

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE (Sponsored by Dish Magazine): Ray McKinnon (RANDY AND MOB)

BEST DOCUMENTARY (Sponsored by Ground Zero):

Marco Williams (BANISHED)

Honorable Mention: Ashley Sabin & David Redmon (KAMP KATRINA)

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY (Sponsored by the Documentary Channel): Keith McDaniel (THE CLINTON 12)

PRESIDENT'S AWARD: Lawrence Bender

GOVERNOR'S AWARD: Steve Oedekerk

REEL CURRENT AWARD (Presented by Al Gore): Jennifer Baichwal, "Manufactured Landscapes"

NPT HUMAN SPIRIT AWARD (Sponsored by Nashville Public Television): Keith McDaniel, "The Clinton 12"

ROSETTA MILLER PERRY AWARD (For the best film by a black filmmaker): Nina Kennedy, "Matthew Kennedy: One Man's Journey"

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT(Sponsored by Ground Zero):

Mariam Jobrani (THE FIGHTING CHOLITAS)

Honorable Mention:

Didiem Yilnaz (WAITING FOR ARIF)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE OR DOCUMENTARY (Sponsored by AC, Inc.): Ari Issler and Matt Ruskin (THE HIP HOP PROJECT) Honorable Mention: Clayton Jacobson & Sean Lander (KENNY)

BEST MUSIC IN A FEATURE FILM:

John Swihart (RANDY AND THE MOB)

Honorable Mention:

Will Aron and Josef Peters (THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE)

IMPACT OF MUSIC AWARD (Sponsored by Gibson Guitars for the best film the exemplifies the importance of music in our everyday lives): Jasmine Dellal (GYPSY CARAVAN) Honorable Mention: Alejandro Saderman (EL ULTIMO BANDONEON)

BEST SHORT NARRATIVE:

Jens Assur (THE LAST DOG OF RWANDA)

Honorable Mentions:

Jeffrey St. Jules (THE TRAGIC STORY OF NLING)

Andreas Tibblin (WHEN ELVIS CAME TO VISIT)

Faye Jackson (LUMP)

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT NARRATIVE:

Lilah Vandenburgh (BITCH)

BEST ANIMATION:

Joanna Quinn (DREAMS AND DESIRES - FAMILY TIES)

Honorable Mentions:

Regina Pessoa (TRAGIC STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING)

Jonas Odell (NEVER LIKE THE FIRST TIME)

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT ANIMATION:

Adam Parrish King (THE WRAITH OF COBBLE HILL)

Honorable Mention:

Sarah Orenstein (WINDOWS MASKS DOORS)

BEST EXPERIMENTAL:

Christopher Brunner (3 Minutes)

Honorable Mention:

Ariana Gerstein (ALICE SEES THE LIGHT)

BEST YOUNG FILMMAKER (Sponsored by Watkins College For Art and Design): Joseph Procopio (DRIVE) Honorable Mention (THE HOMECOMING)

TENNESSEE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD (Sponsored by the Tennessee Film Music and Entertainment Commission for the best film directed by a Tennessee Resident): Robert S. Lynn (ADRENALINE) Honorable Mention: Dub Cornett (THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE REAL BEVERLY HILLBILLYS)

BEST MUSIC VIDEO BY A NASHVILLE FILMMAKER:

Jason Satterlund (YOU DON'T KNOW ME)

BEST MUSIC VIDEO BY A NON-NASHVILLE FILMMAKER:

minivegas (JUMBO IN THE MODERNWORLD)

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