Get Tickets & Badges Now!

The 54th Nashville Film Festival, a week-long celebration of film, music and culture, takes place at several of Nashville’s premier arts venues with film screenings, industry panels and social events, September 28 – October 4, 2023. The Nashville Film Festival presents more than 140 film screenings, a selection of post-film Q&As and in-depth discussions with attending filmmakers.

NashFilm hosts events and programs that highlight the many aspects of filmmaking, including: a Screenwriting Competition (September 28-October 4); a Music Supervisors Program (music industry panels and workshops – September 28-October 2); the Creators Conference (film and music industry panels – September 29 – October 2); and live music performances and new artist showcases throughout the week.

This year, an expanded offering of film screenings are slated to take place at several arts venues throughout the area, including the historic Belcourt Theater, Regal Green Hills, the Franklin Theatre, Vanderbilt’s Rothschild Black Box Theater and Sarratt Cinema. VIP Badges are on sale now. Individual tickets, the full programming schedule and film guide is now available.

Stay tuned to nashfilm.org and NashFilm’s social media channels (@nashfilmfest) for additional real-time updates! See additional important information on badge pickup, parking and more below.

IMPORTANT FESTIVAL INFORMATION / FAQS

Badge Pick-up: Badges can be picked up at the box office, which opens an hour before the first showtime at each venue. Pick up locations vary by the day:

September 27th, 3pm-6pm: Moxy Nashville Vanderbilt Area (1911 Belcourt Avenue, Nashville)
September 28th, 11am-8:30pm: Belcourt Theatre (2102 Belcourt Ave, Nashville)
September 29th-October 1st, 10am-9pm: Regal Green Hills (3815 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville)
October 2nd, 11am-9pm: Regal Green Hills (3815 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville)
October 3rd-4th, 12pm-8pm: Belcourt Theatre (2102 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN)

Venues, Parking Information, and Maps

Belcourt Theatre – 2102 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN 37212

Parking: Belcourt Theatre Parking Lot (passes available inside at the box office). If the lot is full, metered street parking is available on Belcourt Ave for $1.75 per hour, enforced from 6am-12am. Pay parking is available in the garage across the street at Belcourt Village, the lot behind Cornerstone Financial Credit Union (after 5pm and on weekends), the lots behind and adjacent to Pancake Pantry, and in the garage of the Hill Center/Acklen Flats apartments at 2100 Acklen Ave (behind Double Dogs and Jeni’s Ice Creams). If you’re parking in pay lots (other than the Belcourt’s), note that parking companies managing these lots do ticket and boot for non-payment or expired tickets.

The Franklin Theatre – 419 Main St, Franklin, TN 37064

Parking: Street parking is available along Main St., and there is a parking garage on 4th Ave S

Vanderbilt Sarratt Cinema – 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Sarratt Student Center, 1st Floor, Nashville, TN 37240

Parking: Parking is available in the 25th Avenue Parking Garage on the corner of Highland and 25th Avenue. Metered parking is available along West End Avenue on weekdays and weekends. Paid parking is available in the garage behind the shops at 2525 West End Avenue. Both options are a 1 – 3 block walk to Sarratt/Rand Student Center. For more information, visit: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/traffic_parking/visitor-parking.php

Vanderbilt Rothschild Black Box Theater – 2401 West End Ave, Nashville, 37203

Parking: Parking is available in the 25th Avenue Parking Garage on the corner of Highland and 25th Avenue. Metered parking is available along West End Avenue on weekdays and weekends. Paid parking is available in the garage behind the shops at 2525 West End Avenue. Both options are a 1 – 3 block walk to Rothschild Black Box Theater. For more information, visit: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/traffic_parking/visitor-parking.php

Regal Green Hills – 3815 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215

Parking: Free parking is available in the Green Hills Cinema Parking Garage behind the theater on Level 4 (Garage Address: 3813 Green Hills Village Dr, Nashville, TN 37215)

https://goo.gl/maps/X6uYE5AvWndUgWKp7

Arc Studios (Creators Conference events) 11 Willow St #2, Nashville, TN 37210

Parking: Parking is available on-site in designated areas. Ride service is strongly recommended, as parking is limited.

Anzie Blue (Opening Party) – 2111 Belcourt Ave #101, Nashville, TN 37212

Parking: Parking is available in the garage to the left of Anzie Blue’s front door, and your first hour is free. Metered street parking is available on Belcourt Ave for $1.75 per hour, enforced from 6am-12am. Pay parking is also available in the lot behind Cornerstone Financial Credit Union (after 5pm and on weekends), the lots behind and adjacent to Pancake Pantry, and in the garage of the Hill Center/Acklen Flats apartments at 2100 Acklen Ave (behind Double Dogs and Jeni’s Ice Creams). If you’re parking in pay lots, note that parking companies managing these lots do ticket and boot for non-payment or expired tickets.

Exit/In (Closing Party) – 2208 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203

Parking: While ride share service is recommended. There are various parking options around the venue, however parking is limited. Options include a pay to park parking garage across from the venue and a pay to park lot behind the venue both located on Louise Avenue. There are also metered and unmetered parking spots available on Elliston Pl and Louise Avenue as well as other surrounding side streets.

FESTIVAL MAP

MUSIC PROGRAM – PARKING NOTES

The Electric Jane has a garage with paid parking, and there is also a surface lot directly across the street with paid parking as well. Free street parking is available on surrounding streets including Music Circle S, Music Circle N, Sigler St, 14th Avenue S, Hawkins St, etc.

CMA has a parking garage with very limited paid parking. Additional paid parking is available directly behind in the RCA Studio A building parking lot, directly behind CMA building. Free street parking is available on surrounding streets including Music Circle S, South St, Villa Pl, 15th Avenue S, etc.

Note for Music Program guests:

The Electric Jane and CMA are within walking distance. Parking once for the day and walking to and from is encouraged.

2023 Film Competition

The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) 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 longest-running film festivals in the United States and the first in the South. NashFilm discovers, elevates, and honors filmmakers, screenwriters and musicians from around the world while engaging, connecting and strengthening the community.

Nashville Film Festival offers $100,000 in cash and in-kind sponsor prizes to filmmakers with winners selected by industry professionals – including studio representatives, producers, DP’s, editors and fellow award winning filmmakers. The winning short films in the Narrative, Animated, and Documentary Short Film Competitions are eligible for Academy Award® consideration without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

The 54th Nashville Film Festival, taking place September 28 – October 4, 2023 plans to feature seven days of in-person screenings, panels and music showcases, parties and more at a variety of venues throughout Nashville with select content featured online in our Virtual Cinema.

Entries for the 2023 Nashville Film Festival are now closed. For more information on entry categories, please visit our entries page on FilmFreeway.

SEE MORE ON Filmfreeway

2023 Screenplay Competition

The Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition began in 2014 with a mission to embrace new voices, creativity and a passion for innovative storytelling. The competition features several categories including, drama, comedy, horror and genre features in addition to short competition, 30 minute and 60 minute pilots. The Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition also offers a special category award to a Tennessee Writer.

Scripts from the quarter-finalist level up are hosted on a website for access by industry professionals. Semifinalists will be entitled to purchase a badge at preferred rate. Finalists are treated to a table read scene from their screenplay performed by actors and will receive a complimentary festival badge.

Winning screenwriters will receive $500 or $1,000 in cash prizes, depending on the category, and each feature-length category winner as well as a personalized NashFilm Award and personalized assistance with their project goals. Category winners are determined by an all-industry jury that includes active producers and literary representatives.