Nashville Film Festival Board of Directors Announces New Executive Committee and Three New Board Members
Nashville, Tenn. (April 11, 2025) — The Nashville Film Festival announces new appointments to their Board of Directors leadership and three new board members. In the organization’s April board meeting, Christopher Barkley of Bonsai Creative was appointed Board President while UTA agent Nick Barnes was appointed Board Vice President.
Additionally, three Nashville business leaders were appointed to new board positions: music industry professional Anastasia Brown, business attorney Phillip Byron Jones (Evans, Jones & Reynolds, P.C.) and entertainment attorney Courtney Sabatini (Tennessee Entertainment Law).
“We are delighted with the outstanding additions to our leadership team and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside Courtney, Phillip, and Anastasia—three brilliant professionals whose diverse talents will elevate the Nashville Film Festival to new heights,” said Christopher Barkley, president of the NashFilm board. “We’re building a team that’s not only skilled but also deeply committed to fostering creativity and community through the power of film.”
Anastasia Brown is a music supervisor, talent scout, music publisher, talent booker, entertainment consultant, columnist and author. As a music supervisor, Anastasia Brown has worked on major motion pictures, TV series, soundtracks and original songs which have received Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Dove wins and nominations.
Phillip Byron Jones is a partner at Evans, Jones & Reynolds, P.C. handling business law and business litigation with an emphasis on contract disputes, corporate disputes, intellectual property, commercial construction project disputes and aviation law.
Courtney Sabatini started her legal career in the film and television department of a boutique entertainment firm in Los Angeles, working with both Academy and Emmy Award winning and up-and-coming writers, directors, actors, and producers. In 2022, Courtney opened her own practice in Nashville where she continues to work closely with studios in Los Angeles, while also representing talent and production companies closer to home.
The current Nashville Film Festival Board of Directors also includes: Jessica Driver, Kelly Greene, Randall Foster, Bob Raines, Shanna Straussberg and Emily Walker.
About Nashville Film Festival: Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm) is a globally recognized nonprofit organization and cultural event presenting the best in world cinema, American independent films and documentaries by veteran masters, up-and-coming directors, and first-time filmmakers. With Academy Award® qualifying status, the Nashville Film Festival celebrates innovation, music and the many voices of the human spirit through the art of film.
In addition to producing one of the top film festivals in the country, NashFilm strengthens and enriches the local community year-round through unique programs, including film education screenings for public school students, a summer film camp for teens and free outdoor film screenings.
Originally founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival is one of the first film festivals in the United States and will host its 56th festival from September 18-24, 2025.