The 56th Nashville Film Festival, hosted over seven days from September 18–24, 2025, presents an electrifying celebration of film, music, and culture at some of Nashville’s most iconic arts venues. This year’s festival will showcase nearly 150 of the best new independent films from around the globe, alongside captivating Q&A sessions with filmmakers, dynamic industry panels, unforgettable parties, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow creatives and film fans.  

The Nashville Film Festival, a week-long celebration of film, music and culture will showcase nearly 150 films on screen across seven days at Regal Green Hills and the Belcourt Theatre. Additional screening and event venues will continue to be announced throughout the summer.

Coinciding with the festival, the highly anticipated Creators Conference will be hosted at the Hilton Nashville Green Hills from September 19-21, 2025. The three-day conference will feature an inspiring lineup of panels with film and music industry professionals alongside networking events designed to educate and connect the creative community. The full slate of additional venues and film programming will be announced later this summer. Local cinephiles and visitors alike are invited to “Discover the Future of Film” at the 56th Nashville Film Festival and embark on a curated journey through the best of new independent film.

56th Festival Competition Categories

Stay tuned to nashfilm.org, SIGN-UP for our newsletter, and follow NashFilm’s social media channels (@nashfilmfest) for updates and important announcements about the 2025 festival!

• Instagram
• X
• Facebook

---

2025 Entries Process

The Pitch Competition Deadlines

Do you have a great idea for the next hit show or an original feature film? We’d love to hear your pitch! Submit your logline of 30 words or less for the opportunity to pitch in either the feature or episodic category. You may enter both, and you may enter as many loglines as you choose.

The top twenty-five loglines in each category are selected to pitch their idea virtually to a panel of industry pros, who will choose ten finalists from each category to pitch live at the 2025 Nashville Film Festival. The finalists will receive a festival badge that allows them access to the entire festival, including social and networking opportunities. (Please note: If you can’t make the trip to Nashville, your entry won’t be eligible to win the final prize).

Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025

Semifinalist notification: July 8, 2025

Film Competition Deadlines
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: June 13, 2025

Screenwriting Competition Deadlines
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: May 18, 2025

Entries for the Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition are now closed.

---

2024 HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

---

---

ABOUT NASHFILM 

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 Nashville Film Festival features seven days of in-person screenings, panels and music showcases, parties and more at venues throughout Nashville.

Learn more about NashFilm, a 501(c)3 arts advocacy organization.

---

---