2025 Festival Details Coming Soon!
Mark your calendars for the 56th Nashville Film Festival. Hosted over seven days from September 18–24, 2025, get ready to experience 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 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.
Don’t miss the NashFilm Creators Conference, a standout highlight packed with exclusive panels, insightful discussions, and networking events, running from September 19–21, 2025.
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!
2025 Entries Process
Film Competition Deadlines
The 56th Nashville Film Festival taking place September 18 – September 24, 2025 plans to feature seven days of in-person screenings, panels and music showcases, parties and more at a variety of venues throughout Nashville.
Open for Entries: January 1, 2025
Early Bird Deadline: March 5, 2025
Regular Deadline: May 7, 2025
Late Deadline: May 28, 2025
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: June 6, 2025
Stay connected via our website and social media for more information and join the celebration of film, music and culture!
Screenwriting Competition Deadlines
The Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting 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. To round it out, the Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition offers a special category award to a Tennessee Writer.
Entries for the Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Competition open on December 6, 2024.
Screenwriting Competition Entry Deadlines / Notifications:
Open for Entries: December 6, 2024
Early Bird Deadline: January 12, 2025
Regular Deadline: March 16, 2025
Late Deadline: April 26, 2025
Extended (FINAL) Deadline: May 18, 2025
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).
Open for Entries: December 6, 2024
Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025
Semifinalist notification: July 8, 2025
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.
