September 20, 2025 -56th Nashville Film FestivalDay 3

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Legendary filmmaker, actor, author, and comedian Albert Brooks is coming to Nashville!

Albert Brooks has shaped American comedy and independent film for decades—from iconic roles in Taxi Driver, Broadcast News, and Drive, to directing, writing, and starring in groundbreaking films like Real Life and Modern Romance, and lending his voice to beloved animated classics like Finding Nemo. Most recently featured in Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, directed by Rob Reiner, his remarkable career continues to influence generations of filmmakers and comedians. Don’t miss the chance to see him live!

📍Nashville Comedy Festival
🗓️ April 19 | The Fisher Center
🎟️ nashcomedyfest.com

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Legendary filmmaker, actor, author, and comedian Albert Brooks is coming to Nashville! Albert Brooks has shaped American comedy and independent film for decades—from iconic roles in Taxi Driver, Broadcast News, and Drive, to directing, writing, and starring in groundbreaking films like Real Life and Modern Romance, and lending his voice to beloved animated classics like Finding Nemo. Most recently featured in Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, directed by Rob Reiner, his remarkable career continues to influence generations of filmmakers and comedians. Don’t miss the chance to see him live! 📍Nashville Comedy Festival 🗓️ April 19 | The Fisher Center 🎟️ nashcomedyfest.com

3 days ago

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This Women’s History Month, we honor Mary Jane Coleman, founder of the Sinking Creek Film Celebration, the festival that would become the Nashville Film Festival. In 1969, she created a platform for independent filmmakers whose voices weren’t being seen or heard, and provided key leadership and support for the festival for more than 20 years.

“I have no time to promote Hollywood films,” she told the Greeneville Sun in 1987. “Independents use film as an artistic tool, and express themselves in their films... There was no festival in the South for independent filmmakers, so I decided to try to do one.”

A visionary leader and arts advocate, Coleman founded the Greeneville Arts Guild (later the Greeneville Arts Council) and was a founding member of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Her dedication and vision laid the foundation for generations of filmmakers and artists to tell their stories, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire the Nashville Film Festival and the independent film community today.

#WomensHistoryMonth

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This Women’s History Month, we honor Mary Jane Coleman, founder of the Sinking Creek Film Celebration, the festival that would become the Nashville Film Festival. In 1969, she created a platform for independent filmmakers whose voices weren’t being seen or heard, and provided key leadership and support for the festival for more than 20 years. “I have no time to promote Hollywood films,” she told the Greeneville Sun in 1987. “Independents use film as an artistic tool, and express themselves in their films... There was no festival in the South for independent filmmakers, so I decided to try to do one.” A visionary leader and arts advocate, Coleman founded the Greeneville Arts Guild (later the Greeneville Arts Council) and was a founding member of the Tennessee Arts Commission. Her dedication and vision laid the foundation for generations of filmmakers and artists to tell their stories, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire the Nashville Film Festival and the independent film community today. #WomensHistoryMonth

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As we close out our #BlackFilmmakersInFocus series in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re proud to spotlight #NashFilm55 filmmaker Contessa Gayles, director of SONGS FROM THE HOLE.

Contessa Gayles is an award-winning director, writer, DP, editor, and Emmy-nominated producer who brings intimacy and artistry to stories of identity, community, coming-of-age, liberation, and radical imagination. Her formally innovative and critically acclaimed feature documentary-visual album SONGS FROM THE HOLE is now streaming on Netflix. For the film, Gayles is nominated for two NAACP Image Awards—Outstanding Directing in a Feature Documentary and Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture).

NashFilm also presented Gayles’ documentary THE DEBUTANTES as part of the NashFilm Education Screening Program serving Metro Nashville Public School students in 2025. The film follows the first group of Black debutantes in Canton, Ohio, in a decade as they revive a traditional rite of passage while charting their own path forward.

Thank you for following along as we celebrated visionary NashFilm alumni whose work pushes boundaries, uplifts voices, and shapes the future of cinema. Join us in continuing to support and champion incredible Black storytellers—this month and always. 🎥✨

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As we close out our #BlackFilmmakersInFocus series in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re proud to spotlight #NashFilm55 filmmaker Contessa Gayles, director of SONGS FROM THE HOLE. Contessa Gayles is an award-winning director, writer, DP, editor, and Emmy-nominated producer who brings intimacy and artistry to stories of identity, community, coming-of-age, liberation, and radical imagination. Her formally innovative and critically acclaimed feature documentary-visual album SONGS FROM THE HOLE is now streaming on Netflix. For the film, Gayles is nominated for two NAACP Image Awards—Outstanding Directing in a Feature Documentary and Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture). NashFilm also presented Gayles’ documentary THE DEBUTANTES as part of the NashFilm Education Screening Program serving Metro Nashville Public School students in 2025. The film follows the first group of Black debutantes in Canton, Ohio, in a decade as they revive a traditional rite of passage while charting their own path forward. Thank you for following along as we celebrated visionary NashFilm alumni whose work pushes boundaries, uplifts voices, and shapes the future of cinema. Join us in continuing to support and champion incredible Black storytellers—this month and always. 🎥✨

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This week, we had the pleasure of showcasing the award-winning documentary @remainingnative to local audiences and welcoming director Paige Bethmann to Nashville!

On Tuesday and Wednesday at the @fristartmuseum, we welcomed students from 6 MNPS schools to watch the film on the big screen and participate in discussions with the director.

On Tuesday night, we partnered with @ilensvandy on a free community screening of the film and post-screening conversation. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

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This week, we had the pleasure of showcasing the award-winning documentary @remainingnative to local audiences and welcoming director Paige Bethmann to Nashville! On Tuesday and Wednesday at the @fristartmuseum, we welcomed students from 6 MNPS schools to watch the film on the big screen and participate in discussions with the director. On Tuesday night, we partnered with @ilensvandy on a free community screening of the film and post-screening conversation. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

7 days ago

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CONTACT

info@nashfilm.org

ph. | (615) 742-2500

mail | 161 Rains Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

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Nashville, TN 37203