Each year, Nashville Film Festival partners with Youth Villages and Nashville-based music publisher Moraine Music Group on the Living Reel project to provide under-served teens in the Nashville community with a creative outlet to express themselves and develop their strengths and build their confidence.
With the help and guidance of professional songwriters, musicians, and producers, the teens learn how to write, compose, and record an original song in a professional studio. Professional filmmakers document the process and produce a short film to premiere at Nashville Film Festival, where their work and proven strength is celebrated. With support from Moraine Music Group, Metro Arts, and the Tennessee Arts Commission, the program has operated since 2004.
“The songwriters were really inspirational and encouraging, inviting us to open up and dig deep to create insightful, original work. The entire experience brought me closer to my peers and gave me a new outlook on the arts. I didn’t realize I liked songwriting before this project, so it was fun to have the opportunity to write and sing, and it even inspired me to start journaling.” – Abigail Holland, 2024 Living Reel Youth Participant
2025 NashFilm Living Reel Project
This year’s song, “Trenches (Keep Going),” is an original piece co-written by Nashville singer-songwriters Kyshona, founder of Your Song, an organization working with vulnerable communities to help them find their voice through music, acclaimed recording artist Carly Moffa and the teens of Youth Villages, also known as the The Flyers.
2024 NashFilm Living Reel Project
The 2024 song, “Love Is Always There,” is an original piece co-written by Nashville singer-songwriters Kyshona, founder of Your Song, an organization working with vulnerable communities to help them find their voice through music, Steph Jones, co-writer on Sabrina Carpenter’s #1 Billboard hit, “Espresso,” and the teens of Youth Villages, also known as the AURORA.
2023 NashFilm Living Reel Project
Watch the 2023 NashFilm Living Reel Project film and music video below. The 2023 Living Reel song “Today Is Someday” was written by the Teens of Youth Villages, Shannon LaBrie, Kyshona and Autumn Nichols.
2022 NashFilm “Living Reel” Project
The 2022 song “Page by Page” is an original song rooted and co-written by the teens of Youth Villages, Shannon LaBrie, Sinclair, Karalyne Winegarner, Nikki Christie and Pauline Andres.