The Nashville Film Festival Unveils Their 2003 Line-up on Newly Designed Website; 34th Annual Festival Promises To Be Bigger & Better Than Ever.

Entertainment Editors/Assignment Desks

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2003

Diverse Schedule of Films, Workshops

and Panels Appeal to Broader Marketplace

The 34th Annual Nashville Film Festival (NFF) has unveiled their complete schedule of workshops, panels and diverse selection of films on their newly designed website, www.nashvillefilmfestival.org offering their most ambitious line-up in the organization's 34-year history. The festival begins Monday, April 28 and runs through Sunday, May 2. Hosted by Regal Cinemas 16 located at 3815 Green Hills Village Drive in Nashville, TN, some 200 top films selected from all genre's will be shown on four state-of-the-art screens throughout the event.

The NFF is expecting a record-breaking attendance of 15,000; over 11,000 attended last year's festival. With this new time slot (it's usual slot has been in early June), they are hoping to draw larger audiences from area colleges and universities that will still be in session. It will also prevent the festival from having to compete with Nashville's annual convention of country music fans at Fan Fair that also takes place in early June.

The festival has been gaining in momentum over the last five years and with expanded workshops planned to tie in Nashville's music community with Hollywood filmmakers, the NFF hopes to become more plugged into Nashville's entertainment community. This year's assorted line up of films includes several dramas and documentaries about the Middle East; a series of gay/lesbian films; animation and experimental shorts; and children's films that should greatly benefit their ongoing efforts to appeal to the entire marketplace. Adding to the excitement, numerous filmmakers, producers and celebrities will be in attendance throughout the week. On hand for the world premiere of Charlie's War will be Diane Ladd, Vernon and Dr. Barbara Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey and fiancee, Stedman Graham, Natalie Cole and husband Bishop Kenneth H. Dupree.

Among many of the industry workshops taking place during the festival is Acting For The Camera, for kids ages 8-16 wanting to improve their acting skills. The 2-day program sold out quickly after going on sale in early April.

Cash prizes and awards will be presented to winners selected by NFF judges during an award ceremony on Saturday, May 3. The festival's top prize, The Dreammaker Award, entitles the winning 35 mm feature film to a week's run in a Los Angeles County Regal Cinema theater, qualifying the film for an Academy Award consideration.

Other Highlights of this year's festival includes:

a. The festival kicks off with an opening night Gala (4/28) that will include a special screening of Spellbound, an Oscar-nominated film following eight teenagers in competition to win the National Spelling Bee.

b. The world premiere of King of Bluegrass: The Life and Times of Jimmy Martin, a documentary about the life of the bluegrass legend, takes place on Tuesday (4/29) with Martin scheduled to attend.

c. The Dance, a locally made documentary makes its Nashville debut on Wednesday (4/30) followed by a benefit concert at the Rocketown Club. The concert will feature performances by the film's narrator and multi-platinum recording artist, Trace Adkins and other country music stars, Sara Evans, Jack Ingram, and more.

d. A Conversation with Andrew Mason, a workshop led by the successful producer of such films as The Matrix, Red Planet and Scooby Doo, will be held on Thursday (5/1) and discuss the challenges of producing, the joys of independent film-making and the way his life has changed since The Matrix.

Advance tickets for all films, workshops and panels are on sale now at www.ticketweb.com and can be purchased online up to 24 hours in advance by using your credit card by calling 1-800-965-4827. Day of show tickets may be purchased at the NFF Box Office located at the Regal Green Hills Cinemas. NFF Box Office hours are 12pm - 5pm beginning Saturday, April 26 through Monday, April 28. The box office closes a half-hour after the start time of the last film. All ticket sales are final.

For complete listing of films, showtimes & ticket prices, visit www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.

- The Nashville Film Festival is a non-profit 501(c) corporation that receives its funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville Metro Arts, and their generous patrons and sponsors including Regal Cinemas, Business Wire, Comcast Cable, American Airlines, Baja Fresh, Bass, Berry & Sims, IFC, ASCAP, SESAC, Wild Oats Markets, William Morris Agency, Right Bank Music, Kodak, Dell Computers, Sony & RCA Label Group.

Editor's Note:

ATTENTION ALL ATTENDING PRESS MEMBERS: Requests for media credentials must be received by Hot Schatz PR no later that Thursday, April 24, 2003. Once approved, laminates may be picked up at Hot Schatz PR, located at 1024 16th Ave. S., 2nd Floor, Nashville, TN 37212. Contact Angie Hamblen @ 615/782-0078 or [e-mail] to make arrangements.