KNOXVILLE, TN (December 5, 2024) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Visit Knoxville celebrates the success of its second annual film festival, FILM FEST KNOX, held in partnership with Regal on November 14-17, 2024 at the downtown Knoxville Regal Riviera. Winners from various categories at FILM FEST KNOX are announced.
Mark Asch, in his chronicle of the festival for Film Comment, praised FILM FEST KNOX as “an intervention in the American regional festival circuit.”
A goal of FILM FEST KNOX is to create a recruiting opportunity for the Visit Knoxville Film Office to continue promoting Knoxville as a film hub. The event allowed networking connections with producers and directors who make independent regional films, so they could consider Knoxville for future filming projects. This festival also offered the opportunity for festival goers to experience eclectic and powerful programming, carefully curated by Darren Hughes of The Public Cinema and Artistic Director for FILM FEST KNOX. Darren and his colleague Paul Harrill, both FILM FEST KNOX Co-Founders alongside Kim Bumpas and Curt Willis, were integral to the success of this event.
“The increase in film submissions, attendance, and special guests all added up to an incredible year two of FILM FEST KNOX,” said Curt Willis, Sr. Director of the Visit Knoxville Film Office. “Our second year surpassed our expectations, and the positive feedback has been heartwarming after months of hard work on this event.”
Awards were given in the following categories: the American Regional Cinema Competition, the Made in Tennessee Competition, and the Elev8or Pitch Competition. FILM FEST KNOX awarded a total of $18,000 in cash prizes to the talented winners.
The American Regional Cinema Competition is a showcase of the diversity of personal and ambitious filmmaking happening outside of the traditional industry capitals of Los Angeles and New York City. This category featured the following five feature films: Bitterroot, Bob Trevino Likes It, Griffin in Summer, The World Drops Dead, and To Kill a Wolf. The Best Film winner will receive an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run, courtesy of Regal.
The Made in Tennessee Competition included two feature films and 17 shorts. This category included the following feature films: Angel of Light and Glass Valley; and the following shorts: The Legend of Bill, Perfect Words, The Booth, The Buoyancy of Apples, How to Sue the Klan, Close the Door, Bless Her Heart, Solo Otra Dia, The Places You Go, Baking and Entering, Hell is High School Theatre, Midnight Moon, Plus One, Frog-Man V, Batmite, Where the Bullets Go, and Patch.
The Elev8or Pitch Competition included 21 film submissions. The top eight teams had their films screened, followed by their one-minute pitch in front of a live audience and panel of judges. This included the following films: Keep Watch, Dad’s Last Beach Trip, To Hell with It, Gateway, A Scout is Kind, How to Get the Girl, Episodes, and Outlaws. The top three winners will participate in a development lab with Paul Harrill and other industry professionals.
AMERICAN REGIONAL CINEMA COMPETITION
The jury of the American Regional Cinema Competition included Robert Colom, producer, writer, and graphic designer; Nellie Killian, film curator and co-founder of the Migrating Forms Film Festival; and C. Mason Wells, Director of Distribution for MUBI.
First Place – To Kill a Wolf (Dir. Kelsey Taylor)
Best Director – The World Drops Dead (Dir. Brandon Colvin)
Jury Prize – Bitterroot (Dir. Vera Brunner-Sung)
On behalf of the jury, C. Mason Wells wrote, “Vital regional film festivals have largely disappeared from the US landscape over the last decade. With its shrewd curation and warm communal spirit, FILM FEST KNOX is single-handedly working to reverse that trend. It’s a beacon.”
“A theatrical release is what every indie filmmaker aspires to when making their film, knowing the chances of it actually happening are incredibly unlikely in an incredibly crowded and competitive market,” said Kelsey Taylor, Director of To Kill a Wolf. “We didn’t dream our film would make it to the big screen so you can imagine our absolute delight knowing that audiences will be able to see To Kill a Wolf in Regal theaters next year. We could not be more grateful to FILM FEST KNOX and to Regal for changing the course of the film’s future – a theatrical release means reaching a wider audience, it means experiencing the haunting music and sound design as it was intended to be heard, and fully appreciating the nuanced performances of our talented cast. We're so grateful that the hard work of our entire team will be showcased in the way it deserves and we're over the moon knowing that our passion and diligence has paid off. I can’t express enough gratitude to Film Fest Knox for recognizing the film and giving us the opportunity to compete for its future. Between the festivals’ partnership with Regal, the warm and welcoming staff and excellent curation of films – FILM FEST KNOX won’t be flying under the radar for long.”
MADE IN TENNESSEE COMPETITION
The jury of the Made in Tennessee Competition included Brian Loschiavo, co-founder of Riverside Entertainment; Keith Thomas, Head of Development for Marcus Entertainment; and Betsy Pickle, a freelance film critic and journalist.
Best Film – How to Sue the Klan (Dir. John Beder)
Jury Prize – Glass Valley (Dir. Nicholas Crockett)
Honorable Mentions – Angel of Light (Dir. Crue Smith), Perfect Words (Dir. Anna Clary), and Plus One (Dir. Maddilyn Shea)
On behalf of the jury, Brian Loschiavo wrote, “FILM FEST KNOX exemplifies the caliber of filmmaking in Tennessee. The quality of programming, collaborative spirit and locale made this one of the best regional festivals I’ve ever attended.”
“In its two short years FILM FEST KNOX has emerged and established itself as the heartbeat of a flourishing film community here in Knoxville,” said Nick Crockett, Director of Glass Valley. “On top of superb curation and programming centered around regional film, the festival soars at accommodating both audiences and filmmakers. I'm honored to have been a part of the Made in Tennessee program, and I can't wait for year three.”
THE ELEV8OR PITCH COMPETITION
The jury of the Elev8or Pitch Competition included Paul Harrill, Co-Chair of the University of Tennessee Cinema Studies program and one of FILM FEST KNOX’s Co-Founders; Kristin Shrader, independent awards consultant for Netflix and other studios; Taylor Shung, producer of Oscar-winning film Nomadland; and Kelly Williams, Co-Founder of Ten Acres Films.
First Place – A Scout is Kind (Dir. Barrett Burgin)
Second Place – Outlaws (Dir. Edy Recendez)
Third Place (TIE) – To Hell with It (Dir. Melanie Lund) and Keep Watch (Dir. Kevin Keck)
On behalf of the jury, Kelly Williams wrote, “I was really impressed by all eight finalists and their unique, individual visions. The Elev8or Pitch is an amazing opportunity for Knoxville filmmakers and I’m personally excited to see feature projects that come out of this program.”
“We recently moved home to Knoxville and have been looking for ways to get involved with the film community here,” said Barrett and Jessica Burgin, Co-Directors of A Scout Is Kind. “So we were especially honored by the reception of our short film for the Elev8or Pitch Competition. We are grateful to be included in the development labs for what we feel is one of the most promising new film festivals in the U.S.”
“We learned so much from our inaugural event last year and are continuing to develop FILM FEST KNOX into something incredible,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “Our ongoing partnership with Regal offers both a great location and a top-tier prize that makes this film festival unique: an Oscar-qualifying run. We also couldn’t do this without The Public Cinema, amazing partners who are helping us create an outstanding film festival that locals and visitors alike can enjoy for years to come.”
2025 FILM FEST KNOX is confirmed for November, with specific dates yet to be announced. Follow FILMFESTKNOX.com and Facebook and Instagram for future announcements.
ABOUT REGAL
Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group, operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 5,774 screens in 425 theatres in 41 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of April 2024. We believe that the size, reach and quality of the company’s theatre circuit provides its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable moviegoing experience. We are committed to being “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” Additional information is available on Regal’s website: REGmovies.com.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC CINEMA
The Public Cinema was created to share vital works of contemporary international and American cinema—works that might otherwise be unseen or overlooked by Knoxville audiences. Most of the films screened are discoveries from the festival circuit; many are Tennessee or regional premieres. Whatever is screened, the only agenda is to create a space for cinema as an art form and to promote discussion among discerning moviegoers. Additionally, The Public Cinema hosts a free monthly screening series in partnership with FILM FEST KNOX at the Regal Riviera. For more information visit publiccinema.org.
ABOUT THE VISIT KNOXVILLE FILM OFFICE
The Visit Knoxville Film Office serves to strengthen Knoxville’s economy through the promotion of the City of Knoxville and Knox County as a premiere filming location. By attracting motion media companies to Knoxville through the marketing of its locations, accommodations, services, crew, and talent, the Film Office fosters the creation of jobs in the area, stimulates business opportunities, and generates exposure. Knoxville has four times been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker. For more information visit filmknoxvilletn.com.
