KNOXVILLE, TN (June 2, 2026) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Visit Knoxville announces the fourth annual FILM FEST KNOX, to take place November 12–15, 2026 in partnership with REGAL and The Public Cinema. The Elev8or Pitch is a key component of FILM FEST KNOX.

“This is so exciting to already be into our fourth year of this festival,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “The momentum continues from now twice being named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the ‘50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee’ and reinforces the vision behind this standout event.”

For 2026, the festival will have four days of film programming, including the Elev8or Pitch on Thursday night. Friday will have an opening night film, as well as other programming, followed by an opening night VIP party. In addition to a full slate of shorts and feature films, the weekend will include workshops and panels. Sunday will wrap up the festival with more films, awards, and a closing night party. Full festival passes and VIP passes will go on sale in August.

“Four years ago, when we first began imagining a new kind of film festival for Knoxville, we hoped it would draw more attention to the filmmaking talent here in East Tennessee, while also spotlighting and supporting the best regional cinema being made throughout the country,” said Darren Hughes, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the festival. “There was no guarantee it would work! So it’s been a real treat watching locally made films travel to other festivals and to see FILM FEST KNOX be recognized by press and industry as a new player in the world of American independent cinema. We’re eager to begin sharing our plans for the 2026 edition, including the second recipient of the James Agee prize, which honors lifetime contributions to regional cinema. It’s going to be a lot of fun." 

Carrying on a local tradition of team-based filmmaking competitions, the Elev8or Pitch Competition invites groups to complete an eight-minute proof-of-concept short, along with a one-minute pitch for a feature film. The top eight submissions (selected by an independent committee) then participate in a screening, live-pitch session, and Q&A with a jury of industry professionals who award three top prizes.

New for 2026, FILM FEST KNOX is partnering with Ten Acre Films to direct the Elev8or Pitch Development Lab. This partnership will further enhance one of FILM FEST KNOX’s goals to build a clear path for independent filmmakers and grow film production in Knox County.

“The Elev8or Pitch offers a valuable platform for local and regional filmmakers to engage with industry experts and advance their projects,” said Curt Willis, Senior Director of the Visit Knoxville Film Office. “Partnering with Ten Acre Films is an exciting step for FILM FEST KNOX that will continue to attract more filmmakers with goals of feature filmmaking–and Knox County is the perfect place for those potential projects.”

Since 2013, producers Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams, Co-Founders of Ten Acre Film and members of Producers United, have produced over twenty feature films, twice being nominated as producers for Film Independent Spirit Awards (Producers Award, 2019; John Cassavetes Award, 2013). Ten of their features have premiered at Sundance, including Boots Riley’s Independent Spirit Award-winning Sorry to Bother You. An additional six films have premiered at SXSW, including 6 Years (Netflix) and I Used to Go Here starring Gillian Jacobs and Jemaine Clement.  Other films have premiered at festivals including Berlinale, Tribeca, Cannes, and Toronto International Film Festival. Recent highlights include Bleecker Street’s What Happens Later directed by and starring Meg Ryan, Yen Tan’s All That We Love starring Margaret Cho and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (screened at FILM FEST KNOX in 2024), and The Senior, starring Michael Chiklis & Mary Stuart Masterson. 

Duffy is an Associate Producer of Blueback (tiff 2022/Sundance 2023), Executive Producer of Buoyancy (Berlinale 2019) and The Sound of Silence (Sundance 2019), and Co- Executive Producer of Before You Know It (Sundance 2019). Duffy is an alumnus of the Rotterdam Producing Lab, Cannes Producers Network, Sundance Producing Summit, Catalyst Program and SFFILM’s Producers Fellowship, and a Stowe Story Labs mentor.  

Williams is a Sundance Institute Creative Producing Fellow and a Sundance Institute Catalyst Fellow. He is also a past lecturer at the University of Tennessee and current lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to producing, he worked as a film programmer for various film festivals and was awarded the 2007 International Film Festival Summit Excellence Award. 

"Kelly and I met working at a film festival—the perfect origin story for two career producers whose partnership has always been rooted in championing independent film and the filmmakers behind it,” said Jonathan Duffy, Co-Founder of Ten Acre Films.

"FILM FEST KNOX has grown at an incredible pace, and I've been fortunate to witness it up close as a juror and panelist,” said Kelly Williams, Co-Founder of Ten Acre Films. “Now, we’re thrilled for Ten Acre Films to partner with the festival and the Elev8or program.”

“The Elev8or Pitch Competition exists to connect filmmakers with world-class industry professionals and help them take the next step with their work,” said Paul Harrill, FILM FEST KNOX Co-Founder. This partnership with Ten Acre Films takes that to a whole new level. Kelly Williams and Jonathan Duffy have built an exceptional body of work over fifteen years, much of it with first-time directors. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have their experience and leadership."

Registration for the Elev8or Pitch will open on Eventive on June 5, 2026. REGISTER HERE AT FILMFESTKNOX.COM. The registration fee is $80 per team, which includes one full festival pass for the weekend.

FILM FEST KNOX provides space for local filmmakers to share their craft and passion with a large audience, and the Elev8or Pitch takes this a few steps further:

  • Filmmakers submit an 8-minute stand-alone short film as a proof-of-concept to establish a foundation for a full-length feature film’s potential production.
  • In addition to their short film, each competitor submits a 60-second pitch to share their idea, as well as how and why they are ready to make it into a feature film.
  • A jury of film industry professionals will evaluate all team submissions.
  • All finishing teams will have their films screened in a block during FILM FEST KNOX.
  • The top 8 Elev8or finalists will be asked to give a live pitch following their short film’s screening in front of a live audience and a panel of industry professionals, preparing the judges to imagine the feature potential. This will take place on Thursday, November 12.
  • The top three teams chosen as the winners of the Elev8or Pitch will be awarded cash prizes and participate in FILM FEST KNOX’s Elev8or Development Lab. The Lab offers workshops and opportunities for the winners to receive feedback and network with established industry professionals.
  • All finished projects submitted to the Elev8or Pitch will be eligible for additional awards.

The deadline for registration is July 16, and the Kickoff Party for the Elev8or Pitch will be that evening at 5PM at Scruffy City Hall. All teams are recommended to attend. Specific requirements for the Elev8or Pitch submissions will be revealed at the Kickoff Party.

More details on FILM FEST KNOX will continue to be provided in 2026 at FILMFESTKNOX.com.

Additionally, FILM FEST KNOX’s Free Screen Series continues throughout 2026, more details on dates and screenings are at FILMFEST.com/series/.

ABOUT FILM FEST KNOX
Launched in 2023 as an initiative of the Visit Knoxville Film Office, FILM FEST KNOX is an annual film festival held every fall in downtown Knoxville, with screenings hosted at the Regal Riviera in partnership with Regal and The Public Cinema. FILM FEST KNOX showcases and advocates for personal, ambitious regional cinema by featuring the American Regional Cinema Competition, the Made in Tennessee Competition, the Elev8or Pitch Competition, and other programming and social events. FILM FEST KNOX was recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” For more information, go to filmfestknox.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT REGAL
Regal, a subsidiary of the Regal Cineworld Group, operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 5,386 screens in 394 theatres in 41 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of November 2025. Every theatre, screen, and seat is a gateway to the extraordinary—powered by our people. At Regal, we share joy through extraordinary experiences. Come, join us at “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” Additional information is available online at 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. For more information visit publiccinema.org.