FILM FEST KNOX, hosted by Visit Knoxville and the Visit Knoxville Film Office in partnership with Regal and The Public Cinema, will be held November 10-12, 2023
FILM FEST KNOX will be held at the Regal Riviera in downtown Knoxville, a vibrant, walkable area that will provide an elevated experience to attendees.
A major component of the festival is the Feature Competition. Out of the many films screened during the festival, six of the feature films will be curated to compete against each other for the title of best feature. FILM FEST KNOX will also provide an exclusive opportunity for the winning filmmaker, compliments of Regal. The winner of the Feature Competition will receive an Oscar qualifying theatrical release at a Regal theatre to be determined.
FILM FEST KNOX will also be launching the “Elev8or Pitch” as part of the festival’s events. A jury of film industry professionals will evaluate team submissions of a one-minute elevator pitch for a feature film followed by a seven-minute standalone short. This short will represent a proof-of-concept for the full-length production. The top 20 teams will have their films screened in a block during the festival. Awards for various categories will be presented on the final night of the festival.
FILM FEST KNOX’s Feature Competition and the Elev8or Pitch have been designed to support the festival’s guiding artistic mission, which is to advocate for the production and exhibition of ambitious regional American filmmaking. FILM FEST KNOX will be a gathering spot for directors and producers who tell stories that can’t be told in Los Angeles and New York City; films that have a particular sense of place and a localized voice. FILM FEST KNOX will be a celebration of contemporary regional cinema and a workshop for discovering new ways to promote and distribute it. In addition to its focus on regional work, Film Fest Knox will showcase critically acclaimed new films and film restorations from around the world. The program will range from family-friendly movies to prestige dramas, experimental work, and all points in between.
Tickets will go on sale in July. More details on FILM FEST KNOX will continue to be provided throughout 2023 on this site.