Director of Communications
amanda.murphy@tn.gov
615-741-9010
Senior Communications Manager
jill.kilgore@tn.gov
615-927-1320
Communications Manager
Alli.Lapps@tn.gov
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Films from four countries and 14 states will be showcased during the 2017 Knoxville Film Festival, which will occur Sept. 15-17 at Knoxville’s Regal Downtown West Cinema 8.
In addition to screening more than 100 films, the weekend also promises special events and workshops.
According to Keith McDaniel, KFF founder and executive director, the festival is a venue for film lovers and filmmakers from across the world who will convene over the course of the three-day event. Its predecessor was known as the Secret City Film Festival.
“Now in its 14th year, what is now known as the Knoxville Film Festival, has grown to be the largest film festival in the region,” said McDaniel.
More than 100 independent films will be screened during the event including feature and narrative shorts, and documentaries. The festival will also include the new “Tennessee 10 Best of the Best Filmmaking Challenge,” a student filmmaking competition, workshop panels and discussions, and the “7-Day Shootout Filmmaking Competition.”
“Our mission is to screen some of the most creative and well-crafted independent films from around the world and across the region,” said McDaniel. “Although we screen many films from around the world, our focus has always been on local and regional filmmakers. Of the more than 100 films we are screening this year, more than half are from Tennessee filmmakers.”
McDaniel explains past festivalgoers are familiar with the 7-Day Shootout Filmmaking Competition, now in its 9th year, whereby teams of filmmakers have seven days to make a four to seven-minute short film.
“The 7-Day Shootout is one of the most popular parts of the KFF and is certainly always a sell-out,” said McDaniel.
New this year is the “Tennessee 10 Best of the Best Filmmaking Challenge. More than 20 Tennessee filmmakers applied to participate in the challenge, and a panel of out-of-state judges narrowed the list to the top 10 filmmakers, each having 90 days to create a 12-18-minute narrative short film.
“The ‘Tennessee 10’ films are far and away some of the finest regional films we will have ever screened during the festival’s 14 years,” said McDaniel. “Audiences will be entertained and moved.”
Tickets are available for purchase online at www.knoxfilmfest.com.
The KFF is produced by McDaniel and sponsored by Regal Entertainment Group, Carson-Newman University, Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Visit Knoxville Film Office and Talent Trek Agency.
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Director of Communications
amanda.murphy@tn.gov
615-741-9010
Senior Communications Manager
jill.kilgore@tn.gov
615-927-1320
Communications Manager
Alli.Lapps@tn.gov