Stunned the unimaginable loss of her brother to a drunk driver, Philli finds solace in taxidermying roadkill while her mother fights reckless driving through activism. Together, they channel their grief into art and action, transforming tragedy into a path toward healing and resilience, redefining and celebrating life in the process.

Dears in the Headlights

A young woman taxidermies roadkill to restore dignity to their lives.

Disneyland is a place of contradictions — where fantasy overlays reality, and visions of a perfect past and imagined future collide. It’s also a stage for American cultural tensions. Crusader’s story marks a turning point: the author of American childhood confronting queerness. At a time when gender and identity face renewed scrutiny, Crusader's vibrant presence reminds us of the power of being yourself.
The film opens with animated Crusader dancing in Tomorrowland, recalling changing his name after being dubbed a “crusader” for civil rights. Smithsonian historian Bethanee Beemis discovers a mysterious pin reading “I danced at Disneyland,” which leads her to Crusader’s story — a protest through joy. He challenged Disney’s same-sex dancing ban, faced backlash, sued, and ultimately triumphed.
Disney quietly changed policy, likely for financial reasons, but the cultural impact was deeper. Crusader’s legacy is one of resistance, visibility, and joy.

English

Dancing in Tomorrowland

In this fantasia of a 1980s gay rights theme park documentary an unsung teen activist fights to overturn Disneyland’s ban on same-sex dancing.

When Palestinian father Abou Yousef leaves for Gaza after living a decade in Norway, his daughter, Mai, begins to confront the emotional distance that has shaped their relationship. As she reflects on his prolonged absence during her childhood, caused by him being imprisoned for two decades in Israeli prisons, she struggles to understand the father who has only been present in fleeting moments. Abou Yousef returns to Norway with a collection of smuggled letters, written during his years of imprisonment, that reveal the pain of missing out on her life. Through these letters, and the emotional conversation that follows, father and daughter begin to bridge the gap between them, slowly reconciling the past and acknowledging the unspoken wounds, even if only in part.

One Day I Will Hug You

In Norway, a Palestinian daughter confronts her father’s emotional distance as he returns from Gaza, unraveling the scars of his 20 years of imprisonment in Israel.

A haunted mechanic muses on his experiences as an immigrant in rural America as he resurrects cars.

Rat Rod

A haunted mechanic muses on his experiences as an immigrant in rural America as he resurrects cars.

The story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, who, in 1975, after fleeing the Vietnam War by boat and docking in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the filming of APOCALYPSE NOW.

We Were The Scenery

The story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, who, in 1975, after fleeing the Vietnam War by boat and docking in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the filming of APOCALYPSE NOW.

For three decades, Shanti Gooljar has been the force behind New York City's most sought-after driving school, captivating everyone from A-list celebrities to the ultra-wealthy with her unapologetic teaching style. Behind the wheel, she's a master of the chaotic Manhattan streets. But beneath her tough exterior lies a world of heartache and loss

Shanti Rides Shotgun

On Manhattan's jam-packed streets, NYC's most iconic driving instructor prepares students for the road ahead.

Dana Tiger was just five years old when her father, legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, passed away. She turned to his art as a way to know him, the richness of her culture, and the bounty of her family’s artistic tradition.
In memory of Jerome's art and to support their family, Dana’s mother and uncle started a booming t-shirt printing business in the 1980s. Then, tragedy struck their family once more. Dana’s younger brother, Chris Tiger, was relentlessly murdered and their business was brought to a halt.
Dana and her family have been working for nearly 30 years to revitalize the iconic Tiger t-shirt company, through immense grief and suffering from Parkinson’s. Now, everybody wants their hands on a Tiger T-shirt.

Tiger

“Tiger” highlights an Indigenous award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist and elder, Dana Tiger, her family, and the resurgence of the iconic Tiger t-shirt company.

On the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, families visit graves to honor their ancestors. It’s a moment for the living to connect with the dead, where the words on tombstones tell stories of lives lived and relationships formed. Yet, in funeral homes, there are unnamed ashes—some belonging to children as young as two years old, others left behind for decades. These unclaimed ashes, without names or histories, remain forgotten, with only the date of their cremation marked. Through the ritual of a communal burial, Teacher Jianbo Qian seeks to open up the conversation about death for his students, many of whom are encountering this subject for the first time. The attending students, ranging from seventh to twelfth grade, pick up red bags of scattered ashes, reflecting on the emotions of loss and grief.

Death Education

In China, a high school teacher has introduced a death education class for young students. On the traditional Tomb Sweeping Day, they bury unnamed ashes at a public cemetery where they contemplate and contextualize the meaning of death.

Wowa and Roma wander the streets of Kramatorsk, Ukraine, soaking in the last days of summer. Their childhood is coming to an end — it was never carefree. In the background: the constant hum of the front line, air raid sirens, and eyes always drifting toward the sky. The war, drawn-out and wearying, has lost its drama and public interest, yet it still casts a shadow over those living nearby. Still, Wowa and Roma try to live out their childhood in a world that offers them little comfort.

Clear Sky

Vova and Roma spend the last days of their vacation in their hometown. Explosions, alarm sirens and the army on the streets cast a shadow over their reality. However, childhood happens regardless of the war.

United States of America

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The 56th Nashville Film Festival will take place September 18-24, 2025, showcasing more than 140 films from around the globe, alongside captivating Q&A sessions with filmmakers, dynamic industry panels, unforgettable parties, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow creatives.

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A selection of festival films will be available from Monday, September 22nd through Monday, September 29th for at-home viewing. Please note that not all films screening in-person will be made available in the Virtual Cinema and in limited cases, geo-based restrictions may apply to some viewers outside of Tennessee or the United States. Tickets for virtual film screenings can be purchased individually or are included at no additional cost for certain badge holders.  For more information on accessing and optimizing Virtual Cinema content, please visit https://watch.nashfilm.org/help or contact festival@nashfilm.org.  

Welcome! The 56th Nashville Film Festival includes films ranging in genres from narratives, documentaries, animation, horror and much more!

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No worries. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.