Nashville Film Festival Wraps

Jon Freeman

Click to see a full list of winners from the 2008 Nashville Film Festival

The 39th Nashville Film Festival ended yesterday (4/24), surpassing the event’s previous sales and attendance records. The annual event, boasting over 200 films and dozens of related happenings in the Nashville area, is estimated to have drawn over 22,000 visitors, an increase of 10 percent over last year. This year’s award winners included Enrique Begne’s Two Embraces for the Nashville Film Festival/Regal Cinemas Dreammaker Award, Peter Entell’s Shake The Devil Off for Best Documentary Feature (Sponsored By Ground Zero), and Barry Simmons’ Sons of Lwala for The Documentary Channel-sponsored Audience Award For Best Documentary Feature. Steven Schachter's The Deal, starring William H. Macy, got the festivities underway 4/17 with Schacter and Macy both in attendance and Denny Tedesco’s The Wrecking Crew was chosen as the festival’s closing film. Noteworthy events included a VIP showcase from Josh Turner and R&B star Anthony Hamilton at the Bluebird Café, legendary producer/songwriter Dennis Lambert (“Aint No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)”) performing at the Bluebird, and the world premiere of Bearing Light: A Journey To Sudan, the documentary from “Big” Kenny Alphin and wife Christiev. Festival attendees also witnessed Al Gore presenting the Reel Current Award to Michael O'Connell's Mountain Top Removal; Lyle Lovett giving the 2008 Nashville Lifetime Achievement Award to Patricia Neal; and NaFF board president Stacy Widelitz bestowing Kimberly Williams-Paisley with the President's Award. For a full list of this year’s winners, click the image at right or visit www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.