The 56th Annual Nashville Film Festival showcased an impressive slate of films from a wide range of short films to larger-scale narrative features. This year’s lineup featured plenty of star power, including Matthew McConaughey, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Lopez and Josh O’Connor. Beyond the screenings, the festival also hosted panels, workshops, and a pitch competition—continuing its mission to support independent filmmaking and emerging talent.
Unlike the whirlwind of massive events like Sundance or SXSW, the Nashville Film Festival offers a more intimate experience. It is a weeklong celebration that caters to both cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike. The vibe is relaxed, the lines are short, and the staff is welcoming. While not as grand a festival, the Nashville event is quaint and easy going. Most of the action took place at the spacious Green Hills theater, making it easy to take in multiple screenings without the typical festival fatigue.
The Cinema Nook had the opportunity to attend and catch several standout titles. Here’s a summary of the films that made their mark at this year’s Nashville Film Festival.
HEDDA
It’s easy to see that HEDDA is the movie Nia DaCosta has been waiting to make. While her previous works—Candyman (2021) and The Marvels—showed flashes of her talent, they also carried the unmistakable weight of studio oversight. With HEDDA, DaCosta finally steps fully into her own voice, adapting Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 stage drama into a visually stunning, emotionally charged cinematic experience.
The film is a sweeping show of controlled chaos, anchored by DaCosta’s confident direction and a powerhouse of a cast starring Tessa Thompson, Tom Bateman, and Nicholas Pinnock. Thompson delivers one of her most captivating performances to date. As Hedda, she’s a magnetic, charming and manipulative seductress who pursues her desires with reckless abandon, leaving ruin in her wake.
From its rich period details to its escalating tension, HEDDA is both a feast for the eyes and a showcase of artistic freedom. It’s a striking addition to DaCosta’s filmography and a reminder of what happens when a filmmaker finally gets to make their movie.
REBUILDING
A heartfelt mix of sadness and hope, REBUILDING tells the story of a cowboy searching for direction after a wildfire destroys his longtime ranch. Written and directed by Max Walker-Silverman, the film embraces simplicity in both story and style, focusing on resilience and the importance of community.
Starring Josh O’Connor, Meghann Fahy, and Amy Madigan, the performances feel genuine and grounded. The film’s greatest strength lies in the relationships that slowly develop over its 95-minute runtime. REBUILDING is a gentle, moving story about starting over and finding family in unexpected places.
STITCH HEAD
Funny and charming, STITCH HEAD is a delightful addition to any family’s spooky season watchlist. This animated feature offers a playful twist on the classic Frankenstein tale, filled with quirky creatures stitched together by an eccentric mad scientist.
The story follows its main character, Stitch Head, as he tries to protect his fellow monsters from the fearful townspeople of Grubbers Nubbin. While it may not be as grand as other Halloween favorites, STITCH HEAD wins by having heart. It turns the spooky into sweet, teaching kids that what truly matters is what’s inside, even if the outside might look a little scary.
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (2025)
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN revives the classic story with a glossy modern sheen, splitting its narrative into two parallel threads. One is a grounded prison drama about identity and survival, while the other spirals into a full-fledged musical fantasy. The former works beautifully. The latter, not so much. Jennifer Lopez gives it her all, but she’s simply not a versatile enough singer to carry the heavier numbers. Her voice lacks the dynamic range the material demands, though she nails the choreography with an energy that reminds you why she’s still a force onstage.
What’s refreshing is how this version embraces the novel’s original ideas about gender fluidity without flinching. That element, often softened or ignored in previous adaptations, adds texture and honesty to the story’s emotional core. Still, the film struggles to blend its two halves into something cohesive. The drama resonates, the musical dazzles in moments, but together they cancel each other out. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (2025) is an ambitious experiment that never quite finds its rhythm, and while it earns points for style and inclusivity, it’s destined to fade faster than its glitter.
THE OTHER PEOPLE
A mysterious horror-thriller directed by Chad McClarnon and written by Chad and Trey McClarnon, THE OTHER PEOPLE shows flashes of potential but never fully delivers the dread and tension it aims for. The film stars Lyndie Greenwood, Bryce Johnson, and Valentina Lucido, all giving solid performances. While the chemistry between Greenwood and Johnson felt somewhat forced, Lucido stands out as the breakout young talent.
THE OTHER PEOPLE explores what lurks in the shadows of our homes and that unsettling moment when you could’ve sworn something moved in the dark. There are scenes of eerie atmosphere and a few tense sequences, but the suspense doesn’t hold steady, and the film lacks the gradual buildup that a great horror demands. The third-act reveal falls flat, though the chilling final scene does manage to leave a lasting impression. A horror film with clear promise, but ultimately too uneven and too underwhelming.
SPEAK (2025)
SPEAK is a fantastic documentary that follows Gen Z speech debaters whose passion and intelligence inspire real hope for the future. The film follows several teenagers as they dedicate countless hours, days, and months preparing for a national level speech competition. Captured is the intensity and heart behind both their work ethics and subject matter of their speeches.
Directors Guy Mossman and Jennifer Tiexiera craft a compelling narrative that highlights not only the students’ perseverance but also the depth of their ideas and the power of their voices. SPEAK is more than a competition film—it’s a reminder of how crucial speech and debate are in shaping communication, confidence and critical thinking. This is a must-watch film, especially for anyone ages 13-22 (junior high school – college). It’s inspiring, thoughtful, and a testament to a generation deeply engaged with the world around them.
THE LOST BUS
A last-minute addition to the lineup, THE LOST BUS from Apple TV+ stars Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera in a gripping true story about a school bus trapped during California’s most devasting wildfires.
Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film maintains relentless tension and emotional weight, carried by strong performances from its leads. While some of the CGI fire effects fall short, the story’s heart and urgency make THE LOST BUS a powerful watch.
OPRYLAND: A CIRCLE UNBROKEN
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, sometimes strong enough to eclipse the real story. OPRYLAND: A CIRCLE UNBROKEN is a film that falls squarely into that trap. It promises to tell the story of how a thriving theme park in a city on the verge of becoming one of America’s biggest tourist destinations was abruptly shut down. Instead, what we get is a feature-length “remember when” reel.
There’s plenty of vintage footage — glossy ads, live performances, ride clips, and promotional fluff — alongside interviews with fans, former employees, and performers. But beneath the sentimental surface, there’s no real structure, no deeper dive into the politics or controversy behind the park’s closure, and several major omissions that make the film feel cautious when it should be curious.
OPRYLAND: A CIRCLE UNBROKEN could have explored the tension between art and capitalism, nostalgia and neglect. Instead, it settles for being a warm bath for longtime fans — cozy, familiar, and ultimately forgettable.
Overall, the 56th Annual Nashville Film Festival proved why it remains one of the South’s most enjoyable and accessible celebrations of cinema. From big-budget films to heartfelt indies, this year’s lineup offered something for every kind of movie lover. With its relaxed atmosphere, passionate filmmakers, and dedicated staff, the event continues to be a reminder that great storytelling doesn’t just belong to Hollywood—it’s alive and thriving in cities like Nashville, Tennessee.
