American Regional Cinema Competition – FILM FEST KNOX | November 14-17, 2024 Skip to content
Presented by Visit Knoxville and Regal

Showcasing and advocating for personal, ambitious regional cinema.

American Regional Cinema Competition

The centerpiece of FILM FEST KNOX is a six-film American Regional Cinema Competition designed to spotlight the diversity and quality of work being made outside of LA and NYC. It is also as an opportunity to bring twelve people (two people per film, ideally a director and producer) to town for an end-of-the-year networking event for regional filmmakers. The goal is to showcase six films that represent a variety of regions, genres, and modes of production.

The three award-winning films receive cash prizes, and the Best Film winner receives an Oscar-qualifying run (“seven days, consecutive or non-consecutive, in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets”) from Regal, FILM FEST KNOX’s presenting sponsor.
2024 Competition
Bitterroot

Bitterroot

Dir. by Vera Brunner-Sung
Reeling from a failed marriage and in need of a new perspective, a middle-aged man takes care of his aging mother within the deceptively tranquil landscape of rural Montana.
Bob Trevino Likes It

Bob Trevino Likes It

Dir. by Tracie Laymon
When Lily Trevino accidentally befriends a stranger online who shares the same name as her father, encouragement and support from this new Bob Trevino could change her life.
Griffin in Summer

Griffin in Summer

Dir. by Nicholas Colia
Griffin Nafly is the most ambitious playwright of his generation. But once he meets handsome handyman Brad, his life (and play) will never be the same.
The World Drops Dead

The World Drops Dead

Dir. by Brandon Colvin
Desperate to reunite with the only person who seemed to understand her, she reaches out to her father across the boundary of death.
To Kill a Wolf

To Kill a Wolf

Dir. by Kelsey Taylor
In a modern re-imagining of Little Red Riding Hood, a social pariah discovers a teenage runaway in the Oregon Wilderness and does his best to help her find a way home.
2023 Competition
An Evening Song

An Evening Song (for three voices)

Dir. by Graham Swon
A writer moves to the Midwest with her novelist husband and they soon find themselves caught in a love triangle with their pious housekeeper.

November 11 · Regal Riviera · 12:30 p.m.

Kick Me

Kick Me

Dir. by Gary Huggins
A nightmare comedy about a school counselor whose compassion, generosity and dedication destroy the lives of everyone around him.

November 10 · Regal Riviera · 9:45 p.m.

Lousy Carter

Lousy Carter

Dir. by Bob Byington
After receiving a grim diagnosis, middle-aged literature professor Lousy Carter reevaluates the relationships in his life.

November 12 · Regal Riviera · 1:30 p.m.

Mountains

Mountains

Dir. by Monica Sorelle
A Haitian demolition worker is tasked with dismantling his rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.

November 11 · Regal Riviera · 3:15 p.m.

Peak Season

Peak Season

Dir. by Henry Loevner & Steven Kanter
An emotionally adrift young woman forges an unexpected friendship with a wilderness guide when she and her fiancé take a summer holiday.

November 10 · Regal Riviera · 5:30 p.m.

Somewhere Quiet

Somewhere Quiet

Dir. by Olivia West Lloyd
Meg is trying to readjust to normalcy after surviving a traumatic kidnapping, but her sense of reality soon starts to deteriorate.

November 11 · Regal Riviera · 8:30 p.m.

Back To Top