Festival Director Chris Dortch reveals new information about the upcoming event.
When will movies be playing each day?
On Thursday and Friday evening, we’re trying to be respectful of folks that work 9 to 5 and start later so no one has to miss anything. On Saturday and Sunday, there will literally be wall to wall films all day and even a midnight movie series.
What has been the biggest hurdle getting to this point?
In creating any kind of event on this scale, there are often more hurdles than a track meet, but for us, it was just making sure that we were designing the type of festival that, as lifelong cinephiles, we would die to attend ourselves. I think we’ve succeeded, and now I’m genuinely impatient for April to get here so we can watch movies with all the amazing folks in this town.
This is Chattanooga’s first official film festival. How much pressure are you feeling to get it right?
ALL OF THE PRESSURE. There is SO MUCH PRESSURE. We have a responsibility to make an experience that’s as wonderful for film fans as it is for filmmakers, and that shines a spotlight on amazing local and regional talent. It’s a balancing act through and through. Not to get mushy on you, but our secret weapon is total and complete film nerdiness. You have to love movies more than breathing to want to bite off something that requires this much work, but it will all be worth it after that first mouthful of popcorn when I’m surrounded by a CFF audience.
What are the more eagerly anticipated films on your schedule?
Some of them are still top secret because we love teasing folks a little, but I can tell you we’ve just officially announced the new Michel Gondry film “Mood Indigo,” “The Congress” (which is flat out going to blow people’s minds) and “The Sacrament,” one of the most brilliant and suspenseful thrillers you’re likely to see in 2014.
When picking films, what criteria did you use for selection?
We agonize over every choice. None of the films we hand-selected was screened less than four times prior to being chosen. We took submitted films even more seriously, and tried to watch them six times each before we made a choice. The biggest question we ask ourselves with each title is “Will an audience love this?” If after multiple viewing that answer is still yes, then we know.
Will any big names grace the festival this year?
There will be a few names you know and some you’ll wonder how you didn’t know. Above all, you’ll be able to say you were a fan before it was cool. Keeping our ear to the ground and making forward thinking choices in terms of both our programming and guests is a key part of CFF.
Will you be distributing awards?
We’ll be giving out several awards. They are just one more way we’re trying to do some good for the filmmakers whose movies we chose to be a part of our festival.
What’s your long-term vision for the festival?
The goal is to make it nothing less than one of the most vibrant, exciting, and MASSIVELY entertaining film-related event in the world. Sound lofty? It might be. But that’s my goal. I want this to be something everyone in the city marks their calendars for and that people who don’t live here travel to town to attend.