The Chattanooga Film Festival has announced its final wave of programming, in addition to parties, workshops and more special guests.
The last wave of films offers an eclectic mix, from the riveting Too Late, which will be projected in 35mm and stars John Hawkes, to Director’s Cut, a new comedy thriller from Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller fame, said officials.
Review for the Films:
The Alchemist Cookbook
Director: Joel Potrykus
Suffering from delusions of fortune, a young hermit hides out in the forest hoping to crack an ancient mystery, but he pays a price for his mania.
The Comedy of Terrors
Director: Jacques Tourneur
Dishonest undertaker Waldo Trumbull and his sidekick Felix Gillie create their own customers when they can’t find willing ones. Presented in 35mm.
Director’s Cut
Director: Adam Rifkin
Director's Cut is a darkly comedic thriller with a twist—it's a suspense movie within a suspense movie. Written by and starring Penn Jillette, of Penn and Teller.
American Genre Film Archive Presents: Don’t Panic
Director: Ruben Galindo, Jr.
On his 17th birthday, Michael unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of a Ouija board.
Eddie Presley
Director: Jeff Burr
An Elvis impersonator with a wounded psyche, unflinching in his quest to keep the King's spirit alive, bets it all on one night of glory, a headlining spot at a dingy Tinseltown dive.
The Greasy Strangler
Director: Jim Hosking
Fresh off its Sundance premiere where it turned heads (and stomachs) The Greasy Strangler is the latest slice of nutty genre goodness to come from Elijah Wood’s Spectrevison. Ronnie runs a disco walking tour with his son, Brayden. When a sexy woman takes the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her love. It also signals the arrival of an oily strangler who stalks the streets at night.
It Was A Colossal Teenage Movie Machine!: The AIP Story
Director: Daniel Griffith
This feature-length documentary traces the early history of American International Pictures, which specialized in independent, low-budget films geared to the interests of teenagers from the 1950s to the ’70s.
Karaoke Crazies
Director: Kim Sang-Chan
Sung-Wook, the owner of Addiction Karaoke, hires singer Ha-Suck to try to ramp up business. The plan works, until an on-the-loose serial killer shows up.
Lake Nowhere
Directors: Christopher Phelps, Maxim Van Scoy
When a group of friends arrive at a desolate lakeside cabin, they are stalked and murdered by a masked maniac whose lust for blood transcends our world. This age-old tale of senseless slaughter quickly spirals into the realm of supernatural horror and classic monster movies, as we learn the true power that lies within Lake Nowhere. This unique and funny film is designed to look as though it was taped from television and has the fake commercials to prove it.
The Mind’s Eye
Director: Joe Begos
Drifter Zack Connors has to learn how to use his psychic powers to save the woman he loves in filmmaker Joe Begos fantastically fun love letter to David Cronenberg, Manhunter and even First Blood.
Refinery Surveyor Black
Directors: Brian George, Galen Jackson
A government inspector, an orphaned young girl and opioid-addled locals collide in this small-town drama centered around the closure of a supposedly toxic sugar refinery. Twin Peaks fans will find a lot to love about this odd and eerie film.
The Wraith
Director: Mike Marvin
A mysterious figure suddenly appears to challenge a gang of motorhead thugs. Presented in 35mm.
Too Late
Director: Dennis Hauck
Too Late explores the tangled relationship between a troubled private investigator (Oscar nominee John Hawkes) and the missing woman he’s hired to find. Shot in five continuous takes and presented on gorgeous 35mm.
Whiskey Mountain
Director: William Grefe
Filmmaker William Grefe made some of the most wildly entertaining films of the drive-in era and CFF is proud to present a brand new restoration of one of our favorites. A group of motorcyclists on a "treasure hunt" are terrorized by a gang of murderous psychopaths
Joining previously announced Joe Bob Briggs and comedian Eddie Pepitone are special guests Clint Howard, who will be appearing with a 35mm print of the cult classic film The Wraith, Christopher Holmes, a renowned film editor known for his work on “Five Easy Pieces” and “The Last Dragon,” writer Daniel Noah along with actress and legendary stuntwoman Zoe Bell (Hateful Eight, DeathProof) will be here with their project Camino, and Jaco director Paul Marchand and producer Robert Trujillo, famed Metallica bassist, will be on hand for a Q&A session.
Special guests will also play a role in this year’s CFF workshops. Special effects and makeup artist James Sizemore (“Bad Blood,” “Demon’s Rook”) will lead a special effects crash course, filmmakers Jeremy Gardner and Christian Stella, last year’s winners of CFF’s Best Feature aware for “Tex Montana Will Survive,” will show other filmmakers how to get the best out of a low budget, and there will be an acting workshop led by actor Stevie Ray Dallimore (“Paper Towns,” “Enders Game”). Returning this year is Emily Best from Seed&Spark with a two part workshop about crowdfunding and the art of the pitch, as well as music supervisor Rick Clark (AMC’s “Hell on Wheels,” “Up in the Air”) who will give tips on his craft. In addition, CFF will host a panel featuring animators and comedians from Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and “Archer”: writer/director Chris Kelly, animator/illustrator Bob Pettitt, editor Brad Zimmerman, and editor Paul Painter.
This year’s slate of CFF after parties include a karaoke party with a live backing band on Thursday, March 31, at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant. Saturday, cinefiles can join CFF for Terror on the Tennessee, sponsored by Shudder, to celebrate genre cinema aboard the Southern Belle Riverboat, and they can also party in their pajamas at the previously announced Pajammy Jam set for Friday, April 1.
The third annual Chattanooga Film Festival is set for March 31-April 3 and will be held at the Carmike Majestic 12 in downtown Chattanooga. Badges are now on are on sale now at www.ChattanoogaFilmFest.com, with the choice of a VIP badge or a Day pass. Individual tickets for all showings go on sale today to coincide with the release of the full festival schedule.
Follow the Chattanooga Film Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChattanoogaFilmFest, and on Twitter and Instagram @ChattFilmFest.