The 2021 Chattanooga Film Festival has come and gone, and I am definitely feeling the post-event blues. The fest remained virtual this year, but that didn’t stop the staff from putting on a truly wonderful and community based experience. Let’s take a look at a few personal highlights from this year’s impressive content.
Features
Coming Home in the Dark – This was a secret screening that I am SO glad I caught during CFF. Coming Home in the Dark is a horror thriller from New Zealand based on a short story. The announcement of this screening came with warnings from the festival staff, and with good reason. Director James Ashcroft and his crew created such an intense story that I felt like I was holding my breath for the 1 hour and 33 minute run time. The most impressive part of this movie though was the score with perfectly timed pitches and eerie sound designs that kept you on your toes.
Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror – Boasting a 3 hour and 14 minute runtime, this film goes above and beyond, and beyond again to enrich us with the history and current state of folk horror. There are over 50 interviewees that legitimately all have something integral to say about the genre. Since this is a Severn Films Production, I hope they release a Blu-ray edition so I can keep going back to this film on my own time. A must-watch for horror fans.
Dimland – I cannot stop thinking about this movie. I watched Dimland before I went to bed one night and didn’t really have an initial reaction to it. But, the next morning I woke up and had so many feelings about it. I thought about it while I brushed my teeth, during my commute to work, and all day in the office.
Written and directed by Peter Collins Campbell, Dimland has so much to say but uses very little to say it. Clever, dreamy, strange, magical, romantic, but also incredibly gloomy. This film makes you self reflect on several levels, and reminds us of the magic that we are capable of. From the introduction of the main character’s “spirit guide” to the minimal yet effective dialogue, Campbell is a unique filmmaker and the CFF audience was lucky enough to find that out.
The Chattanooga Film Festival has become one of my favorite things to do each year. There is so much care and thought put into the weekend from the staff. Although there is talk about next year being back to an in-person event, I believe they are going to keep a virtual option to stay inclusive for those who can’t make it.
I am ready to actually experience CFF in person, but the one thing I will miss is the Discord channel. The staff did a wonderful job answering questions from attendees, posting live event announcements, and keeping us all informed. Chatting with everyone else about all the different films was an amazing experience that made me fall in love with the CFF community as well. Everyone was cordial and lovely.
If you want to contribute to the Chattanooga Film Festival’s 2022 event, they are taking donations through their Venmo: @chattfilmfest2021. You can also follow them on Twitter for special announcements. I cannot wait until next year!
Brittany Fernandez is a Lifestyle Writer for SoBros Network. She’s a Nashville native covering events on the local scene, B-movie horror reviews, and everything in between. Her go to karaoke song is “No Diggity.” Follow on Twitter: @brittbutspooky
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
