p.m.): The first late night party of the weekend, take a leave of absence from the theaters and sing your heart out at Puckett’s Grocery till after midnight. There’s nothing better than a good film, but karaoke might be close.
sented by Elijah Wood’s Spectravision. Chris Dortch calls it a film “which demands to be seen and apologized for.”
Friday, April 1
Truth Bombs–Documentary Shorts (11:00 a.m.): As with the animated shorts, this block should likely be seen without prior knowledge. Let the investigation flow over you, change your perspective, or challenge your world view. TN Filmmaker Showcase (11:00 a.m.): Celebrate the talent of Tennessee filmmakers by seeing six films from across the state. CFF Gets Animated with Adult Swim and Archer (1:15 p.m.): Learn about phrasing from Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and Archer: writer/ director Chris Kelly, animator/illustrator Bob Pettitt, editor Brad Zimmerman, and editor Paul Painter. This is a panel like none other—make time to see something truly special. Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (3:15 p.m.): Raiders! is a story of friendship, commitment, and fandom. If you’ve ever tried to make a movie in your backyard, this is the film for you. Baskin (6:10 p.m.): Cops vs. demons. What could be better? Comedy of Terrors (8:00 – 9:45): There is nowhere else you can see a 1960s horror spoof starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff. The fact that this film is featured in a prime viewing slot shows just how special the CFF truly is.
From Dusk Till Drawn–Animated Shorts (11:30 a.m.): There is no leaving the CFF without seeing one (or more) of the shorts blocks. I always find the best way to see a block of shorts is to go in blind. There’s a lot to be said for being completely surprised by a film or two. Eddie Presley (1:15 p.m.): Character driven films tend to be the best kind and Eddie Presley offers this in spades. Follow the story of a wounded Elvis impersonator as he struggles to keep the King’s legend alive, one lounge show at a time. Here Come the Videofreex (3:15 p.m.): This documentary follows the exploits of a band of video pioneers who, using the first Sony portable video camera, covered some seminal counterculture events of the 1960s and ‘70s and later started a pirate television station. This is quintessential documentary viewing, a film about capturing moments in time that may have easily been lost. Secret Screening! (4:50 p.m.): These are the moments that make the festival. Trust implicitly in the programmers and you won’t be led astray. There are three secret screenings during the festival—make sure to catch at least one of them. Joe Bob Briggs Presents Redneck Night (8:00 p.m.): Joe Bob Briggs was one of the major highlights of CFF 2015 and this year will be no different. Those who missed him last year should make every effort to attend this one of a kind event. You are guaranteed to leave with a greater understanding of rednecks, film, and rednecks on film. The Greasy Strangler (10:50 p.m.): The Greasy Strangler is a film that is inflicted upon the audience, a genuine Grindhouse genre picture pre-
Saturday, April 2
Sunday, April 3 Boy & the World (10:45 a.m.): The festival isn’t just for adults. This animated feature is made especially for audiences young and old alike. Chris Dortch calls it a “chance for families to come and see something super cool for the young ‘uns.” Schoolhouse Block–Student Shorts (12:30 p.m.): The CFF is great for everyone, including aspiring filmmakers. Come see films by young
artists that might be the next big thing. The Alchemist Cookbook (2:50 p.m.): From the CFF website: “Suffering from delusions of fortune, a young hermit hides out in the forest hoping to crack an ancient mystery, but pays a price for his mania.” Solid gold. The Adderall Diaries (5:20 p.m.): This is a drama about memory and how our histories are never quite what they seem. Eddie Pepitone (7:15 p.m.): It wouldn’t be the CFF without a comedy block and headlining this year is Eddie Pepitone, a modern day cross between Jackie Gleason, Don Rickles and Eckart Tolle. Bleeding Skull Presents: Scary Tales (8:45 p.m.): Anything from Bleeding Skull is bound to inspire devotion in genre film fans. These films are guaranteed to tickle your fear ligaments. Everything is Terrible (10:30 p.m.): This will likely be the strangest thing you see during the festival. The less said about Everything is Terrible the better. That’s a life lesson. Of course, this is just one way to experience the CFF. There are many more films, events, panels, and parties. The festival will be packed with actors, producers, directors, and guests, far more than have been announced. There’s no telling who you might see wandering around downtown. Two films not mentioned above are Embrace of the Serpent and Too Late, which are specifically endorsed by Chris Dortch as “don’t miss” events (Too Late is an Robert Altman-eqsue detective film shot on 35mm in five continuous takes). Not to mention Camino, a film presented by legendary stuntwoman Zoe Bell, and Jaco, a film produced and presented by famed Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. There is genuinely something for everyone to be found at this year’s CFF. Tickets and badges are still available, but selling quickly. Now is the time. If you haven’t been to the festival before, it’s a good time to start. Those that have been, I have no doubt you’ll go again. It’s time to support local film. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 24, 2016 • THE PULSE • 7