Florence Booker (played by Daniella Alma) is a character that many can relate to, as she navigates the complex feelings of isolation that often accompany marriage. Despite being in a relationship, she feels more alone than ever before. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she shares a cigarette with Roy (Nicholas Baroudi), a charismatic line cook. This seemingly innocent encounter sparks an affair, leading Florence to contemplate abandoning her current life in search of something more fulfilling. However, as she tries to escape her circumstances, she only deepens her sense of incompleteness and confusion.

The film, shot over the course of ten days on the lively streets of New York City by director Alexander Canepa, begins in the middle of Florence’s story, immersing the audience directly into her struggles. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Florence has a tendency to attract individuals who are emotionally needy, particularly her husband, Louis (David Edwin), who epitomizes this dynamic.

At a film festival often dominated by genre cinema, the presence of a realistic romantic comedy like this may come as a surprise. However, those who appreciate a fresh and nuanced take on relationships will likely find this film captivating and thought-provoking. With its unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments, it challenges the conventions of the genre while offering a genuine exploration of love, longing, and personal fulfillment.

The Chattanooga Film Festival runs from now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Directed and written by Nathan Blackwell, this film presents a captivating and unconventional narrative that delves into friendship, creativity and redemption themes. The story centers on Marshall (portrayed by Adam Rini), who grapples with a profound sense of urgency as the world faces imminent destruction. He is compelled to take bold action with only thirty days left to live, revealed through a mysterious voice in their minds.

In a heartfelt bid to reconnect with his past and find meaning in his final days, Marshall decides to gather a diverse group of friends and acquaintances—among them, his ex-wife Audrey (played by Megan Rini). Together, they embark on the ambitious journey of completing a science fiction film that Marshall and his childhood friends had started but never finished during their high school years.

To assemble his team, Marshall reaches out to his old friends, Lance (played by Ryan Gaumont) and Arthur (portrayed by Craig Curtis), who share his passion for filmmaking. Despite the chaos and uncertainty surrounding them, the trio rekindles their camaraderie and begins to revisit their youthful dreams and aspirations. They channel their collective energy into the creative process, using the act of making the film as a way to confront their fears and desires.

As the narrative unfolds, the film takes on a distinctly uplifting tone, celebrating the transformative power of cinema. Despite the looming threat of the world’s end, Marshall and his friends find joy and purpose in their collaboration. The filmmaking experience becomes not just a project but a therapeutic journey that enables Marshall to confront his past mistakes and grow as an individual.

Throughout the film, there are moments of poignant reflection and humor, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of an apocalyptic reality. The camaraderie among the group, combined with their shared commitment to the art of filmmaking, underscores the message that creativity can flourish even in the darkest of times.

Ultimately, this film serves as a testament to the enduring impact of storytelling. It encourages viewers to appreciate the present and find solace in our connections with others. As the narrative reaches its conclusion, the uplifting spirit of the film leaves audiences with a sense of hope, suggesting that while the world may be ending, the legacy of their collective artistry will continue beyond the final frame.

The Chattanooga Film Festival runs from now through June 29. Click here to get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

On the Seed & Spark site that helped fund this movie, it literally says “The Exorcist convinced the world that Ouija Boards are a dangerous tool that shouldn’t be considered a game, but The Haunting of Hype House wants to make Ouija Boards fun again.”

I mean, as someone who has a list of a few hundred Ouija-based movies, I can agree.

Back in 1969, an unspeakable death took place on a quiet mountainside somewhere around the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Now, Jared Zenith (Matt Farren), a social media star, and his assistant Mike make the vlogs that the internet loves, ones filled with not just pranks but out and out jump scares. Jared’s brother Eric (Michael Salamone) is in town and Jared has some sibling issues to deal with but he’s probably just going to make his brother look like a moron on the internet.

Eric sees something he thinks is an actual supernatural event.

And then out comes the Ouija board.

Farren came up with the idea for this movie in a very simple way: “I came up with this idea THREE YEARS AGO when I thought of one simple question: what if a ghost possessed a really unlikeable guy, and his friends realized they liked the ghost more than their buddy?”

Farren co-directed this with Brandon Douglas and wrote the script. It has some budget issues, sure, but it’s a great idea and the cast is pretty fun. The acting could use a little work, but I can say the same thing for some big budget films.

You can learn more on the official site.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Co-writer, producer and star Steph Holmbo makes her feature film debut in this film, which has been described as “an enigmatic tale of #MeToo psychological horror inspired by real events.”

Holmbo has decided to share her experiences through “phantasmagoric and supernatural lenses.”

Directed by Perry Home Video and written by Holmbo with Joseph Kolean and Zachary Gutierrez, this has the woman moving out and being on her own, but what seems like a place of respite turns horrific with moments small — a refrigerator inexplicably filled with rotting food — and huge — red light bathing everything.

There’s also a moment where a watermelon pays the price.

Soft Liquid Center may not appeal to everyone — literally it sits in place for some time and just has ambient audio for some parts — but for those who catch the vibe, it may feel just right.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Director Louis Crisitello has created this documentary all about Pensacola musician Phil Thomas Katt, whose show The Uncharted Zone has built and encouraged a scene all its own. I didn’t know anything about this music, these videos or the man himself, but this film was plenty of fun and made me want to know more.

Known as the “Dick Clark of the Gulf Coast music scene,” Katt believes that anyone can make good music. It’s great that even as the world becomes more commercialized and homogenized, there are people out there willing to put their time and energy into championing music that no one else would hear or see.

He’s still out there, still making The Uncharted Zone and the idea that music of all kinds is encouraged brings a smile to my face.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Germán Alonso is trying to finish his first movie, Mexman, but he’s battling with the documentary crew following him, trying to get taken seriously as a filmmaker and dealing with fickle love.

Directed and written by Josh Polon, I got the idea that yes, Germán is a genius and makes incredible shorts and puppets. When producer Moctasuma Esparza (the producer of Selena, The Milagro Beanfield War and The Telephone) is interested in making his film, Germán and the writers he’s working with — Tyler and Ben Soper — start to have conflicts because its show business, you know. Business. And geniuses don’t always do well at business.

It takes more than just the ability to animate and dream to direct, because you are the one in charge. You need to be on schedule, you need to be organized and you need to have people respect you. The problems start when Tyler and Ben take the writing credit and give Germán the credit of just story. This sends him over the edge and things never improve from there.

I feel bad for Germán, but when you have an opportunity, you need to focus. The idea of falling for a woman who may not be all that into you and spending forever talking about ideas instead of doing them is infuriating. For all his talent, it feels sadly wasted.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Directed and written by Manuel Lagos Jr., this is the story of Buddy (Joshua Michael Payne) and Catherine (Evangeline Wurst), who have their 4th of July holiday interrupted by Catherine’s estranged childhood friend Juliet (Erica Boozer).

This might not be for everyone — well, if you like mumblecore you’ll dig it — as it’s a hangout film about three people trying to figure out how everything and everyone fits. The leads are all really talented and come off as really authentic, which helps keep you invested.

This is the first full-length film that Lagos has made and it’s definitely worth a watch. Well-shot, great angles and just a lived-in vibe that I totally enjoyed.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

There’s a Trim Season comic book that came out in 2022, which was based on an original concept from Megan Sutherland, Sean E DeMott and Cullen Poythress. They were inspired by the story of several women who went missing in Humboldt County, CA during a marijuana harvest. That turned into a screenplay, written by David Blair and Ariel Vida, and then the comic book by writer Jake Hearns, pencils and inks by Mara Mendez Garcia and colors by Lorenzo Palombo.

Directed by Ariel Vida, Trim Season is about Emma (Bethlehem Million) and Julia (Alex Essoe), who get recruited by James (Marc Senter) to head up into Northern California for trim season and make $5,000 cash. They’re joined by Harriet (Ally Ioannides), Dusty (Bex Taylor-Klaus) and Lex (Juliette Kenn De Balinthazy) and when they get there, things already seem odd. There are guns everywhere carried by masked men. None of those men join them, because the only trimmers are women.

Then they meet their boss, Mona (Jane Badler, still terrifying me ever since she ate a rat in V), who looks like the kind of female villain that would once have battled and bedded James Bond. And as they work 16 hours days, they start to learn that this isn’t the job they were promised, what with Mona having some kind of magical powers thanks to a strain that only he can inhale and survive.

Somehow folk horror meets Suspiria meets body horror, Trim Season exceeded any expectations I had for it. Balder owns every moment she has on screen and man, how many costume changes did she get? As many as she wanted, that’s how many.

The Chattanooga Film Festival is happening now through June 29. To get your in-person or virtual badge to see any of these movies, click here. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.