Chattanooga Film Festival 2024 Announces Final Wave of Programming

The eleventh edition of Chattanooga Film Festival is unleashing another summer camp for cinephiles from June 21-28, 2024. While the fest already unveiled a massive first wave of programming for their 2024 event, the final wave of feature programming brings even more cinematic genre madness, including a rare look at Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III.

In addition to all the new premieres and upcoming horror titles to look forward to in this wave; look for special tributes that come with a rare workprint screening and more (pay attention Texas Chainsaw Massacre fans).

From the press release, “Joining the previously announced World Premiere VIDEO VISION are three more features making their debut at the festival. A film marking the triumphant return of a filmmaker the festival’s fans know and love, and two more from filmmakers whose mind-altering visions are sure to end up on countless Best of 2024 lists.

First, there’s writer/director Kelsey Egan’s THE FIX, CFF’s 2024 Closing Night Selection. In the dystopian future of Egan’s film, the air is toxic. A troubled young model (Grace Van Dien) takes an illicit new drug at a party and suffers a shocking transformation. She attempts to reverse the effects of the drug, only to discover her mutations may be the key to saving the human race. Throw in some wildly cool effects, the presence of Clancy Brown, and a jaw-dropping third act, and you’ve got yourself a film tailor-made to find its way into the hearts of the festival’s longtime attendees.

Also world premiering is the debut feature of an exciting new voice in genre cinema, writer/director Racheal Cain, whose SOMNIUM acts as the centerpiece of the CFF’s opening weekend. Starring the always awesome Chloe Levine (The Ranger) Cain’s beautifully shot mind-bender takes place at an experimental sleep clinic, Somnium, where your dreams are made real. Side effects may include: hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, sleep paralysis, detachment from reality, lost sense of self, permanent nightmares.

After hotboxing festival goers’ brains with last year’s bodacious bong-load of hemp horror TRIM SEASON, filmmaker Ariel Vida a two-time festival alum well-anchored in the psyches of CFF audience returns with the World Premiere of a profoundly personal feature years in the making. In SLEEP, WAKE, FORGET, years after civilization has fallen and the infected roam the world, two brothers survive because of a unique skill – the ability to look into the minds of others. Vida’s persistent efforts to complete her film saw her serving as director of photography, writer, make-up effects artist, production designer, and myriad other crew positions, and the result is something magical. Ariel’s journey to getting the film made is an inspiring story in its own right, and CFF is honored to give her the spotlight to tell it and a screen to share her haunting labor of love.

Every year, the CFF throws a free kick-off event anyone can come out and enjoy. This year’s launch party is a tribute to one of the festival’s first champions. Filmmaker Jeff Burr (FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM, LEATHERFACE) was the embodiment of CFF’s mission to bring great genre cinema to the city of Chattanooga and beyond. He accomplished this with numerous screenings of his own films but also as a warm-hearted film historian, educator, and mentor to young, local filmmakers. Jeff gave fans new reasons to love cult classics screening for CFF audiences. This event is a free-to-attend (Jeff would have wanted it that way) celebration of the life and films of Jeff Burr.

Some very special guests, including some of Jeff’s close friends, will be joining us as we share memories of the man. As part of our tribute, we’re honored to have the opportunity to share something we know Jeff would have liked more folks to see: a workprint of LEATHERFACE featuring a version of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III that hews far closer to Jeff’s original vision than the official studio release. Also uncovered at Jeff’s home by his close friend Mark Hannah is an incredible collection of dailies and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot that we’ll also be sharing along with our own stories and memories. We hope you’ll come and enjoy this candid glimpse into a profoundly creative, warm, and wonderful man.

These three world premieres plus special tribute event join 21 more carefully curated features with everything from the debut of filmmakers Benson & Moorhead’s longtime editor Michael Felker, THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT, to the gorgeous cosmic-Czech-folk-horror of FALLING STARS, to a special screening of the unique and disturbing courtroom thriller RED ROOMS presented by UTOPIA. And there’s more: the spell-binding psychological drama CANVAS, alongside a fascinating film documenting THE UFOS of SOESTERBERG. The inclusionist community that makes up the festival’s audience is sure to fall instantly in love with 2024’s CFF centerpiece film OFF-RAMP, which kicks off the fest’s stacked virtual offerings with a heartwarming tale of a couple of lovable degenerates who must sojourn through America’s hellish underbelly to The Gathering of the Juggalos, the one place on earth they feel accepted. Nathan Tape’s film will charm audiences whether or not they’re down with the clown and have them joining an angelic chorus of “Whoop Whoop.” We may not know how magnets work, but, like OFF-RAMP, they show us how to come together.

Also, early in her new film’s festival run is the wildly talented and prolific CFF alum Alice Maio Mackay, who takes holiday set horror to twisted new places with CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS. Then there is the haunting, beautiful, and deeply personal THE LONELY MAN AND THE GHOST MACHINE, the latest work of a filmmaker who has long been a part of the festival’s extended family, Graham Skipper (SEQUENCE BREAK, THE LEECH).

Short-form cinema is another yearly staple of the festival, and the CFF’s annual shorts showcases CFF SALUTES YOUR SHORTS, DANGEROUS VISIONS, and WTF (WATCH THESE FILMS) blocks are joined again by two volumes of their FUN SIZE EPICS block, which exhibits short films with slightly longer runtimes and strong enough world building to match any feature. Also expanded are the festival’s long running Dangerous Visions and WTF shorts blocks, which also receive second volumes BRIDE OF WTF and SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE DANGEROUS VISIONS. Festival fans can count on a mix of much-loved festival alums, talented new voices, and even another World Premiere from Author/Screenwriter/Director Benjamin Percy (Ghost Rider, Wolverine, the Comet Cycle novels). Percy’s dread-filled 13TH NIGHT debuts in the festival’s DANGEROUS VISIONS block and he will be on hand afterward to sign books and comics and answer questions.

Making sure that attendees have far more than just screenings awaiting them is the small army of vendors armed with everything from rare VHS tapes to books to artwork to boutique Blu-rays to lovingly crafted cannabis products and the book fair stacked with previously announced authors, live readings and mysterious secrets that CFF is calling its PHYSICAL MEDIA RODEO. Presented by our friends at Arrow Video, fans that want to pregame for the fest can check out a CFF Selects playlist packed with strange cinema and deep cuts curated by our crack team of trained weirdos hitting their Arrow Player service very soon.

All this, and we haven’t even mentioned the fat stacks of live podcasts buoyed by our buds The Video Monsters and Dads From the Crypt, film education events, watch parties, whiskey parties, pizza parties, live music, exclusive screenings, and the long-form Q&As that see CFF leaning into the virtual side of things to take deeper dives into the year’s films than an average festival Q&A would allow.”

Read on for the final wave of programming:

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Features

Blind Cop 2

Director Alec Bonk | United States 2023

Blind Cop, the former beacon of justice, is consumed by grief after the mysterious death of his partner in the first movie. (There is no first movie.) His once-illustrious career has been reduced to drunken disorderly conduct, putting him at odds with the police force. In his investigation of a new influx of arms trafficking, Blind Cop discovers a lead that connects the illegal weapons to his partner’s death. However, he is fired from the force for his reckless behavior. Now Blind Cop must venture into the dark underworld of the city to continue his investigation. With the help of a bright-eyed young man who wants to follow in his footsteps, they will uncover a web of deceit and corruption that will challenge Blind Cop’s perceptions of justice and morality. The truth he seeks may not be what he expected, but he will stop at nothing to avenge his fallen partner and bring the criminals responsible to justice. *Virtual

Cannibal Mukbang

Director Aimee Kuge | United States 2023

An introverted nerd finds himself dangerously deep inside the crazy world of mukbanging after he falls head over heels for a mysterious woman. *Virtual

Canvas

Directors Kimberly Stuckwisch, Melora Donoghue | United States 2022

Pitted against each other since youth and raised to believe true artists are only formed through suffering, two sisters reunite after years of estrangement. One sister learns authenticity and the other regret, but neither escapes the sins of their father.*Virtual

Carnage For Christmas – Southeast Premiere

Alice Maio Mackay | Australia 2023

When true-crime podcaster and sleuth Lola visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and transitioning, the vengeful ghost of a historical murderer and urban legend seemingly arises to kill again. Lola must solve the case before her community is slaughtered. She’s up against not only a psychotic killer, but a town haunted by secrets. *Virtual

Daughter of the Sun

Director Ryan Ward | Canada 2023

A 12-year-old girl struggles with life on the run as she travels across the country with her father who has Tourette Syndrome. Wanting nothing more than a normal family life, she befriends a community of outcasts in the remote countryside who want to harness a volatile supernatural power her father is hiding. *Virtual

Falling Stars

Directors Richard Karpala, Gabriel Bienczycki | United States 2023

On the first night of harvest, three brothers set out for the desert to see a witch’s corpse. *In-Person

In the Name of God

Director Ludwig Gur | Sweden 2024

After the wife of Theodor, a 40-year-old priest, falls seriously ill, he seeks guidance from his old mentor who convinces him he has been chosen by God to rid the world of sinners to bring new life to true believers. He then commits his first murder, convinced it is a necessary sacrifice in service of his divine mission. At the moment of the murder, his wife’s health improves and the congregation starts referring to him as the “miracle priest,” knowing nothing of his horrible act. But lurking in the shadows is a disbelieving man who begins to uncover the bloody traces of the priest’s unholy deeds. *Virtual

Killington

Directors Mark Dudzinksi, Frank Perz | United States 2023

When a group of women from Manhattan win a weekend getaway with wellness influencer Kali to picturesque Killington, Vermont, the creepy local vibes and characters take on a life of their own. Tensions spark among the longtime friends as Kali pushes their boundaries, and things take an unexpected turn. *Virtual

Love And Work

Director Pete Ohs | United States 2023

Diane and Fox love to work. Unfortunately, they live in a polarized world where having a job is illegal. *Hybrid

NOCLIP

Directors Gavin Charles, Alex Conn | United States 2023

Two filmmakers set out on an adventure into a creepy old mall, only to find themselves lost in an increasingly claustrophobic maze of hallways, liminal spaces, stairwells, and backrooms in this comedic found footage horror film. *Virtual

Off Ramp

Director Nathan Tape | United States 2023

A couple of lovable, degenerate Juggalos must sojourn through America’s hellish underbelly to The Gathering of the Juggalos, the one place on earth they feel accepted. *Virtual

Quantum Suicide

Director Gerrit Van Woudenberg | Canada 2023

A reclusive physicist builds a particle accelerator in his garage and embarks on a quest to understand the nature of reality. In the process of his experiments he suffers radiation poisoning, loses his vision and alienates his partner, who eventually leaves him. But in his obsession he finds clarity and the key to understanding our reality. There is one final test he must perform. *Virtual

Red Rooms

Director Pascal Plante | France 2024

The high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the puzzle: the missing video of a murdered 13-year-old girl, to whom Kelly-Anne bears a disturbing resemblance.*In Person

Sleep, Wake, Forget – World Premiere

Ariel Vida | United States

In a fallen world, a young man will stop at nothing to save his brother from becoming one of the creatures they have spent their lives running from. *Hybrid

SOMNIUM – World Premiere

Director Racheal Cain | United States 2023

At an experimental sleep clinic, Somnium, your dreams are made real. Side effects may include: hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, sleep paralysis, detachment from reality, lost sense of self, permanent nightmares. *In-Person

The Buildout

Director Zeshaan Younus | United States 2023

A friendship is tested as two women experience something strange in the desert. *Virtual

The Fix – World Premiere

Director Kelsey Egan | South Africa 2023

A dark, dystopian thrill ride with an environmental slant, The Fix explores identity, perception and autonomy in a frighteningly viable future. A toxic compound infects earth’s atmosphere. Pharmaceutical giant, Aethera, sells immunity to those who can afford the daily dose… most can’t. When a troubled model takes a new designer drug at a house party, she suffers a shocking transformation. Pursued by a dangerous gang and authorities in cahoots with Aethera, she hunts desperately for a “fix” to reverse the drug’s effects only to discover that her mutations could save the human race. *Hybrid

The Lonely Man With The Ghost Machine

Director Graham Skipper | United States 2023

The last man on Earth after a global catastrophe finds himself questioning his purpose and sanity as both his dead wife and a mysterious stranger confront him with his past, his present, and whatever future might remain in the wastes of a dead world. *Virtual

The UFOS of Soesterberg

Director Bram Roza | Netherlands 2023

In the early morning of February 3, 1979, a mysterious object flew over Soesterberg Air Base. At least twelve soldiers witnessed this. Despite being in the middle of the cold war this event has still remained unexplained. And that is not the only anomalous sighting in that specific part of the Netherlands… *Virtual

Things Will Be Different

Director Michael Felker | United States 2024

In order to escape police after a robbery, two estranged siblings lay low in a farmhouse that hides them away in a different time. There they reckon with a mysterious force that pushes their familial bonds to unnatural breaking points. *In-Person Only

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Short Film Blocks