3 Awards. 2 States. 1 Film Festival.

PUSH! Film Festival, held in Historic Downtown Bristol, TN/VA, is a competitive festival and celebration of the cinematic and visual arts.

PUSH! spotlights films that provoke thought and spur action. We're a change agent – challenging filmmakers and filmgoers to push boundaries and push the envelope – to move and be moved through cinema. By bringing diverse films to our community and showcasing the best regional filmmakers, PUSH! aims to expand the artistic image of our region, engage new audiences in the world of film, and inspire creativity in all of us.

This year marks the 5th year of PUSH!, and after seeing the interest and excitement over our Tennessee and Virginia films grow each year, we have decided to focus in on those films over one fantastic day: Saturday, October 12, 2019. And so we are putting a call out for Tennessee and Virginia shorts – these films must be shot (in part or in whole) in either state, or made by a filmmaker whose hometown or current residence is in either state. We are also calling for features, with no restrictions on origin. Through juried competition, shorts from both states, along with one feature, will be chosen to be screened at the festival.

Held at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum, PUSH! will offer workshop and networking opportunities and a chance for filmmakers to participate in Q&As with the audience, in addition to the film screenings. We believe in empowering filmmakers by giving them a platform to share thoughtful ideas through any genre, and we put a lot of focus on the overall festival experience. We pride ourselves on being a filmmaker's film festival. We especially want filmmakers who attend the festival to feel like welcomed guests. Official Selection filmmakers attending PUSH! will receive VIP passes and a swag bag. Official Selection filmmakers may also request 2 complimentary tickets that can be used for any screening that they may share with their crew, cast, family, etc. You will also find Bristol a welcoming place with a variety of wonderful restaurants, breweries and bars, live music performances, and so much more!

Hosted in twin cities that know no borders, PUSH! provides the platform. You provide the perspectives.

PUSH! Film Festival
Bristol, TN/VA
www.pushfilmfest.com

PUSH! Film Festival wants to encourage and cultivate the next generation of filmmakers. As such, any student or educator may submit at a discounted rate. Upload a copy of your student/faculty ID to your film submission page to receive the discounted entry.

Best Tennessee Film
The best Tennessee film in competition.
Cash Award Value: 200 U.S. Dollar

Best Virginia Film
The best Virginia film in competition.
Cash Award Value: 200 U.S. Dollar

Best on the Border
The overall best film between Tennessee and Virginia short films.
Award: Best in Show Trophy

Filmmakers will be notified by the Notification Date concerning the status of their submissions. All filmmakers with a film in attendance will receive an Official Selection certificate, complimentary screening and workshop passes to all festival events, and a welcome bag of swag and merchandise from participating sponsors and organizers.

By submitting, filmmakers give PUSH! Film Festival permission to use images and sequences from films for promotional purposes in any and all media in perpetuity. Filmmakers and submitters agree to hold PUSH! Film Festival, Believe in Bristol, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses or damages that may arise from exhibition of films. Filmmakers and submitters warrant that they are eligible to submit these films for exhibition. Filmmakers and submitters warrant that all copyrights and clearances for submission and exhibition have been procured, and PUSH! nor its affiliates nor subsidiaries can be held liable for any copyright or intellectual property disputes regarding any audio or visual content inherent to any submitted films, including soundtracks. All films which are accepted and scheduled into PUSH! Film Festival will be eligible for additional screenings and publicity in future festivals.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Emma Moore

    We loved our experience with PUSH! My team and I felt very welcome and were graciously accommodated by the organizers at every turn. The festival was well-organized and the general atmosphere was great. We were only able to attend for one day but we wish we could have stayed for the entire weekend.

    November 2018
  • Loved my experience at Push Film Fest. Everyone was so very kind and it was great meeting all of the other filmmakers/programmers/locals. Hope to be back with another film soon!

    October 2018
  • Thank you to the entire PUSH! family for screening our short film. We truly appreciate your efforts and your support to the indie filmmaker!

    October 2018
  • Brad Bennett

    PUSH! was an amazing experience for our film! Just being able to walk into the historic Paramount Theater in Bristol was great experience in and of itself. The festival did a good job making this a true community event, w/ many local businesses offering incentives to visiting filmmakers. You could tell a lot of time was put into every aspect of the festival's events. The festival staff and locals in Bristol were warm and accommodating to the filmmakers all weekend long. We had an engaging Q&A post screening, and even took home Best Feature/$$ Award. Looking forward to seeing this festival grow, and continuing to be a staple for the filmmaking community in SW VA/TN. Highly recommended.

    November 2017
  • Robert Phillips

    PUSH! is an impressive, up-and-coming festival in beautiful Bristol. We had a great time meeting other filmmakers, networking & socializing, and attending screenings, all in walking distance from the Paramount Theater, a gorgeous old venue that could easily seat hundreds. Though our film was screened at the Paramount at a really great time, the small but enthusiastic group felt dwarfed by the scale of this historic theater. But, having one's work screened in such a lovely venue is a real treat, one that could be much improved with a larger crowd.

    Though PUSH! is clearly still building patronage and their film community in Bristol, they are doing all the right things move the needle in the right direction. The advertising and communication for this festival is exceptional (covers of magazines, billboards around town, signs everywhere), and the volunteer staff is absolutely dedicated to making the festival memorable for the filmmakers in attendance. We truly enjoyed our time in Bristol and highly recommend PUSH!

    November 2017