The Lookout Wild Film Festival, held annually in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, is a vibrant celebration of adventure and environmental cinema, drawing over 4000 attendees to our three-day flagship event at the iconic Tivoli Theater. From our modest beginnings in 2013, we've expanded our reach with virtual festivals and a multi-city tour, enriching our impact year after year. In 2024, we celebrated our 12th annual festival, continuing our tradition of showcasing captivating films and fostering community engagement. Over the years, we've proudly premiered numerous North American and US films, welcomed filmmakers from around the world, and hosted filmmaker Q&A sessions and workshops.
Filmmakers, we are looking for films that celebrate wild places and the diversity of people they inspire.
Topics of films may include — but are not limited to — inspiration, exploration, conservation, and adventure films. Some outdoor activities we feature are: epic travel adventures, rock climbing, road and mountain biking, creek and river boating, hiking, skiing, trail running, fishing, ocean sports, wildlife, snowshoeing, caving, boarding , airsports (gliding & wingsuit), surfing, multisport, highlining, and whatever else people are doing outside. We share tales of inspiration showing people using Nature to overcome adversity.
We are looking for narrative and documentary films, feature-length films, short films, animated films, time-lapse films and everything in between.
We are looking for projects that celebrate outdoor adventure and conservation around the Southeast US, North America and the world.
Beyond any specific activity or theme, the LWFF board is looking for films that share our love of the outdoors through storytelling. We want films that take us places we can't go — or haven't gone yet. We want films that help us see things with a new perspective.
Chattanooga is a youthful, growing outdoor mecca drawing in top adventurers from around the United States. The city is also garnering national attention from media outlets and tourism groups, headlined by Outside Magazine calling the Scenic City its "Best Town Ever" twice - the first city to do this.
We believe that the Lookout Wild Film Festival is a key part of Chattanooga's continued growth as a destination for both outdoor enthusiasts. We hope to see you here and thank you for your consideration as a venue for your film!
Online screeners and digital submissions preferred. If your film is available on Vimeo or similar services please include that link as well. Please include any needed password to access the films.
We thank the filmmakers and our audience for your support over the years.
Winners in each film category receive our infamous "Loggy" award.
To the most inspiring character in a film we will present the prestigious Dale 'Greybeard' Sanders Perseverance Award - the "Stoney".
