WELCOME to the 9th Annual TENNESSEE INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILM FESTIVAL. "TIIFF 8" starts with a committed staff, a cadre of visionary filmmakers and our devoted sponsors who continue to support our mission; To attract showcase and celebrate the best in current Independent film.
PLEASE NOTE: TIIFF FESTIVAL DATES:
Thursday, November 06, 2025 through Sunday November 9, 2025,
TIIFF will be held in conjunction with West Light Studios, Williamson County Cultural Arts Commission and the Slick Lawson Foundation in Historic Franklin, TN.
Franklin is known as a beautiful, historic town in the greater Nashville metropolitan area. Franklin is listed as one of the top places in the United States to live and work as well as one of the top ten places in the USA to visit. West Light Studios and the Slick Lawson Foundation are the 2025 presenting partners for our festival.
Filmmakers, celebrities and audiences alike will enjoy the ambiance, fraternity, and social experience that comes with a four day film festival and we are experts.
There is plenty of space for the outstanding programming as well as panels/diescussions with filmmakers and networking events. Each film block is followed by a filmmaker talkback. Our industry panels will be inspiring; presented with great confidence and include international participation.
In addition there will be entertainment. We are part of the Nashville Music City experience and our attendees will enjoy our artists. There will be an opening night red carpet event as welll as a Welcome Cocktail Reception to bring our community together. Our partnership with the Memphis Music Banq opens an opportunity to showcase composers and singer/songwriters.
Tennessee is consistently in the top ten as far as film/media/entertainment industry jobs and definitely worth a visit to see what and where these opportunities are.
Whether attending the festival with your latest film or planning your next film project, we will introduce you to the filmmakers, film workers, and an enthusiastic audience ready to welcome you. Our community is ready to celebrate your work. The competition is open to U.S. and International entries.
Please check individual categories for additional requirements.
Note:
Narrative and Documentary short film "runtime" will be under 39 minutes. Special permission can be considered.
Feature Films "runtime" will be less than 100 minutes. Special permission can be considered..
Animated Short Films will have "runtimes" of 39 minutes or less and Animated feature films will have a "runtime" of 60 minutes or less.
Student Films "runtime" will be under 20 minutes.
Music Short Films will have a "runtime " of 39 minutes or less.
Music Feature films will have a runtime of 100 minutes ir less.
Our Film Industry panels in the past have included: AI, How Does it Affect Us? Write your Best Story, Tips & Trade Secrets, International Co-Producing, The Female Gaze, and Music Composing , Sync & Licensing.
Check our website frequently to see our panel experts and for details of any upcoming events and then come out and join us.
For special requests please contact us. (Tiiff.asst@gmail.com) 615-947-7671
Tickets will be sold through TIIFF.org in advance of the festival and at the door.
Thank you.

Awards will be presented.
Winners may be selected in the following categories:
Judges Favorite/Best of Show
Best Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short
Best Animated Film
Best Music Feature Film
Best Music Short
Best International Feature
Best International Short
Community Activism Award
Community Art Award
Best Student Short
Best Student Doc
Best Student Animated Film
Spirit of the South Award
Best Inspirational or Purpose Film
Local Color Festure
Audience Favorite
Awards will be presented at the closing night awards party November 17, 2024

By entering the Tennessee International Indie Film Festival (TIIFF 8) competition you agree to the following conditions:
Entrants must be 18 years or over or include verifiable permission from parent or guardian.
Our Competition is open to residents of the United States and all countries unless otherwise stated.
Competition is not available to TIIFF staff or their immediate families.
Entries are generally limited to one film per filmmaker unless they are individual episodes of a web series. Each episode will have a runtime of 30 minutes length or less for this genre. Please contact staff with any questions.
Each entry must be accompanied by the required entry/submission fee.
End date is specified on individual competition.
TIIFF reserves the right to amend the end date at any time.
By entering the TIIFF competition, the Entrant agrees to participate in promotional activity where required.By entering the competition the winner agrees to allow TIIFF to utilize the film's promotional materials as well as the film. Award certificates or prizes are non transferrable.
TRAVEL/PER DIEM Costs are NOT included for TIIFF 2024 though we hope in future years to help defray expenses incurred with attending our event.
If the advertised prize becomes unavailable, FIIFF reserves the right to replace. This festival competition is managed and directed by TIIFF, WCCAC-TN, and Women in Film Exchange.
By submitting your project to TIIFF you agree to be contacted for promotional purposes.
No personal data will be shared with third parties unless stated otherwise.
TIIFF reserves the right to amend the competition rules.
Notifications will be sent in a timely manner after conclusion of our festival.
Entrant agrees to submit entries that are her/his own original work. Entrant must not violate, plagiarize, or infringe any copyright, trade mark, trade secrets, privacy and publicity, personal or proprietary rights.
All music and score must be original or legally cleared.
When Entrant submits a project, they agree to allow TIIFF to use the material in a reasonable way on a fee-free basis in any media throughout the world. Any copyright in the contribution will remain with the Entrant and this permission is not exclusive.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Michelle Ford

    This was a very fun festival run by kind and supportive people. It was an honor to have my film be an official selection.

    January 2025
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you for bringing your excellent film and participating in our 2024 film festival. We look forward to you returning another year.

  • Dmytro Zavora

    Great Festival! Thanks for selecting Vita Nova!

    November 2024
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Congratulations on winning Best International Short Film. Vita Nova was a lively well thought and well executed film. We hope to see more of your projects in the future! Happy New Year.

  • Christy Sherrell

    Great festival!! I had a great time connecting with filmmakers and sharing my film!

    November 2024
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Christy. Great work. Enjoyed meeting you as well. Looking firward to your next project!

  • PETER BLACKBURN

    We just want to thank the TIIFF for screening our film No Bones Jones. They kept us in the loop for everything that was happening. Thank you so much. Cheers Peter

    November 2024
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Appreciate your review Peter. Hope your next project comes our way. Best wishes

  • Luke Sutton

    Thank you for having us. Always a great experience!

    November 2024
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Hey Luke, thanks for continuing on a promising journey. Your work keeps getting better and better. We appreciate you