Lookout Wild Film Festival offers 64 films in four days at Tivoli Theatre

In fall 2016, four members of indie folk band The Infamous Flapjack Affair set out on a journey through the Colorado River basin. Their goal was to write music inspired by the people they met, the beauty of the surroundings and challenges they faced. "Confluence" shares the story of the basin, the use of land and resources and human connection to that place. / Lookout Wild Film Festival contributed photo
In fall 2016, four members of indie folk band The Infamous Flapjack Affair set out on a journey through the Colorado River basin. Their goal was to write music inspired by the people they met, the beauty of the surroundings and challenges they faced. "Confluence" shares the story of the basin, the use of land and resources and human connection to that place. / Lookout Wild Film Festival contributed photo

If you go

› What: Lookout Wild Film Festival› Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.› Admission: $40 weekend pass, $60 VIP weekend pass, $12.50 individual viewing block› For more information: 423-757-5580FILM SCHEDULEThursday, Jan. 246 p.m. Lobby doors open6:30 p.m. Theater doors open7- 10:30 p.m. 12 films shown with 15-minute intermissionFeature Film: “Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey”Friday, Jan. 256 p.m. Lobby doors open6:30 p.m. Theater doors open7-10:30 p.m. 14 films shown with 15-minute intermissionFeature Film: “Confluence”Saturday, Jan. 261 p.m. Backstage Yoga and Time-lapse Films1-8:30 p.m. Advocacy Expo1:30 p.m. Theater doors open2-5:30 p.m. Matinee session, 11 films shown with 15-minute intermissionFeature Film: “Bears of Durango”5:45-6:30 p.m. Rock/Creek Lecture Series and Dinner6 p.m. Lobby doors open for evening block6:30 p.m. Theater doors open7-10:30 p.m. 16 films shown with 15-minute intermission10:30-11 p.m. After-party in lobbySunday, Jan. 271 p.m. Backstage Yoga and Time-lapse Films1 p.m. Lobby doors open1:30 p.m. Theater doors open1-6 p.m. 11 films shown with 15-minute intermissionFeature Film: “Bikes of Wrath”For complete film schedule: https://lookoutfilmfestival.org/schedule

A record-breaking 138 hours of films were reviewed by judges to select the 17 hours that will be shown this weekend at the seventh annual Lookout Wild Film Festival.

The film festival, presented by Spectruss, begins Thursday and continues through Sunday with 64 films to be shown representing filmmakers from A (Australia) to Z (New Zealand). In all, 36 countries submitted work for consideration in this weekend's movie marathon. Ten of the selected films will have their casts in attendance at the festival.

The festival celebrates "wild" places throughout the world, as well as outdoor sports, the extremes that people will go to in order to experience Earth's rugged natural beauty, and the conservation efforts of our most precious resources.

photo "Bears of Durango" follows a team of scientists led by Heather Johnson as they study the causes of bear-human conflicts and the effects of human development on bear populations. / Facebook.com photo

"Our goal has always been to show films about wild places and the people they inspire," says Andy Johns, founder of Lookout Wild Film Festival. "We had no idea that along the way we would inspire so many audience members to go explore and protect the wild places around us."

Six Tennessee films are included in the weekend's lineup: "Passing Moments," Thursday night; "To Trails Chattanooga" and "Ritchie Hollow," both Friday night; "Welcome To the Sinks," Saturday afternoon; and "Building Bridges" and "Safe Haven," Saturday night.

Erin Taylor, Spectruss client relations associate, describes the film festival as "a cinematic celebration of the best outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world."

Lookout Wild Film Festival has grown each year to the point the festival sold out shows in Walker Theatre with 3,600 attendees in 2018. For this reason, the festival moved to a larger venue.

This will be the film festival's first year to be held in the Tivoli Theatre, which features a new sound system and new movie screen that is the largest of its kind in North America.

"At the heart of the festival, we're just gathering together and telling stories. Because of partners like Spectruss, we're able to share those stores to an even bigger audience in a fantastic venue," says Johns.

photo "The Bikes of Wrath" is a story of adventure as five Australian friends attempt to cycle from Oklahoma to California in honor of the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s. / Facebook.com photo

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