Chattanooga Film Festival 2025’s First Wave Includes ‘Hot Spring Shark Attack,’ ‘The Pee Pee Poo Poo Man,’ ‘The Craft’

The Chattanooga Film Festival has announced the first wave of programming for its 12th annual event, which will take place June 20-28 both in-person in Tennessee and virtually.

The announcements adhere to the festival’s philosophy that true cinephiles love films of all shapes, sizes, and genres, with everything from a pair of crowd-pleasing music docs to heavy doses of carefully curated horror cinema, off-kilter comedy, wild-ass action, and science fiction that has helped put the festival on the map.

Special Events

LVCRFT PRESENTS — BEST OF TIMES: THE MUSIC OF KILLER PARTY

Exploring the link between music and film has long been a tradition for CFF, and this year’s Sonic Cinema program sees the festival once again partnering with petrifying pals LVCRFT to take a deep dive into the wild and wonderful history of one of the most mysterious and underrated original soundtracks in the history of horror, 1986’s KILLER PARTY.

Hosted by LVCRFT mastermind DEEP KUTZ (aka MNDR)—no stranger to a killer party herself—this event will shed a little light on an underloved gem and its soundtrack. DEEP KUTZ will join CFF director Chris Dortch II along with a group of very special guests to talk about the too-weird-for-words history of KILLER PARTY’s killer soundtrack. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the film or haven’t yet discovered the unholy earworm that is the song “Best Times,” frightening-ass fun is sure to be had by all. LVCRFT will also be guest programming a film for the festival’s popular RED EYE secret screening series sure to warm the hearts and melt the minds of all who dare to gaze upon it. Will you dare?

CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN’S THE PUMPKIN PIE SHOW: WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES EDITION

Among the many things CFF seeks to spotlight every year are great storytellers and the art of storytelling. The festival regularly brings talented authors and screenwriters in for events, but there is one event that has become such a sacred tradition for festival attendees they know there is no better tone-setter for their time with the festival. That’s author/genius/madman Clay McLeod Chapman’s THE PUMPKIN PIE SHOW: a punk rock, in-your-face, literary lapdance as unmissable as it is unforgettable. CFF is proud to welcome Clay back for a year devoted to his horrifying and timely new novel WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES. After the event Clay will be on hand to sign copies which will once again be made available by the festival’s favorite indie booksellers A Little Bookish.

THE CRAFT SCREENING W/ SCREENWRITER PETER FILARDI

CFF is beyond honored to have the opportunity to bring in screenwriter Peter Filardi, whose screenplay for the classic 1996 film THE CRAFT remains a seminal work in the origin stories of many a genre film fan. Filardi will be on hand for a special screening of THE CRAFT, directly preceded by a serious treat for CFF attendees—a screening of DAMN HANDY, an incredible new short film written and directed by Filardi and followed by an exclusive Q&A.

AN EVENING WITH JAMES ADOMIAN

The Chattanooga Film Festival has often brought the world of stand-up comedy into the mix over the years with luminaries like Bobcat Goldthwait and Eddie Pepitone gracing the festival grounds. And this year, during a time when we could all use a few more laughs in our lives, the CFF returns to that tradition with nothing short of one of the world’s greatest living comedians.

Whether he’s giving the keynote address to SXSW as the ghost of Orson Welles, breaking bread with the late great Anthony Bourdain, or appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live as My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, actor/comedian James Adomian has truly done it all—and done it hilariously. James’s recent special PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE with its deep reverence for classic cinema and its perfectly crafted bits about everything from airline loyalty programs to the horrors of comedy crowd work is pure magic, and CFF is proud to bring Adomian in for an evening of stand-up and a special screening of filmmaker Hughes Ransom’s brilliant short film SICK DAY which stars James…and lots of locusts.

INERTIA: RE-MAKING THE CROW AND JAMES O’BARR’S THE CROW SCREENINGS PRESENTED BY DAVID ULLMAN

There are few films from the 90s that have the lasting legacy of 1994’s THE CROW. From the tragic loss of Brandon Lee to its iconic soundtrack, the film’s influence on genre cinema is still felt today. Though there have been sequels and at least one … ahem … “re-imagining,” there’s only one Crow remake in the hearts and minds of our team here at CFF, and that one was made by a literal 14-year-old. CFF is proud to present David Ullman’s INERTIA: RE-MAKING THE CROW, a making-of documentary chronicling the production of his youthful, DIY, shot-on-VHS reimagining of the classic film, followed by a special screening of his guerilla remake, JAMES O’BARR’S THE CROW.

Feature Selections

CROSSWORD
d. Michael Vlamis

Following the death of their daughter, Tessa pours herself into her best selling children’s book series, “Lily Learns,” while her husband, James, attempts to find solace in the daily crossword but quickly unravels as the puzzles seem to take on a mind of their own.

GOOD NIGHT – U.S. Premiere
d. Matías Szulanski

A young Brazilian girl travels to Argentina to visit her aunt, but after a misunderstanding and the loss of her belongings, she must kill time until the next morning.

HACKED: A DOUBLE ENTENDRE OF RAGE FUELED KARMA – World Premiere
d. Shane Brady

Based on true events: When their $20K home deposit is stolen by Florida’s most elusive Hacker – The Chameleon – the Rumble family snaps and goes full “John Wick” …Except with way worse planning, more stupidity, and a 5 foot tall battle axe. It’s a revenge mission so insane, it might actually work.

THE HARBOR MEN – World Premiere
d. Casey T. Malone

During a waterfront viral outbreak, dock worker Steven Dorre witnesses a strange murder that puts him in possession of a case – the contents of which bring into question everything he thought he knew to be true.

HOT SPRING SHARK ATTACK – U.S. Premiere, Opening Night Selection
d. Morihito Inoue

In a small hot spring town in Japan, a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and begins terrorizing the local hot spring facilities. As the threat escalates, the townspeople band together to protect their beloved town from the menacing predator, leading to a fierce and thrilling battle.

HOUSE OF ASHES
d. Izzy Lee

Grieving widow Mia must survive psychological and supernatural horrors while under house arrest.

HUNG UP ON A DREAM: THE ZOMBIES DOCUMENTARY
d. Robert Schwartzman

British Invasion icons The Zombies reflect on paving 60 years and counting of their musical path from teenage friends to legends in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I HATE MYSELF AND WANT TO DIE
d. J. Davis

I Hate Myself and Want to Die is a dark comedy about a depressed young guy whose attempts to kill himself keep getting interrupted by his family and friends. Unaware of his intentions, they pull him into increasingly bizarre adventures over the course of a single night, while he looks back on his life and decides whether or not to go through with his deadly plan.

I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND
d. G.G. Hawkins

When a woman grows disillusioned with her golden-boy husband during their tropical honeymoon, she recruits an enigmatic expat to spice things up—for better or worse.

KING BABY
d. Kit Redstone, Arran Shearing

A warped modern fairytale plays out in a crumbling “kingdom” populated only by a king and a servant. The arrival of a mannequin queen throws their carefully constructed world into isolation, madness, and murderous megalomania.

THE MISADVENTURES OF VINCE & HICK – World Premiere
d. Trevor Stevens

Recently released from prison, Hick Dunn wants nothing more than to make it to his daughter Katie’s 10th birthday party across the US desert. A chance encounter with a silver tongued con man named Vince Campbell opens an opportunity for Hick to get a ride. The catch? He has to revert back to a life of criminal misadventures.

OBEX
d. Albert Birney

Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.

OPERATION WAKALIGA: FATE AND BLOOD – U.S. Premiere
d. Ori Yakobovich, Maya Rudich, Nabwana IGG

A first of its kind action-comedy cooperation between Wakaliwood in Uganda and Israel. The Ugandan tiger mafia kidnaps the son of the prime minister of Israel. This shadow organization known for black magic and mastery of kung fu, are planning to sacrifice the son prime minister in order to perform a unique spell that requires royal Jewish blood. In order to rescue him, the State of Israel sends a pair of special commando fighters to Uganda, whose partnership was broken up by a bitter conflict in the past. If the commandos won’t be able to overcome their troublesome past the fate of the Jewish and the Ugandan people might be doomed forever.

PAVEMENTS
d. Alex Ross Perry

An examination of the iconic 90s indie band, “Pavements” appears to be just another music documentary, until it doesn’t. A prismatic, narrative, scripted, documentary, musical, metatextual hybrid, the film intimately shows the band preparing for their sold-out 2022 reunion tour while simultaneously tracking the preparations for a musical based on their songs, a museum devoted to their history and a big-budget Hollywood biopic inspired by their saga as the most important band of a generation.

THE PEE PEE POO POO MAN
d. Braden Sitter Sr.

A paranoid young man launches a bizarre crime spree against the citizens of Toronto in this psycho-spiritual thriller comedy starring Rishi Rodriguez, Spencer Rice (Kenny vs. Spenny) and Paul Bellini (Kids in the Hall).

These events, along with more than 40 additional features and dozens of short films, live podcasts, free tattoos, an opening night indoor beach party, and the fest’s now infamous nightly secret screening series, the Red Eye, are sure to please longtime fans and newcomers who can access the festival’s virtual offerings from anywhere in the U.S.

Chattanooga Film Festival 2025 badges are available now.

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