The Nashville Film Festival has announced the opening and closing films for its 55th annual run. The fest will open with a music documentary double header of Devo and Rebel Country on Thursday, Sept. 19, and close the following Wednesday, Sept. 25, with This Is a Film About The Black Keys.
Devo, directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Tiger King), looks back on the career of the influential New Wave band and music video trailblazers. The film features interviews with both the Casale and Mothersbaugh brothers and premiered at Sundance earlier this year.
Before the band’s 50th anniversary tour hits the Ryman, we take a look at their legacy and their roots in an American tragedy
Rebel Country documents the artists pushing the boundaries of the country music genre and those bringing the industry back to its roots. Directed by Francis Whately (Rock ’n’ Roll Guns for Hire: The Story of the Sidemen, Dolly Parton: Here I Am), the doc features live performances, insider interviews and archival footage covering everything from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and the rise of Jelly Roll to Brooke Eden and Lil Nas X.
The closer, This Is a Film About the Black Keys, is ... well, exactly what it sounds like. The Jeff Dupre-directed film (with a title inspired by the cover art for the band's 2010 album) covers the blues rock group’s beginnings and their greatest hits, as well as disputes between members Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach.
This year’s Nashville Film Festival will run from Sept. 19 through Sept. 25 with screenings at the Belcourt, Regal Green Hills and The Franklin Theatre. Devo and Rebel Country will open as a true double header, showing at the Belcourt on opening night at 3:30 and 6 p.m., respectively. The festival will also host an opening night party that evening at the Parthenon. The 55th annual festival’s finale showing of This Is a Film About the Black Keys will close out the events, playing at 6 p.m. at the Belcourt. VIP passes and more information about the 2024 festival can be found at nashvillefilmfestival.org.
