The Lookout Wild Film Festival (LWFF) is a film festival based in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. The LWFF is a 4 day, 6 session event showcasing conservation and outdoor adventure films from around the world. Films are submitted via
FilmFreeway and/or selected by a volunteer screening team.[1]
History
LWFF originated in 2013.[2][3][4] The LWFF is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization[5] and has an elected Board of Directors.
In 2021, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic and the inability to hold indoor events, LWFF adapted by presenting fifteen 60-minute, free film nights at Miller Park in downtown Chattanooga,[10] every Friday during the Nightfall Music Series.[11][12]
In 2022,[13][14] LWFF added the Dale Greybeard Sanders Perseverance Award (The Stoney), an annual accolade bestowed upon the most inspiring person in the films. Recipients include Dale Sanders (2022),
Nimblewill Nomad (2022) and Sunny Yang (2023). LWFF also hosted the Reel Rock film tour and organized four free film events in the mid-summer period to raise funds for local non-profit organizations.
In 2023,[15][16] due to renovations at the Tivoli,[17] LWFF returned to the Walker Theater. The festival featured the world premieres of two films: "Greybeard - The Man, The Myth, The
Mississippi" [18] and "A Dream of Flying[19]". The lead characters, producers, directors, and filmmakers from both films attended a Q&A session. Additional attendees to the filmmaker Q&A came from Iran via the United Kingdom, British Columbia (CA), as well as Minnesota and Montana in the US. LWFF once again hosted the
Reel Rock Tour and the Paddling Film Festival.[20] LWFF also released a craft beer called Watch This through
Wanderlinger Brewing Company as a fundraiser for the festival.[21]
In 2024, LWFF showed more than 60 films from around the world including 4 locally focused films.[22][23] LWFF hosted the world premier of "Flowing Air" from Big Cedar Media.[24] The 2024 'Stoney' award was presented to Lane Lamoureux. LWFF will be hosting the
Reel Rock Tour as a fundraiser demonstrating the commitment to give back to the local community. In addition LWFF will be presenting several tour dates at locations across the US.
Attendance and location
Year
Attendance
location
2013
330
Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel
2014
1400
Chattanooga Choo Choo
2015
1700
Robert Kirk Walker Theater
2016
2700
Robert Kirk Walker Theater (includes a session sold out at 851 attendees)
2017
3300
Robert Kirk Walker Theater (includes two sessions sold out at 851 attendees)
2018
3800
Robert Kirk Walker Theater (includes two sessions sold out at 851 attendees)[25]
Tivoli Theater (Pre-Covid. Includes first ever Tivoli Theater film event sell-out of 1238 attendees)
2021
2000
No indoor festival due to Covid, estimated over 15 weeks
2022
4100
Robert Kirk Walker Theater
2023
4200
Robert Kirk Walker Theater
2024
4200
Robert Kirk Walker Theater
Awards
Fan Favorite - Throughout the festival, LWFF allows attendees to vote for their fan favorite film.
The Loggy - an internally selected film award, in the categories of Feature Film, Southeastern Film, Environmental Film, Short Film, Adventure, and Exploration Film.
The Stoney - annual award presented to the most inspiring person in the films.[27]