Nashville Film Festival Books ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman,’ Colin Hanks’ Doc ‘John Candy: I Like Me’
The Nashville Film Festival is rounding out its slate with two additional high-profile screenings.
The 56th annual fest — scheduled for Sept. 18-24 — has confirmed a closing night presentation of Bill Condon’s Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna and Tonatiuh, with the latter set to accept a rising star award after the film’s screening and Q&A. Also included in this year’s lineup is a centerpiece presentation of the documentary John Candy: I Like Me from director Colin Hanks and a team of producers that includes Ryan Reynolds.
NashFilm’s programming director Lauren Thelen said the team is “thrilled” to bring the selections to local audiences to help set the tone for an “unforgettable” week. “These selections offer some of the most anticipated, entertaining and emotionally impactful films of the season,” Thelen added. “Each film, spanning heartfelt, inspiring and deeply resonant stories, represents the compelling work in cinema today.”
Kiss of the Spider Woman, which will hit theaters Oct. 10 in a joint arrangement from Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate and LD Entertainment, centers on Valentín, a political prisoner played by Luna, who is forced to share a cell with Molina, a window dresser played by Tonatiuh. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna, played by Lopez.
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John Candy: I Like Me from Amazon MGM Studios explores the life and legacy of the comedy icon and charts his rise to fame while battling personal ghosts and the pressures of Hollywood. The film features never-before-seen home videos, intimate access to his family and candid recollections from collaborators. The screening is set for Sept 20, while the film will be released Oct. 10.
The fest kicks off with an opening night celebration at Urban Cowboy Bar in the Arcade Sept. 18, while a grand closing night party is set to take place at Electric Jane on Sept. 24. Earlier this month, the festival revealed the bulk of the lineup, which includes Jay Duplass’ The Baltimorons, Amanda Kramer’s By Design, Ryan White’s Come See Me in the Good Light, Max Walker Silverman’s Rebuilding, Michael John Warren’s You’ve Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine and Brandon Vestal’s Opryland USA: A Circle Broken. The lineup also includes music videos, short films, episodic programming and a host of panels, discussions and special events. More information on this year’s festival can be found here.
