NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 38th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) is set to take over Music City for eight artful and entertaining days April 19-26 at Regal Green Hills Cinema. MY SECRET RECORD or How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love the Biz, a documentary focused on singer-songwriter and international recording star Rob Thomas, will open the festival, with Thomas, his wife Marisol Thomas and director Gillian Grisman attending the screening.

Films will once again be screened in four state-of-the-art theaters at the Regal Green Hills Cinema. Events connected to the festival, including the opening night party atop BMI’s Nashville headquarters, will spread out around the city.

“Each year, Nashville Film Festival’s role in the local, national and international film communities and place among the top film showcases in the world is further established,” says Brian Gordon, NaFF Artistic Director. “Our artistic integrity has always been our top priority, and this year makes it clear that we can attract excellent films of all kinds that offer great quality, appeal and discussion, drawing filmgoers to a one-of-a-kind experience in Nashville.”

MY SECRET RECORD or How I Learned to Stop Worrying & Love the Biz traces the creative process and aggressive marketing campaign of Rob Thomas’s Billboard history making solo debut, Something to Be. Featuring a cast of superstars and CEOs, we are given extraordinary access into the world that manufactures rock stars and hits for mass consumption. The film features an incredible cast of musicians and industry “A” listers including: Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Jeff Trott, Robert Randolph, Clive Davis, Lyor Cohen and Matt Serletic.

At release time, other highlights of this year’s festival include the Irish film SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, which tells the heartfelt tale of four men – one of whom is an aspiring country singer – who hang around an engine repair shop in a small Northern Ireland country town. The film’s soundtrack includes contributions from Bobby Bare, Jr., John Prine, Todd Snider and the Silver Jews. Director Niall Heery will attend the screening. The documentary I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, by director John Laurence, covers the highs and lows of a year in the life of one battalion from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky as it trains for and is then deployed to Iraq. Laurence and several Ft. Campbell soldiers will attend.

KIDCINEMA

Among its many cinematic offerings are Saturday and Sunday morning films especially for kids, sponsored by Nashville Parent and Target. This year, the popular ANIMAL BAND takes its “Imagination Dance” show to the big screen for a unique cinema experience that will captivate children ages 3 and up as well as parents.

"We were thrilled when the Animal Band’s Jim Moore approached us about supporting the Festival,” says Sallie Mayne, NaFF Executive Director. "His incredible enthusiasm and positive message makes KidCinema even more of a HAPPENING not to be missed!"

PURCHASING TICKETS

Tickets go on sale online March 19, 2007 at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org including the ALL-FESTIVAL LAMINATE (good for all films, panels/workshops, opening and closing galas and the awards reception), tickets to individual films, workshops and panels, as well as ten-pack and three-day passes. Media credentials requests are available in the press room http://www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.

Nashville Film Festival is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and receives funding from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, H. Franklin Brooks Philanthropic Fund, William N. Rollins Fund for the Arts of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, The Frist Foundation, The Memorial Foundation, Nashville Metro Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Ragsdale Family Foundation, Target Stores, Tennessee Arts Commission, The Cal Turner Family Foundation, and its generous patrons and sponsors.