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Defy Film Festival
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DEFY 2018
DEFY 2019
DEFY 2020
DEFY 2021
DEFY 2022
DEFY 2023
DEFY 2024
SUBSCRIBE
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FAQ
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2025 TICKETS FRIDAY 6:45 // UNHINGED: A DEFY RETROSPECTIVE
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FRIDAY 6:45 // UNHINGED: A DEFY RETROSPECTIVE

$15.00

Friday, August 22, 2025
6:45 PM - 8:00* PM
Main Theatre

A selection of some of the BEST of the BEST short films from Defy’s first 10 years. But since the world is burning all around us, curating this program took on a life of its own. What emerged is bold, erratic, emotional, absurd… and yes, unhinged.

*Run time includes 15+ minute filmmaker Q&A after screening

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Friday, August 22, 2025
6:45 PM - 8:00* PM
Main Theatre

A selection of some of the BEST of the BEST short films from Defy’s first 10 years. But since the world is burning all around us, curating this program took on a life of its own. What emerged is bold, erratic, emotional, absurd… and yes, unhinged.

*Run time includes 15+ minute filmmaker Q&A after screening

Friday, August 22, 2025
6:45 PM - 8:00* PM
Main Theatre

A selection of some of the BEST of the BEST short films from Defy’s first 10 years. But since the world is burning all around us, curating this program took on a life of its own. What emerged is bold, erratic, emotional, absurd… and yes, unhinged.

*Run time includes 15+ minute filmmaker Q&A after screening

Want to attend multiple screenings at Defy? The Weekend and Day Passes are the biggest bang for your buck!

A limited number of individual tickets will be available online for each screening the week of the festival.

FILMS IN THIS PROGRAM (ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Featured
Brought To You By Satan
Brought To You By Satan

Director: Holly Laurent

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2021

Synopsis: A young woman grapples with the supernatural origins of a family dinner.

The Future
The Future

Director: Greg Sharp

Country of Origin: Serbia

Defy Year: 2019

Synopsis: In the future all people will be men and and all men will be crabs and all crabs will be thirsty.


Glorious Times
Glorious Times

Director: Stan

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2016

Synopsis: Glorious Times is a short, experimental documentary that meditates on the experience of a death metal festival and the passion of its fans.

Gnomes
Gnomes

Director: Ruwan Heggelman

Country of Origin: The Netherlands

Defy Year: 2023

Synopsis: Unknowingly, a girl enters the habitat of a tribe of killer gnomes during her daily run. Lured by mysterious glowing mushrooms, she'll soon wish she'd stayed on her usual tracks...

Guadalupe
Guadalupe

Director: David Guillermo Barba

Country of Origin: Mexico

Defy Year: 2022

Synopsis: An undocumented Mexican house cleaner finds something unexpected and controversial in the homeowners' closet. She leaves an unmistakable message.

Hubbards
Hubbards

Director: Kevin Ralston

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2022

Synopsis: An intense dive into the world of one man and his quest.

KIA SUMMER SALES EVENT
KIA SUMMER SALES EVENT

Director: Brendan Walter

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2021

Synopsis: An innocent conversation about a new car between a Juggalo boyfriend and girlfriend devolves into an existential, harrowing relationship crisis surrounding infidelity, family and their (possibly fabricated) deepest darkest secrets.

Website

Lollygag
Lollygag

Director: Tij D'oyen

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2024

Synopsis: A woman recounts her sensual yet macabre childhood memory about the boy next door.

Website

Nathan Loves Ricky Martin
Nathan Loves Ricky Martin

Director: Steven Arrigada

Country of Origin: Australia

Defy Year: 2017

Synopsis: Pauline, a full time carer for her disabled son Nathan, orchestrates a ruse to form a meaningful connection with the man next door.

Night Warriors
Night Warriors

Director: Bill E Mitchell

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2022

Synopsis: Two self described independent thinkers on their search for personal truth, work themselves into a frenzy as they hasten toward a reality more shadowy than they could ever have expected.

Panic Attack!
Panic Attack!

Director: Eileen O'Meara

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2017

Synopsis: You know the nagging thoughts that start with "did I leave the coffee on?" and turn in to "am I pregnant with a devil-baby?” This hand-drawn animation explores anxiety, obsession, and one woman’s slippery hold on reality.

Website

The Streetlight
The Streetlight

Director: Sophia Parella

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2024

Synopsis: A man gains a deeper understanding of purpose after helping a talking streetlight through its existential crisis.

Website

Supervenus
Supervenus

Director: Frédéric Doazan

Country of Origin: France

Defy Year: 2019

Synopsis: A surgeon creates in real time the new goddess of beauty.

Welcome to the Ball
Welcome to the Ball

Director: Adam Vincent Wright

Country of Origin: United States

Defy Year: 2019

Synopsis: A child learns sign language in hopes of making a new friend.

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Our Mission

Defy Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2016 with the goal of bringing bold and extraordinary cinematic work from around the world to East Nashville. The festival celebrates unconventional films made by filmmakers who want to defy traditions and expectations. The festival is driven by the desire to bring unknown talent from around the world to Nashville audiences that are looking for a unique cinematic experience. Defy puts the work and the artist above all else. All great art is a disruption. You can support Defy with a one-time or recurring donation, and help us continue bringing defiant films from all over the world to Nashville.

 
 
 
$
3% Cover the Fee

PHOTOGRAHY BY DANIELLE SHIELDS

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