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.https://lookoutfilmfestival.org/ LWFF is a member of the Film Festival Alliance.
History LWFF originated in 2013. The LWFF is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and has an elected Board of Directors.
In 2013 and 2014 LWFF was held in the Centennial Theater at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel.
In 2015 the LWFF moved to the Robert Kirk Walker Theater in the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium.
In 2019 the LWFF moved to the Tivoli Theater.
In 2020 the LWFF added a Photography Competition.
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, every Friday during the Nightfall Music Series.
In 2022, 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) Sunny Yang (2023), Lane Lamoreaux (2024) and Mike Adair (2025). 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, due to renovations at the Tivoli, LWFF returned to the Walker Theater. The festival featured the world premieres of two films: "Greybeard - The Man, The Myth, The Mississippi" and "A Dream of Flying". 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. LWFF also released a craft beer called Watch This through Wanderlinger Brewing Company as a fundraiser for the festival.
In 2024, LWFF showed more than 60 films from around the world including 4 locally focused films. LWFF hosted the world premier of "Flowing Air" from Big Cedar Media. 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) 2019 4000 Tivoli Theater 2020 4400 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 Theater20244200Robert Kirk Walker Theater20254000The Signal 2026 ~ U.T.C. Fine Arts Center - Hayes Hall 2027 ~ U.T.C. Fine Arts Center - Hayes Hall & Ward 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.
Stoney Award Recipients 2021 - Dale 'Greybeard' Sanders (Source to Sea) 2022 - Sunny 'Nimblewill Nomad' Eberhart (The Last Last Hike) 2023 - Sunny Yang (The Crux) 2024 - Lane Lamoreaux (Flowing Air) 2025 - Mike Adair (Trash Panda) 2026 - Rob Shaver (The Life We Have)
Loggy award Winners
2026
Best Short film - Scraped Knees Best Feature film - A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides Best Southeastern film - Shut Up Legs, We Skiing Bama! Best Adventure film - 2 Legs is 2 Easy Best Environmental film - A Guide To Fighting For Wild Rivers Best Documentary film - Best Day Ever
2025
Best Short film - Unseen Peaks Best Feature film - Climbing into Life Best Southeastern film - Climb Malawi Best Adventure film - A Little Bit Different Best Environmental film - The Grand Salmon Best Documentary film - Girls Riding High
2024
Best Short film - The Balkans Mirage Best Feature film - Full Circle Best Southeastern film - A Couple of Screws Loose Best Adventure film - Earthside Best Environmental film - Clear Day Thunder Best Documentary film - Yamnuska - A Ragged Edge Best Exploration award - Subterranean Director's Award - Champions of the Golden Valley
2023
Best Short film - Crux Best Feature film - Not Alone Best Southeastern film - Dream Of Flying Best Exploration film - Truth And Dignity Project Best Adventure film - The Illness Best Environmental film - If You Give A Beach A Bottle Best Documentary film - Elevated
2022
Best Short film - Best Feature film - The River Runner Best Southeastern film - The Last Last Hike Best Adventure film - Out of the Blue Best Environmental film - Katie Best Documentary film -
2021
Best Short film - Camel Find Water Best Feature film - High Hopes Best Southeastern film - Bigger Than Me Best Adventure film - Mount Logan Best Environmental film - I Am Vital Best Documentary film - People of Water
2020
Best Short film - Burro Best Feature film - Zabardast Best Southeastern film - Gone Tomorrow: Kentucky Ice Climbing Best Adventure film - RJ Ripper Best Environmental film - Into the Canyon Best Documentary film - Pathfinder
2019
Best Short film - A New View of the Moon Best Feature film - Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey Best Southeastern film - Safe Haven Best Adventure film - The Frenchy Best Environmental film - Bears of Durango Best Documentary film - How to Run 100 Miles
2018
Best Short film - Best Feature film - Best Southeastern film - Best Adventure film - Best Environmental film - Best Documentary film -
2017
Best Short film - Mile 19 Best Feature film - Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World Best Southeastern film - Best Adventure film - Best Environmental film - Best Documentary film -
2016
Best Short film - Denali Best Feature film - Unbranded Best Exploration film - Climbing Ice Best Adventure film - The Mont Rebei Project Best Environmental film - Martin’s Boat Best Documentary film - The Great Alone Best Timelapse - Eastern Skies
2015
Best Short film - Slomo Best Feature film - And Then We Swam Best Adventure film - Sufferfest II Best Exploration film - Nobody’s River Best Environmental film - Delta Dawn Best Documentary film - Mending The Line Directors Choice Award - The Last Dragons
2014
Best Short film - Bike Lanes Best Feature film - Congo: The Grand Inga Project Best Adventure film - Sea of Rock Best Exploration film - North of the Sun Best Environmental film - Stand Best Documentary film - Who Owns Water?
2013
Best Short film - Best Feature film - Best Southeastern film - Kudzu Vine Best Adventure film - Cascada Best Environmental film - Best Documentary film -
Notable films The Alpinist The River Runner Greybeard - The Man, The Myth, The Mississippi (World Premier) A Dream of Flying (World Premier) Flowing Air (World Premier)
References
External links
https://lookoutfilmfestival.org/ https://LWFF.org/