It’s almost that time: Chattanooga Film Festival is right around the corner, and with it comes a fresh wave of films meant to terrify, delight, and probably confuse. The festival’s just announced the second wave of movies appearing at this year’s unlucky thirteenth annual event, featuring everything from evil monks to skeletal pizza delivery drivers and more.
The festival opens on June 18 with Gregg Araki’s new film I Want Your Sex, starring Cooper Hoffman and Olivia Wilde, kicking off a chaotic lineup that also includes Photo Negative, the festival’s official centerpiece selection for 2026, and a closing night that sees the world premiere of Night of the Vamp-Friars, an ode to classic vampire films featuring undead monks and presented by the folks at Vinegar Syndrome and Circle Collective.
But that’s not all the festival has lined up for this year. Also on the docket are Orfeo, Virgilio Villoresi’s retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, the religious horror Blood Shine, and the murder mystery romp Misper, all on an extensive list that also includes Big City Pizza, The Peril at Pincer Point, Frogman Returns, and the US premiere of Don’t Forget the Oatmeal.
All of this is topped off by a live storytelling experience from author Clay McLeod Chapman, who returns to the festival this year with a focus on his new short story collection, Acquired Taste. The raucous event is an annual fest favorite that’s sure to be the cherry on top of the beloved festival, and will be followed by a book signing, courtesy of the folks at A Little Bookish.
“The world is a mess,” says festival director and lead film programmer Chris Dortch II. “We’re at war, drowning in billionaire BS, getting force-fed AI and ads and toxic manosphere misinformation, and that simply won’t do. At times like this, kindness, community and creativity are all we have. At CFF we strive to be the acid-dipped antidote to the red carpet-choked landscape of modern film festivals.
“We don’t care about studios, we’re increasingly bored by the notion of celebrity and we know that now more than ever community is the key to getting through all this. We hope all the incredible fans, friends and filmmakers that have supported our event over the years will join us for year 13. We can certainly all use a little good old fashioned escapism.”
This year’s Chattanooga Film Festival runs from June 18 to 27. You can check out the full lineup below, and head to the festival’s website for more information and to purchase tickets.
OPENING NIGHT FILM – I WANT YOUR SEX (d. Gregg Araki)
Presented by Magnolia Pictures
When fresh-faced Elliot (Cooper Hoffman) lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provocateur Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), his fantasies come true as Erika taps him to become her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds himself out of his depth as Erika takes him on a journey more profound than he ever could have imagined, into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal and murder.CLOSING NIGHT FILM – NIGHT OF THE VAMP-FRIARS (d. Kurtis M. Spieler)
WORLD PREMIERE
Presented by Circle Collective and Vinegar Syndrome Pictures
A punk band discovers a hidden cemetery in the woods where a group of Friars were killed and buried because the townspeople believed they were vampires. After blood is accidentally spilled on the hallowed ground, the undead Friars rise from their graves to seek fresh victims.CENTERPIECE FILM – PHOTO NEGATIVE (d. Jacob Perrett)
WORLD PREMIERE
Presented by Art Brut Films
A struggling forensic photographer develops an unhealthy business relationship with a wealthy couple whose requests grow increasingly sinister.BIG BABY (d. Spider One)
A nightmare involving a maniac killer in a baby mask serves as inspiration for horror screenwriter Adam Lewis's new script. As more nightmares, visions, and real life terror begin to challenge Adam's sanity, he finds himself in a desperate struggle to control his writing, his reality, and who will be Big Baby's next victim.BIG CITY PIZZA (d. Dusty Saunders)
As tension rises in the big city for the Omniball Championship, Boney, a skeleton pizza delivery man starts his shift. Animated entirely from Boney’s POV in one continuous, unbroken take, we follow his delivery route where every stop is weirder than the last.BLOOD SHINE (d. Emily Bennett & Justin Brooks)
Presented by Dark Sky Films
In her remote country home, a religious zealot takes a young filmmaker captive, claiming her sadistic rituals will change him into a god.DON’T FORGET THE OATMEAL (d. Olivier Godin)
U.S. PREMIERE
The Barbarian believes he has only a few erections left before death. Cursed to a life in a thrift shop and haunted by family tragedy, he sets his sights on Marie, an alcoholic special-ed teacher. If he must go, he figures, he might as well go out in good company.FROGMAN RETURNS (d. Anthony Cousins)
There’s unfinished business in Loveland. Dallas, Amy and Frogman are back to settle the score.MISPER (d. Harry Sherriff)
The employees of a dying seaside hotel have their lives upended when their colleague, Elle, vanishes. Instead of focusing on the police investigation or Elle’s close family, the story delves into the psychological impact on Leonard and his co-workers. In stark contrast to sensationalised true crime narratives that capture media attention, the film explores the creeping dread that threatens to overwhelm Leonard.ORFEO (d. Virgilio Villoresi)
Presented by Oscilloscope Laboratories
A pianist falls for a mysterious woman who vanishes into a supernatural realm. Following her through a doorway, he encounters fantastical beings and must navigate a dreamlike afterlife to find her, guided by music and memories.THE PERIL AT PINCER POINT (d. Jake Kuhn & Noah Stratton-Twine)
Jim Baitte, a layabout sound designer desperate to prove himself, is working on a new horror flick from the tyrannical yet lauded B-movie director P.W. Griffin. Accused of lacking vision and creative courage, Jim is sent to the remote island where the film was shot to capture a sound powerful enough to elevate the film's finale. Once there, eerie local fables surface. F
or years, ambitious and headstrong youth have lost their souls to a ghostly sea captain for his spectral crew. As Jim entangles himself further into the bizarre locals, scenery, and prophecy, he can’t help but ponder the ever-confirming legend, and recording it might just cost him more than his career.CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN: ACQUIRED TASTE
Startling, witty and downright terrifying collection of 25 short stories from the “21st century's Richard Matheson” (Richard Chizmar, Chasing the Boogeyman.) Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay, Rachel Harrison and Eric LaRocca. They're feeding on you too. A father returns from serving in Vietnam with a strange and terrifying addiction; a man removes something horrifying from his fireplace, and becomes desperate to return it; and a right-wing news channel has its hooks in people in more ways than one.
From department store Santas to ghost boyfriends and salamander-worshipping nuns; from the claustrophobia of the Covid-19 pandemic to small-town Chesapeake USA, Clay McLeod Chapman takes universal fears of parenthood, addiction and political divisions and makes them uniquely his own. Packed full of humanity, humour and above all, relentless creeping dread, Acquired Taste is a timely descent into the mind of one of modern horror's finest authors.
