PRESS RELEASE
July 8, 2025

Montgomery Film Festival Unveils 2025 Lineup for 16th Edition



7 features, 20+ shorts, and a live horror remix — August 1–3 at the Capri Theatre.



Montgomery, AL — The Montgomery Film Festival returns August 1–3, 2025, for its 16th edition, bringing a bold lineup of new independent films, curated shorts, and a one-night-only live performance to the Capri Theatre. With 7 feature films, 20+ shorts, and a focus on both regional roots and artistic risk-taking, MFF16 offers a deep dive into the adventurous voices shaping contemporary cinema. The full festival schedule can be found at montgomeryfilmfestival.com and mff16.eventive.org/schedule. 

Opening night begins with Alabama Ties, a showcase of shorts made in or by filmmakers from the state—including Searching for Simorgh, a Montgomery-set portrait of artists and identity. Friday evening continues with Montopolis Presents Ghost Almanac, a high-energy live remix of classic horror clips scored with analog synths and live foley.

Saturday highlights three films with strong Alabama connections:

- The Spirit of Halloweentown, directed by Alabama natives Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb, captures the transformation of St. Helens, Oregon into a Halloween mecca.

- The World Drops Dead, the latest feature from Alabama filmmaker Brandon Colvin, is a quietly resonant story of grief and spiritual reach.

- Sun Ra: Do the Impossible, a brand-new documentary on the legendary Alabama-born jazz visionary Sun Ra, recently premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2025, and now screens for the first time in the state.

Saturday night culminates in a tribute screening of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, while Sunday wraps the weekend with Slamdance standout Fanboy, the genre-blending comedy-horror Dead Lover, and the Alabama premiere of Cloud, a chilling new thriller from Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure, Pulse).

Tickets and weekend passes are available now via the Capri Theatre and at montgomeryfilmfestival.com.

Festival Highlights:

  • Opening Night Live Event: Montopolis Presents Ghost Almanac – Horror remix + live music/foley (Fri, Aug 1, 8pm)
  • Features with Alabama Connections:
  • The Spirit of Halloweentown – Directed by Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb (Sat, Aug 2, 12pm)
  • The World Drops Dead – From Alabama filmmaker Brandon Colvin (Sat, Aug 2, 2pm)
  • Sun Ra: Do the Impossible – Tribeca-premiered doc on the Alabama-born jazz icon (Sat, Aug 2, 6pm)
  • Retrospective Screening: Mulholland Drive – In tribute to David Lynch (Sat, Aug 2, 8pm)
  • Indie & Festival Favorites – Slamdance-premiered Fanboy (Sun, Aug 3, 1pm), Sundance comedy-horror hit Dead Lover (Sun, Aug 3, 3pm)
  • International Premiere: Cloud – A new thriller by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Sun, Aug 3, 7pm)
  • Curated Shorts Blocks: Alabama Ties, Coast to Coast, Strange Visions

About the Montgomery Film Festival


Founded in 2009, the Montgomery Film Festival curates bold, independent cinema from Alabama and around the world. With a focus on filmmakers, regional connection, and discovery, MFF offers an intimate filmgoing experience in the heart of the Deep South.