If you happen to be visiting Nashville April 17-24 (or heck, if you don't have anything going on that weekend, I know of an airline that might can get you there), you must visit the Nashville Film Festival. Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of the festival and this year is shaping up to be one fantastic event.

Steven Schachter's THE DEAL, starring William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, and LL Cool J, will open the 39th Nashville Film Festival (NaFF) on April 17, 2008 at Regal Green Hills Cinema. The Festival also will include the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary actress Patricia Neal by singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett honoring Neal’s film and humanitarian work. The complete presentation will include a screening of the classic HUD and a Q&A with Neal.

THE WRECKING CREW, a documentary directed by Denny Tedesco about the famed group of session musicians who backed nearly all the hits made in Los Angeles in the 1960s, will close the festival on April 24 with members of the Crew in attendance. After the screening kick out the jams and celebrate another great festival at the Cannery Ballroom with live music by Wrecking Crew musicians plus some very special guests.

AND….in true Southwest style, we are giving one lucky film festival attendee a chance to win a trip to Vegas. Check out this video to learn more about the “DING! You are Now Free to Create a Film” contest in which someone will jet off to Vegas to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 18 and….here’s the cool part, film their own documentary while hanging out with ACM nominated group, Emerson Drive.We hope you might consider a visit to Music City in April! We’d love to see you at the Nashville Film Festival. Click here for more information on the movies that will be at the festival.