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…