FAQ

Frequently asked questions

We heard you — and we’re delivering. 
  • No huge ticket-company service fees.
  • A massive screen: 200% larger than last year.
  • Luxury theater-style seating. No temporary chairs! 
  • Parking made easy: free, covered, steps away.

Join us for an unforgettable weekend, made possible with the help of our partners and volunteers. We’re taking what you love about LWFF and making it even better!

What are the Festival Dates?

The 14th annual LWFF will take place January 15th -18th, 2026

 

The 14th annual Lookout Wild Film festival will be held in the Roland W. Hayes Hall at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center.

 

Tickets go on sale to the public on Black Friday, November 28 at 10:00am. on the LWFF.org website, on the UTC Fine Arts Center box office website or the box office at 752 Vine Street, Chattanooga (Monday-Friday, 11am – 4pm)

Subscribers to our LWFF.org mailing list get a one-week early-bird head start with discounted tickets beginning November 21 at 10:00am. 
Early-bird quantities are limited, and tickets won’t last long—make sure you’re signed up.

 

Getting to the Festival 

  • Staying with one of our lodging partners? Lucky you!  Your accommodations will include a LWFF Welcome pack with details on how to attend the many LWFF events.
  • If the weather is nice and you’re feeling adventurous, you can rent a bike, e-bike, or scooter from one of 40+ stations citywide. Check out the Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System at www.bikechattanooga.com. 
  • If you want to ride your bike, first, good for you and second, there will be bike racks available.
  • If a car is your preferred mode of transportation, we will have covered parking garage lots available as well as free parking lots steps from the venue. On-street parking will be available as well, but limited.

Where to Stay

If you are looking for a place to stay while in Chattanooga, please check out our lodging sponsors who graciously support our festival and offer special discounts for LWFF attendees. Call directly and mention LWFF to receive your discount.

  • Luxury and Convenient – The Mayor’s Mansion.  Located just one block from the venue is one of Chattanooga’s most historic mansions that has been lovingly restored into a timeless classic B&B.
    • 801 Vine St. Chattanooga, TN 37403
    • 423-265-5000
    • www.mayorsmansioninn.com
    • Mention ‘LWFF’ when reserving a room for special rates
  • Upscale ‘Green’ Hostel – The Crash Pad – A base camp and community hub for adventurous travelers, located only 0.3 miles from the festival. This is a great option for those who want to stay close by in a budget-friendly and unique way.  
    • 29 Johnson St. Chattanooga, TN 37408
    • 423-648-8393
    • www.crashpadchattanooga.com
    • Mention ‘LWFF’ when reserving a room over the phone for 20% off.  Ask for Will if you have any questions. 
  •  Peaceful and Private – St. Francis Cottage – The Cottage is a serene bed-and-breakfast in Chattanooga’s East Brainerd suburb.  The cottage offers a tranquil urban retreat with restful rooms, nourishing meals, and personalized hospitality from Wallace and Nancy.

LWFF is happy to support our community partners.

  • WaterWays – WaterWays empowers community members to protect and restore our waterways where we live, work and play. Our goal is clean water for healthy communities!
    • https://mywaterways.org
  • Mountain Goat Trail Alliance –  The Mountain Goat Trail offers safe, healthy outdoor activity, cultural opportunities, and economic development potential to both residents and visitors to the South Cumberland Plateau.
    • https://www.mountaingoattrail.org/
  • Southeast Conservation Corps – (SECC), operates conservation service programs throughout the Southeast that focus on meeting the needs of the natural landscapes while empowering people to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.
    • https://southeastconservationcorps.org/
  • Outdoor Chattanooga – Outdoor Chattanooga is a unique division of the City of Chattanooga’s Parks and Outdoors Department. Our mission is to spark a contagious love of the outdoors through adventure and action sports, nature exploration, and community partnerships.
    • https://outdoorchattanooga.com/
  • Friends of South Cumberland State Parks  – The Friends of the Parks is dedicated to supporting and expanding more than 33,000 acres in the three state parks of the South Cumberland Plateau — Savage Gulf, South Cumberland, and Head of the Crow — representing one of the largest areas of protected pristine wilderness in Tennessee. Our goal is to inform, educate, engage, and inspire people to protect, conserve, and enjoy all the resources of the parks.
    • https://www.friendsofsouthcumberland.org/
  • Tennessee River Gorge Trust -To conserve a healthy Tennessee River Gorge as a community treasure for generations.  
    • https://www.trgt.org
  • WTCI-PBS – WTCI supports the activities of independent producers and the great work of LWFF. We want to promote the craft of production, broadcast and our mission, WTCI enriches lives through quality programs and services that educate, engage, and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration.
    • https://www.wtcitv.org/
  • Southeastern Climbers Coalition – Preserving access to outdoor climbing in the southeast for present and future generations. 
    • https://www.seclimbers.org/
  • National Park Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Moccasin Bend – We grow Chattanooga’s national park legacy by connecting residents and visitors to the places and stories that shaped our city. https://nppcha.org/
  • SORBA Chattanooga – SORBA Chattanooga’s mission is to improve and maintain trail access in the greater Chattanooga area to ensure everyone has access to the mental, physical, and social benefits mountain biking provides.
  • North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy – Preserving the natural treasure that is the North Chick watershed and promoting recreational access for hikers, swimmers, climbers, mountain bikers, fishermen, and paddlers.
    • https://www.northchick.org/
  • Climate Action Plan Community Committee – We are partnering with green|spaces and the City of Chattanooga to help implement the community related Strategies and Actions in the Chattanooga Climate Action Plan.

    • https://chattanooga.gov/government/city-planning/sustainability/climate-plan

Make the most of your time in downtown Chattanooga by expanding your festival experience. Arrive to the area early, stay late, or take a break between film sessions and visit our experience partners listed below.

  • WTCI and the Chattanooga Filmmakers Guild will be on site recording filmmaker Interviews and audience Q&A 
  • Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before screenings to fully enjoy the festival. 
  • Please silence your cell phones and refrain from using devices with lit screens. 
  • Remove any hats or caps that may block another’s view.
  • Do not take unauthorized photographs or recordings during screenings.
  • Clean up your space before you leave. (Leave No Trace can apply indoors as well!)

As passionate advocates for the environment, we are dedicated to minimizing our footprint and promoting sustainable practices. Throughout the festival, you’ll find us using recyclable and compostable materials, striving to reduce waste, and conserving resources wherever possible. Join us in our commitment to preserving the natural world for future generations to explore and enjoy. We have partnered with New Terra Compost to not only have recyclable products, but compostable products for food and beverages

Event Accessibility

We strive to make our event as accessible as possible. Please email us at info@lwff.org and let us know in advance if you have any particular needs.

  • The venue is wheelchair accessible to seating locations in the front and the rear of the venue.
  • Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available from both locations.
  • Special needs parking is available with your permit.
  • Service animals: Guide dogs or service animals, as defined under federal ADA Guidelines, are allowed at the festival. Guide dogs and service animals must remain with the owner at all times. Pets are not allowed at the venue.
  • If you require wheelchair and companion seating, please arrive at least 45 minutes in advance of showtime and notify one of our volunteers or ushers, so we can assist you as needed. You may also contact our volunteer coordinator in advance to make arrangements.