This week for What Where When-sday our special guest is Lauren Thelen, director of programming for the Nashville Film Festival. The event is turning 54 this year, making it one of the oldest film festivals in the U.S. It was started by Mary Jane Coleman in 1969, and originally called the Sinking Creek Film Festival. Thelen says it’s worked it’s way through different iterations over the years before it became the Nashville Film Festival we know and love today. 

The Nashville Film Festival begins this Thursday, September 28, and runs through October 4 with several panels, music showcases (including one with former WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month Tim Gent) and films featuring artists like Tierra Whack, Alicia Keys and Gloria Gaynor.

More highlights this week include WNXP Presents singer/songwriter Kate Bollinger at The Blue Room on Sunday, and at the same venue on Monday you can catch Chicago-based band Deeper. Janelle Monae brings her “Art of Pleasure” tour to the Ryman on Tuesday. You can find more events below and anytime at wnxp.org/events.