It was chosen in 2019, 2020 and 2021 as one of the "30 Best Genre Film Fests in the World" by MovieMaker.
[2] The Chattanooga Film Festival originated in February 2009 as a film club in Chattanooga, Tennessee known as Mise En Scenesters.
[3] The organizers of the club launched a Halloween event known as the Frightening Ass Film Festival, which led to the creation of the Chattanooga Film Festival.
[3] The 1st annual Chattanooga Film Festival took place in 2014.
[5] As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] the 7th Chattanooga Film Festival took place online as a virtual event from May 22 to May 25, 2020.