Clarence Brown Film Festival

Many thanks to the presenters, audiences, and partners who made the Clarence Brown Film Festival such a success. Audiences of all ages were introduced or reacquainted with the art of Knoxville great Clarence Brown. 

View a brief album of highlights from the five-day Festival, held in and around downtown Knoxville at venues including the Clarence Brown Theatre, Historic Tennessee Theatre, Central Cinema, and our own East Tennessee History Center.

The celebrated director of Classical Hollywood's biggest films hailed from Old North Knoxville. Brown attended Knoxville High and graduated from UT's College of Engineering in 1910. Nominated for eight Oscars, he directed the biggest stars of the silver screen including Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Elizabeth Taylor. His impact was more than glamour. He subtly addressed social issues from women's roles to racism.

Learn more about his gift to endow the Clarence Brown Theatre at UT.

Clarence Brown in the Library catalog

Now–September 3, 2023
East Tennessee History Center

Presented by the Library and the East Tennessee Historical Society, the new exhibition Lights, Camera, East Tennessee explores Knoxville's participation and representation in moving images, from the earliest days of film to today. 

Learn more about the celebrated actors East Tennessee lays claim to, including John Cullum, Dale Dickey, Mary Costa, Christina Hendricks, Leslie Jordan, Levi Kreis, and others.