Mary Jane Coleman who founded Sinking Creek Film Festival in 1969, which would become what is now known as the Nashville Film Festival in 1998, has died.

Nashville's festival is not only the oldest in the South, it's one of the oldest in the nation. The Greeneville Sun includes this quote in their writeup:

In a June 1987 interview with The Greeneville Sun, she explained why she created the festival.

"There was an international festival in Atlanta, but I wasn't interested in that. I have no time to promote Hollywood films.

"Independents use film as an artistic tool, and express themselves in their films -- things like injustices being done, documentaries.

"There was no festival in the South for independent film-makers, so I decided to try to do one."

Mary Jane Coleman died June 19, 2010 at her home in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Announcement on Nashville Film Festival Site - NashvilleFilmFesival.org

Mary Jane Coleman Dies; Pioneer In Boosting Indep. Films - Greenevillesun.com

Film festival founder Mary Jane Coleman dies - WKRN.com