Ashfield FilmFest

08/10/2026

FRIDAY NIGHT IN HILLYWOOD…
OUR 2026 FEATURE HAS ARRIVED!!

GIRL CLIMBER

A documentary from Red Bull Studios, Louder Than 11, and Tyler Young Films - the film follows professional climber Emily Harrington as she attempts to free-climb the Golden Gate route on Yosemite’s El Capitan—in less than 24 hours.

The film has a special connection to Ashfield FilmFest. Executive Producer Galen Knowles began making award-winning films for the festival as a teenager. Proof that a five-minute movie made here in the hills can be the beginning of a much bigger journey.

Join us Friday night for the feature screening, followed by a conversation about the film. Panel participants and full details will be announced soon.

GIRL CLIMBER | Friday, September 18 | Ashfield Town Hall

The Ashfield FilmFest unfolds across two nights: Friday brings a feature documentary and post-film conversation to Town Hall.

Saturday is the Ashfield FilmFest you know and love: our flagship short-film competition, decided with the help of the audience.

Save the date and follow Ashfield FilmFest for ticket and panel announcements.

08/06/2026

https://reader.recorder.com/story/gr-grr-20260806-demo_art0000000000000000076321710/content.html

Congratulations Tony! We are so proud of you and grateful that you are part of the Ashfield FilmFest committee! You bring expertise, smarts, humor, kindness, and love to our committee and everything we do and we love you for it! 🎉🎬🎥❤️

07/29/2026

A FUN NOR’EASTER FACT:

Most of us know Nor’easters as those enormous winter storms that arrive with powerful winds and snow.
They form along the East Coast, where cold air from the north meets warmer, moisture-rich air over the Atlantic. In winter, that atmospheric disagreement can produce heavy snow, blizzards, and the sudden rush to the store for the last gallon of milk.

But “Nor’easter” doesn’t actually mean “snowstorm.” The name comes from the strong northeasterly winds.

They can happen at any time of year – they’re just much more common in winter.
So when one shows up in July, there’s no cold air to turn all that Atlantic moisture into snow.

Instead, the Hilltowns get 3.5+ inches of rain and every local filmmaker gets the perfect excuse to stay inside and edit.

Which brings us to today’s severe weather warning:

HAVE YOU FINISHED YOUR FILM YET?

The storm will pass.
The deadline will not. 🦉🌧️🎬

07/22/2026

Hillywood awaits - the Ashfield Film Festival is coming this September!

First film? Fiftieth film? Comedy, documentary, animation, music video, or a tiny cinematic experiment we don’t have a name for yet? We want to see what you can make.

New for 2026: the $500 Hillywood Award, this year celebrating a short submitted by a female filmmaker. Other cash prizes include the Audience Choice Award and Youth Prize.

Keep it to five minutes or less. Give it a connection to the hilltowns. Submit your film by August 15th.

We'll see you September 18-19th at the Ashfield Town Hall!

Know someone with a story and possibly a camera? Tag them or send them this post.

07/11/2026

Baby Cecil absolutely adores his neighbor Greg Ruth.

A solo exhibition by Greg Ruth, on view with CODA in New York City, July 2026

07/11/2026

In the summer of 2022 Erik Hoffer went for a swim in Ashfield Lake and made a film for us to watch. Show us what you want us to see together. Submit:ashfieldfilmfest.org

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/23/2026

INTRODUCING THE HILLYWOOD AWARD!

This year, the Ashfield FilmFest is launching a new cash prize honoring an outstanding short film submitted by a female filmmaker.

The theme of this special category will be announced each year, celebrating new voices and perspectives from the hilltowns.

Tag a filmmaker who should know about this and submit your film to Ashfield FilmFest: https://filmfreeway.com/AshfieldFilmFest

06/22/2026

This fall, Ashfield becomes HILLYWOOD

Join us September 18–19 for the 18th annual Ashfield FilmFest

This year, Ashfield FilmFest is launching a new cash prize honoring an outstanding short film submitted by a female filmmaker.

The theme of this special category will evolve each year, celebrating new voices and perspectives.

Stay tuned, there's more to come...

04/25/2026

Another great local film opportunity!

For Shutesbury filmmaker Samantha Rose Valletta, bringing “Watching Mr. Pearson” to the Greenfield Garden Cinemas is more than just another stop on a national tour — it’s a homecoming. Crafted by a team of New England-based creators, the film tackles the universal challenges of aging, mental...