Salem Film Fest

Salem Film Fest March 26-29, 2026
The largest documentary film fest in Massachusetts. Come to Salem, see the world.

Tonight! Navigating the Film Festival Circuit: Strategy & PlanningWednesday, June 3 | 6:30–8:00 PM (Virtual)Kicking off ...
06/03/2026

Tonight! Navigating the Film Festival Circuit: Strategy & Planning

Wednesday, June 3 | 6:30–8:00 PM (Virtual)

Kicking off this two-part WIFVNE series with an essential conversation designed to help filmmakers approach the festival circuit with clarity and intention. Featuring festival experts and seasoned filmmakers, this session dives into how to strategically plan your festival run—what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to turn screenings into real momentum.

We’ll explore:

- Choosing the right festivals for your film
- What makes a submission stand out
- Common mistakes filmmakers make
- How to evaluate festival value and fit
- Building momentum and leveraging screenings toward distribution opportunities

Whether you’re preparing your first submission or refining your strategy, this session offers practical, actionable insights into what actually moves the needle for your film.

Pricing (per session):
$10 WIFVNE Members
$15 WIFT-US Members (email [email protected] for CODE)
$20 Non-Member - Public

Register here: https://www.wifvne.org/event-6645383

Location: Online via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

Four screening venues welcomed over 2000 filmgoers with open arms for this years Fest.Our heartfelt thanks to:Peabody Es...
04/23/2026

Four screening venues welcomed over 2000 filmgoers with open arms for this years Fest.

Our heartfelt thanks to:

Peabody Essex Museum
Cinema Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Salem Access Television

The Last Yztari, which was part of our Docs-In-Progress program at Salem Film Fest 2025, will be making it's world premi...
04/22/2026

The Last Yztari, which was part of our Docs-In-Progress program at Salem Film Fest 2025, will be making it's world premiere at Independent Film Festival Boston this Thursday, April 23 at 8:30pm!

The film follows Mary Dague, an Iraq War veteran who rebuilds her sense of self through fiction—creating a world that can hold what real life cannot. We’re proud to have been part of this film’s journey and can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Docs-In-Progress was created out of the desire to connect with our regional nonfiction filmmakers, provide a space for meaningful feedback, and connect with audiences and creative peers.

Congratulations to co-directors Tim O'Donnell and Sam Oldmeadow, producer Jeff Schmidt, and the whole team! Tickets available here: https://iffboston.org/events/thelastyztari/

Events throughout the weekend brought our community together and kept the conversations going well beyond the screenings...
04/21/2026

Events throughout the weekend brought our community together and kept the conversations going well beyond the screenings.

We’re especially grateful to the incredible local businesses who supported the Fest and opened their doors to us — truly becoming our home away from home.

East Regiment Beer Company, photographed by Shane Corcoran
Front Street Coffeehouse, Salem MA, photographed by Honey & Sage Photo Co.
Gulu-Gulu Cafe, photographed by Honey and Sage Co
Salem Wine Imports, photographed by Shane Corcoran
Longboards Restaurant & Bar, photographed by Tom Manning
Old Town Hall, photographed by Shane Corcoran

No SFF award is ever the same. Each year, unique awards are created my local artists, and end up all over the world.Spec...
04/19/2026

No SFF award is ever the same. Each year, unique awards are created my local artists, and end up all over the world.

Special Jury Award: Scott Lanes
Award for Journalism: Sue Grillo
American Cinematographer Magazine Award: Jack Walsh
Cultrera Cuts Edit Award: Arlene Browne
Audience Award: Melynn Nuite
Best Short Award : M. Patrick O’Donnell
Mass Reality Check Award: Richard Flynn
Keeping It Reel Award: Peter Grimshaw

Thank you to our incredible artists, and to 19 years of one-of-a-kind awards!

Photos by Shane Corcoran

Still thinking about these three incredible World Premieres from this year’s Salem Film Fest:Screened in Shorts Program ...
04/17/2026

Still thinking about these three incredible World Premieres from this year’s Salem Film Fest:

Screened in Shorts Program SO CLOSE, SO FAR: ARTS AND CULTURE IN OUR HOMETOWNS, sponsored by All Souls Lounge, John J Walsh Insurance Agency, Notch Brewing, Destination Salem, Massachusetts , and The Feline Hospital.

TORNADO TASTES LIKE ALUMINUM STING
Directed by Harmon dot aut & James Rutenbeck
A bold, sensory-driven work that pushed the boundaries of form and storytelling, this film brought audiences into the creative world of an autistic, q***r, nonbinary playwright whose voice feels entirely their own. It was a powerful reminder of why we champion artists working outside the margins—and how transformative that work can be when shared in community.

SOUND & COLOR
Directed by Alissa Fagin
A deeply personal exploration of synesthesia, this film follows artist Sarah Kraning as she works with filmmakers to translate her experience of sound into visual form. The result is both technically inventive and emotionally intimate—offering audiences a rare window into perception, collaboration, and the creative process.

Screened in Shorts Program TOGETHER, STORIES OF OUR COLLECTIVE POWERS, sponsored by House of Four Gables Airbnb, Amelia Payson House, Mass Bay Dental, and John J Walsh Insurance.

BARRIGA LLENA, CORAZÓN CONTENTO (FULL BELLY, HAPPY HEART)
Directed by Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg & Marshall Hanig
This moving portrait of a grassroots food pantry in Queens grounded us in care, resilience, and the power of mutual aid. Through stories of migration and shared meals, it captured the everyday labor that sustains communities—and the deep connections that grow from it.

We’re grateful to have shared these films with Salem audiences for the very first time.

Photos by Shane Corcoran, Honey & Sage Photo Co. .

Salem Film Fest 2026... certainly one for the books.As we recover from an action-packed Fest, we're starting our recaps ...
04/16/2026

Salem Film Fest 2026... certainly one for the books.

As we recover from an action-packed Fest, we're starting our recaps with a shout out to this incredible organizer team.

With four days of screenings, 54 filmmakers in attendance, and events from morning until night, this team rallied to welcome our community at screenings and parties across our little city.

To the organizers pictured here and so many more who helped behind the scenes... thank you, thank you, thank you!

Photo by Tom Manning

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