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Newburyport
Documentary
Film
Festival
NBPT DOCU FEST
We are the Filmmakers' Film Festival
September 25-27, 2026
Submissions for our 2026 Festival are now open
Submissions for our 2026 Festival are now open, and we would love for you to submit new work and remain part of our growing filmmaking community. Please feel free to share the news with your fellow filmmakers as well—we welcome their voices, too.
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As we begin the New Year, we wish you happiness, good health, and continued creativity. We look forward to staying connected and to discovering the powerful, inspiring stories you’ll bring to life in the year ahead.
THE WATCH CLUB
We’ve seen a lot of documentaries over the years that tackle the hard subject of death and dying, but we’ve never seen anything like ANDRE IS AN IDIOT. Andre Ricciardi was a free-spirited advertising guy in San Francisco who neglected to get a colonoscopy when he turned 50. Two years later, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.
Rather than despairing, Andre convinced his friends Tony Benna (director) and Lee Einhorn (producer) to make a film about his struggle with his illness. Often hilarious, it’s also a feature-length PSA of sorts: Get you damn colonoscopy!
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After an award-winning premiere at Sundance in 2025, the film had a theatrical run earlier this year. To mark its streaming debut, we’re excited to welcome Tony and Lee to talk about their late friend and his irreverent cautionary tale.
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Watch ANDRE IS AN IDIOT, now streaming on Prime Video, Apple TV, and other platforms. Then make plans to join us in THE WATCH CLUB for a live Q&A with director Tony Benna and producer Lee Einhorn at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 27. Or watch the interview anytime afterward on our YouTube channel.
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THE WATCH CLUB: ANDRE IS AN IDIOT
What is THE WATCH CLUB?
Our 2025 Festival Winners
BEST FEATURE FILM: NIGHT FIGHT
Director: Khary Saeed Jones
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BEST SHORT FILM: POPPY CRASH
Director: Andalusia K. Soloff
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BEST NEW ENGLAND FEATURE FILM: UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG
Directors: Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alex Wolf Lewis
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BEST NEW ENGLAND SHORT FILM: DUKAKIS: RECIPE FOR DEMOCRACY
Directors: Erin Trahan, Jeff Schmidt
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BEST FIRST TIME FEATURE FILM: THE OPENER
Director: Jeff Toye
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THE DAVID KLEILER CINEPHILE AWARD: THE PAINTED LIFE OF GREGORY GILLESPIE
Director: Evan Goodchild
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AUDIENCE AWARD: CHECKPOINT ZOO
Director: Joshua Zeman
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2025 YES Award winner: METTLE
Directors: Surabhi Sundaram & Chelsea Casabona
Columbia University School of Journalism’s Master’s Program
Our 2025 Program
Photo History
Our Sponsors
The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is supported in part by grants from the local cultural councils of the surrounding towns as well as our local sponsors.
If you would like to become a sponsor, please visit our Sponsors page
