NBPT Docu Fest

Newburyport
Documentary
Film Festival


2023 Festival dates
September 15-17th
Our 19th year

Our 2023 Film Festival Submissions are open

What filmmakers are saying

Bradley Berman

Newburyport is a wonderful festival! The town is full of smart, engaged people who love documentaries. The experiences I had at the 2022 festival are exactly why I wanted to make films--to share non-fiction stories with audiences who care and to meet other doc filmmakers.  It's a gem!

Yunhong Pu

That was a wonderful experience! As a first-time filmmaker, I felt hugely supported and welcomed. They treat the filmmakers so well and the town is very lovely and inviting! Thank you!

Daniel Maurer

It was a very good experience for me having my movie "And outside life goes on" at this very well organized and very nice festival! A very human & enthusiastic ambience. Thanks again for the special mention & all the best for the future!

Michele Noble

Newburyport is a wonderful experience for the filmmaker. A true 'filmmaker's festival'. The Festival welcomes you with very engaged audiences, dynamic programing, evening parties designed for networking. Your film is presented in an excellent way with a robust Q&A. Wonderful. Highly recommend.

Volunteers Wanted

The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is seeking volunteers for our festival events! If you're passionate about documentary filmmaking and want to be a part of an inspiring community event, we'd love to have you join us!

Volunteer Sign-up

Your invited to The Watch Club

Who’s ready for the Oscars? The Danish director Simon Lereng Wilmont is in L.A. this week, where his beautiful documentary A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS is nominated in the Best Documentary Feature Category. Shot in war-torn Ukraine before the current Russian invasion began, the film follows a tireless group of social workers who have created a magical safe space for children from broken families. We’re pleased to welcome Simon into THE WATCH CLUB for a special pre-Oscars chat to discuss the exceptional slate of documentary nominees, his own previous film about Ukraine (THE DISTANT BARKING OF DOGS), and the process of making such a hopeful film in dark times.

Watch the film on demand on Prime Video, Apple TV, and other platforms.

The Watch Club Archives

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

The 2023 YES AWARD Young Emerging-Filmmakers Showcase
First Prize:  $1,000
ENTRANCE FEE WAIVED 
OPEN TO:  FILM & MEDIA ARTS MAJORS
Current Students & Recent Graduates up to 3 Years Post-Degree
More details located
here

2022 Award recipients located here


Check out more Filmmaker Interviews here.

Riveted: The History of Jeans

Program Director James Sullivan wrote his first book on the subject of blue jeans in 2006. He's featured in a new PBS documentary. Watch here.

Our Social Media

We could not run the festival and programs
without our sponsors and your donations.

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This program is supported in part by grants from the local cultural councils of Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, and Salisbury, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Enjoy World Caliber Films in Scenic Newburyport

Every September we invite you to share in the NDF experience. Our charming seaport village is forty minutes north of Boston.

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