News and Events

The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is held every September in a charming seaport village 40 minutes north of Boston. For 14 years we have been committed to bringing the highest caliber documentary films to our community. In addition to screenings all weekend at two historic venues, we also hold filmmaker receptions, after-parties, panel discussions, Q&As and workshops. Most of the filmmakers attend and our audience loves to meet them! We provide two nights lodging at a local B&B and go out of our way to keep you well-fed.

DOCU@HOME - OSCAR ISSUE

The January list of great documentaries to watch at home. Take a look at our list and then make your own suggestions or add comments about the films.

NBPT Docu@Home offers documentary recommendations to watch at home - from both our group of enthusiastic volunteers and from the community of documentary lovers.

Letter from Masanjia won the Audience Award at the recent Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. The film played to a full house at the Firehouse Center. When an American mom discovers an SOS note stashed in a package from Kmart, she never imagines it will lead to the closure of Masanjia, China’s most notorious labor camp. When news of the note goes viral, the writer, a Chinese engineer who had been jailed for his spiritual beliefs, fears for his life and his family’s safety. Realizing the spotlight is a chance to further expose the brutality of the Chinese regime, he decides to make a film about the harsh reality of being a human rights defender in China, risking his life in the process. Attending the festival was film maker Leon Lee and some of his answers to audience questions were simply mind-blowing.

After an incredible weekend filled with so many amazing films, we have made a decisions on which film's have been awarded best Feature, Short, New-England Film, First-Time Filmmaker, Audience Award, and Special Jury Cinephile Award.

Local filmmaker Fiona Turner will screen a film currently in production Eat Up which looks at nutrition in Boston Public Schools.

A collaboration between the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and RAW Art Works. Five student-created short films will screen with an audience Q&A after each one. The best film will be selected by Erin Trahan, one of the festival judges, and will be announced at the close of the event!

On Tuesday, August 21, come to the second floor of the Grog to a first-hand glimpse at the film line-up for this year’s festival!