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Newburyport Documentary Film Festival NBPT DOCU FEST JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit September 25-27 We are the Filmmakers' Film Festival Countdown to the festival Get your tickets Preview Event Sold Out We SOLD OUT early! A standby line will be available at the Firehouse Center for the Arts on September 10th at 6:45 PM. Any seats remaining unclaimed by ticket holders will be released on a first-come, first-served basis. Check to see if Preview Event tickets are available 2026 FESTIVAL JUDGES Judges' Bios Judges' Bios 2026 YES JUDGES (Young Emerging-Filmmakers Showcase) Judges' Bios THE WATCH CLUB THE WATCH CLUB: MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” It may be the most famous line written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver, who died in 2019 at age 83. MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD, one of the year’s most acclaimed documentaries, premieres Tuesday on PBS. Featuring an abundance of home movies and readings by admirers including Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, and Oprah Winfrey, this moving film casts the poet’s work as far more than the coffee mug platitudes that critics some have claimed it to be. She was a mystic, says one commentator; radical, says another. “A beatnik,” as her friend and fellow longtime Provincetown resident John Waters says. Whether Oliver’s poetry has been a balm for you or you think you don’t like poetry at all, this film will open your eyes. Watch MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD, streaming beginning Tuesday, August 25 on PBS American Masters. Watch the interview anytime afterward on our YouTube channel. Watch the interview What is THE WATCH CLUB? Keep the conversation going throughout the year in THE WATCH CLUB. It's like a book club, but for documentaries. Each month we'll recommend a new documentary to stream, then invite you to join us on YouTube and Facebook for a live online Q&A with the filmmaker. Archive Our 2025 Festival Winners BEST FEATURE FILM: NIGHT FIGHT Director: Khary Saeed Jones BEST SHORT FILM: POPPY CRASH Director: Andalusia K. Soloff BEST NEW ENGLAND FEATURE FILM: UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG Directors: Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alex Wolf Lewis BEST NEW ENGLAND SHORT FILM: DUKAKIS: RECIPE FOR DEMOCRACY Directors: Erin Trahan, Jeff Schmidt BEST FIRST TIME FEATURE FILM: THE OPENER Director: Jeff Toye THE DAVID KLEILER CINEPHILE AWARD: THE PAINTED LIFE OF GREGORY GILLESPIE Director: Evan Goodchild AUDIENCE AWARD: CHECKPOINT ZOO Director: Joshua Zeman 2025 YES Award winner: METTLE Directors: Surabhi Sundaram & Chelsea Casabona Columbia University School of Journalism’s Master’s 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 GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Our Sponsors supporting the Newburyport Documentary FIlm Festival Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors and Donors! Producer Sponsor Crew Sponsors Supporting Cast Sponsors Film Sponsors Thank You to Our Donors Pam Burch & David Ives Thomas & Barbara Crays The Dowd Freundlich Family Fund at ImpactAssets Thomas & Kathleen Droste George Araneo Barbara Keeler Mark Davis & Jane Niebling Vin Cipolla and Celine McDonald Brian Sullivan & Heidi Erdmann-Sullivan The Bastian and Oscar Giving Fund Claire Papanastasiou Lynn Peters Past Sponsors Illume Books Brine Oyster Bar Loretta Primary Financial Advisors Sea Level Oyster Bar NU Kitchen DeGeorge Home Improvements Stone Ridge Properties Essex Street Inn Touchstone Closing Sustain Boutique Institution for Savings Amesbury Cultural Council Newburyport Cultural Council Massachusetts Cultural Council Become part of the local documentary community The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival (NDFF) is a non-profit independent organization that relies on contributions and in-kind support from a range of sponsors. By advertising with or sponsoring NDFF, you’ll align your company’s brand with an established New England cultural event that reaches a range of stakeholders. NDFF is now more visible than ever, established as one of the preeminent social and cultural events North of Boston, as well as launching very popular year round programming. Reaching thousands of people throughout the year, NDFF is one of the region’s premiere film festivals and is an integral resource to local industry professionals who attend. Open your brand up to local and regional media coverage by advertising with or sponsoring the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. To learn more about available sponsorship opportunities contact us. Download the pdf We have many opportunities to promote your organization including: Your advertisement in our festival program Listing your organization and website link on our website Exposure by sponsoring a film or a film-maker Sponsor one of our hospitality events to promote to the local community NBPT DOCU FEST Our Sponsors FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit Become a Sponsor GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

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We are the filmmakers' film festival. Our objective is to present a thought-provoking, high-caliber, and entertaining documentary film to the vibrant cultural community of greater Newburyport, MA. 2025 Festival September 26-28 Our 21st year Newburyport Documentary Film Festival NBPT DOCU FEST JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit We are the Filmmakers' Film Festival Special Screening: THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT Special Screening The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and the Greater Newburyport Green Expo 2025 present a special screening of THE WHITE HOUSE EFFECT on Sunday, May 18th at 6:00 PM at the Firehouse Center for the Arts. Directed by Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk, the film examines a crucial missed opportunity during the George H.W. Bush administration to address global warming, revealing the historical forces that continue to shape our climate challenges. Understanding this pivotal moment provides valuable context for the importance of community-led sustainability efforts like the Green Expo. This screening is presented by the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and the City of Newburyport Resiliency Committee, with support from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. Tickets Poster Competition and Submission Submit by June 15 Learn More THE WATCH CLUB April 15, 2025 THE WATCH CLUB: COMMON GROUND Celebrate Earth Day with us by welcoming filmmakers Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell in our monthly interview series. The California couple recently announced an exclusive partnership with Prime Video, which will begin streaming their acclaimed documentaries COMMON GROUND and KISS THE GROUND on Earth Day, April 22. Narrated by Woody Harrelson, Josh and Rebecca’s 2020 film KISS THE GROUND explains how we can reverse the effects of climate change by regenerating the world’s soils. The follow-up COMMON GROUND, first released in 2023, is another inspirational film that explores ways to fix our broken food system. It’s “that rare documentary that actually proposes solutions,” says Film Threat. View the Interview What is THE WATCH CLUB? Keep the conversation going throughout the year in THE WATCH CLUB. It's like a book club, but for documentaries. Each month we'll recommend a new documentary to stream, then invite you to join us on YouTube and Facebook for a live online Q&A with the filmmaker. Archive Film submissions are now open for the 2025 festival More Info 2025 Festival September 26-28 Congratulations to the Oscar nominees in the Best Documentary Feature Film category! Watch our interviews with the filmmakers of SUGARCANE and PORCELAIN WAR What is THE WATCH CLUB? Keep the conversation going throughout the year in THE WATCH CLUB. It's like a book club, but for documentaries. Each month we'll recommend a new documentary to stream, then invite you to join us on YouTube and Facebook for a live online Q&A with the filmmaker. THE WATCH CLUB Archive Our Social Media Under missile strikes and roaring fighter jets, Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey choose to stay behind and fight, contending with the soldiers they have become. Defiantly finding beauty amid destruction, they show that although it’s easy to make people afraid, it’s hard to destroy their passion for living. https://www.porcelainwar.com @porcelainwarfilm PORCELAIN WAR - Filmmaker Interview Our 2024 Festival Winners Best Feature: HOLLYWOODGATE Best New England Feature: FAR OUT: LIFE ON AND AFTER THE COMMUNE Best New England Short: THE KATZ TAPES David Kleiler Cinephile Award: DANCING ON THE EDGE OF A VOLCANO Best Short: FROM GOD TO MAN Best First-Time Filmmaker: DRIVER Audience Award: PINK BELT Young Emerging Filmmakers: THE PAHLEVAN ON 5TH AVE 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 Social Media GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Learn about the Newburyport Documentary FIlm Festival NBPT DOCU FEST About Us FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit Newburyport Documentary Film Festival The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is held every September, with additional year-round programs, in Newburyport, MA, a destination seaport city 40 minutes north of Boston. The festival is presented at two venues in Newburyport, The Screening Room and the Firehouse Center for the Arts. Since 2004 we have been bringing the highest caliber documentary films to our community. In addition to weekend screenings at historic venues, we also hold filmmaker receptions, after-parties, panel discussions, Q&As, and workshops. September’s festival features the YES Award (Young Emerging Filmmakers Showcase), works by filmmakers who are current or recent graduates of higher education institutions. Please see our past award winners of our festivals and stay up to date on our latest filmmaker interviews on YouTube. We are the filmmakers' film festival. Our objective is to present thought-provoking, high-caliber, and entertaining documentary films to the vibrant cultural community of greater Newburyport. WE BRING THE WORLD to the Clipper City by curating the best of documentary film. With each showcase, we encourage meaningful interaction with our neighbors about social issues, current and historic events, and sometimes the sheer delight of life on planet Earth. MANY OF OUR FILM SCREENINGS are enhanced by intimate discussions with relevant experts and, whenever possible, the filmmakers themselves, providing our audiences with a unique immersive experience. Our Mission Our History In 2004, the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival had its humble beginnings as the brainchild of founder Michelle Fino. Fino's vision was clear -- to showcase the best in documentary films, setting the stage for what would become a significant cultural event. The festival's identity underwent several transformations in its early years. From its inception as the Northern Lights Documentary Film Festival, it evolved into the Newburyport Film Society, later becoming the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. The permanent name change was chosen to emphasize the importance of a sense of place. Two key figures were instrumental in carving the festival's identity The late board member and advisor Lois Smith brought her expertise as a legendary entertainment publicist, having represented luminaries including Marilyn Monroe, Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Whitney Houston, WarrenBeatty, and Liza Minnelli. And David Kleiler, co-founder of the Boston Underground Film Festival, played a pivotal role in the nonprofit Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation's founding, contributing significantly to the rescue of the theater. He served as a beloved judge for the festival for years. We honored Kleiler's legacy by establishing the David Kleiler Award after his passing in2019. In 2011, Michelle Fino departed from her role, paving the way for the appointment of a new executive director, Joanne Morris Biggio, who served admirably for more than a decade. She was succeeded by Anne Crays in 2025. The festival's commitment to its mission was further solidified in June 2016 when it transitioned into a nonprofit organization, ensuring its sustainability and impact. The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 did not deter the organization. The 16th annual festival persisted in a virtual format, leveraging platforms like Eventive to continue bringing exceptional documentaries to its audience. Over its rich history, the festival has showcased a remarkable 400 plus films. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anne Crays | Executive Director James Sullivan | Program Director Laura Azevedo | Treasurer George Araneo Joanne Morris Mark Davis FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE George Araneo Kari Bernard Joanne Biggio Steve Cahill Peter B. Carzasty Chris Connor Anne Crays Mark Davis James Sullivan Kim Walls FILM SELECTION COMMITTEE Kari Bernard Joanne Biggio Mark Davis Sherry Moore James Sullivan Kim Walls FUNDRAISING Anne Crays | Executive Director YES AWARD Peter B. Carzasty George Araneo Kari Bernard | Event Planning Steve Cahill | Technical Director Michelle Fino | Founder GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Join the mailing list to keep current on events we host year-long. 978.572.0993 | Contact Us FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit NBPT DOCU FEST Join the Mailing List Join the Mailing List GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Welcome to The Watch Club – The Ultimate Documentary Community!
Calling all film enthusiasts and documentary lovers! If you're passionate about streaming documentaries and engaging in thought-provoking film discussions, The Watch Club is for you. Collection of Filmmaker Interviews THE WATCH CLUB Filmmaker Interviews NBPT DOCU FEST FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit Keep the discussion alive year-round in THE WATCH CLUB. It's similar to a book club, but focused on documentaries. Each month, we'll suggest a new documentary for you to stream, and then invite you to join us on YouTube for a live online Q&A with the filmmaker. Watch past interviews below. Like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD View Sasha Waters NATCHEZ View Suzannah Herbert AMERICO View David McCourt ANDRE IS AN IDIOT View Tony Benna and Lee Einhorn BELLA! THIS WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE View Liz Abzug MR NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN View David Borenstein TUSKER: BROTHERHOOD OF ELEPHANTS View Allison Argo BOMBSHELL View Ben Loeterman THE NEW YORKER AT 100 View Marshall Curry STRIPPED FOR PARTS View Rick Goldsmith DEMOCRACY NOIR View Connie Field BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES Copy View Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin SLICE OF LIFE: THE AMERICAN DREAM. IN FORMER PIZZA HUTS. View Rose Tucker and Matthew Salleh FLY WITH ME View Sarah Colt and Helen Dobrowski ART SPIEGELMAN: DISASTER IS MY MUSE View Molly Bernstein and Philip Donlin COMMON GROUND View Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell CELTICS CITY View Lauren Stowell THE STRIKE View Lucas Guilkey and JoeBill Munoz SUGARCANE View Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie BRIEF TENDER LIGHT View Arthur Musah BANNED TOGETHER: THE FIGHT AGAINST CENSORSHIP View Filmmaker Kate Way THE BLUES SOCIETY View Dr. Augusta Palmer ISRAELISM View Co-director Sam Eilertsen CAROL DODA TOPLESS AT THE CONDOR View Co-directors Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker LET ME BE ME. View Co-director Katie Taber THE DYNASTY: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS View Filmmaker Matthew Hamachek NAZI TOWN, USA View Filmmaker Peter Yost LAKOTA NATION VS. THE UNITED STATES View Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli SOUND OF THE POLICE View Filmmaker Stanley Nelson THE ONLY DOCTOR View Matthew Hashiguchi THE HIGH ROCK View Ellen Moore TORCHED View Hoag Kepner THE GULLSPANG MIRACLE View Maria Fredriksson IMMEDIATE FAMILY View Denny Tedesco SLOANE: A JAZZ SINGER View Michael Lippert BRIEF TENDER LIGHT View Arthur Musah THE DEEPEST BREATH View Filmmaker Laura McGann JOIN OR DIE View Director Rebecca and Pete Davis GROWING UP MIXED View Director W. Kamau Bell ICONIC AMERICA View Executive producer Maro Chermayeff A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS View Filmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A #@%! View Filmmaker Nathan Price I DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE View Filmmaker Reid Davenport WELL DOCUMENTED View Author Ian Haydn Smith MAMA'S BOY View Filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau DELIKADO View Filmmaker Karl Malakunas THE JANES View Filmmakers Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes GEORGE CARLIN'S AMERICAN DREAM View Filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio DEAR MR. BRODY View Filmmakers Keith Maitland and Sarah Wilson AILEY View Filmmaker Jamila Wignot THE BIG SCARY "S" WORD View Filmmaker Yael Bridge A RECKONING IN BOSTON View Filmmakers Kafi Dixon and James Rutenbeck PROCESSION View Filmmaker Robert Greene VOICES FROM VIETNAM View Mark Biggs AGUANTE View Dominick Torres MISSING IN BRROKS COUNTY View Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss THE MERRIMACK: RIVER AT RISK View Jerry Monkman THE LAST LIGHTKEEPERS View Rob Apse VIEW MORE GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

We are seeking a visually striking and engaging poster design that will serve as the primary promotional material for the 2025 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. The winning design will capture the essence of our festival attracting a wide audience and generating excitement for the festival. Poster Submission Newburyport Documentary Film Festival NBPT DOCU FEST FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Poster Competition and Submission Submit by July 1 Festival dates September 25-27 2026 Poster Competition Brief and Submission The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival (NDFF) celebrates the power of documentary filmmaking to enlighten, educate, and inspire. We showcase compelling stories that explore diverse perspectives, spark dialogue, and promote a deeper understanding of the world around us. This year, we are focusing on the unifying power of storytelling – how documentaries connect us to one another, our communities, and the global human experience. We are the Filmmakers Film Festival, www.nbptdocufest.org Competition Goal and Eligibility Students enrolled in a college art or design program and professionals working in the design industries are welcome to submit. We are seeking a visually striking and engaging poster design that will serve as the primary promotional material for the 2025 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. The winning design will capture the essence of our festival attracting a wide audience and generating excitement for the festival. Design Requirements: Theme Interpretation: The design should visually represent the theme "Stories That Connect," and define the official branding and theme of the annual festival. Consider concepts like: Human connection and empathy Bridging cultural divides The power of storytelling to unite Global perspectives and shared experiences Filmmakers Festival Combine icons from both documentary films and Newburyport culture into an artistically collaged image unique to this festival Visual Style: Open to various artistic styles (illustration, photography, graphic design, mixed media, etc.). Must be visually appealing and attention-grabbing. Must be easily reproducible in various sizes and formats. must be legible on an 8 1/2” x 11” size. Technical Specifications: Poster size: 24" x 36" (vertical format) Resolution: 300 dpi File format: .EPS, .PSD, .AI, .TIF, .TIFF Color format: CMYK All print files require crop marks, including a bleed margin, which is at least 0.125 inches beyond the dimensions of the poster design. Artists should design with the understanding that the festival's graphic designer will add the festival's branding elements such as the logo, name, dates and sponsors. Avoid overloading the poster with too many design elements. Artists should consider how the design will translate to both sizes. Branding elements; logo & color pallets below. Do not add them to your design. (download logo ). Color Palette: Red #E4002B - PMS 185, Black, & White. Submission Guidelines: Submit your design https://www.nbptdocufest.org/artworksubmission Submissions must be received by June 15, 2025 All submissions must be original works The winner will be notified by July 15 Judging Criteria: Creativity and originality Visual impact and aesthetic appeal Effective communication of the festival theme Legibility and overall design quality Prize: Recognition The Winning design will be featured on selected festival promotional materials (posters, website, social media, program guide). Acknowledgement: The festival will acknowledge the artist's name on all print and online displays of the selected artwork. The festival is offering an artist the opportunity to have their work become the face of the festival, gaining significant exposure and supporting a non-profit organization, in exchange for relinquishing all rights to the artwork. Free Festival pass. "Meet the Artist" on the festival’s website with photo, bio, and your quote for the inspiration of the creative design. $250.00 prize will be awarded to the selected winner. * Rules and Terms: The winning designer grants the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival the right to use the design for all promotional purposes. The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival retains usage rights of the artwork for editorial and promotion purposes across all its public platforms. We look forward to seeing your creative interpretations Download this brief (PDF) Submission form Please fill out the submission form below. Upload your artwork using your name as the filename and photo to our Dropbox folder. Submissions are due on or before July 1, 2026 Questions: Contact Us Upload Your Artwork * First name * Last name * Email * Phone * Bio * What was your inspiration for your entry? Clicking submit you agree to the terms and conditions set forth. Submit * Additional Rules & Terms: The submitter has read and understood the rules and regulations and to the best of their knowledge, all statements are true. The submitter is duly authorized to submit this to the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. Upon submission, the submitter consents to allowing their screener material to be shared in its entirety with appropriate Newburyport Documentary Film Festival staff, and other appropriate members of staff; with final jury members; and with select individuals representing community partners who may be interested in supporting the film festival. The festival is hereby also granted the right to utilize image(s) and/or biographical information of the submitter for promotional purposes. The Festival retains editorial rights to modify descriptive or written portions of the submission. GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Learn about the Newburyport Documentary FIlm Festival NBPT DOCU FEST Festival Judges FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit We are proud to introduce our 2026 Festival Judges Khary Jones Khary pursues film projects that explore the tensions between fiction, memory, and everyday life. His films and collaborations have screened at Sundance, SXSW, MoMA (NY), CIFF (ME), Full Frame (NC), ICA Boston, and many other festivals and venues. As a writer-director, his work includes NIGHT FIGHT, which won the Best Feature award at last year’s NBPT Docu Fest, as well as the short films HUG, THREE AND A HALF THOUGHTS, and CHRYSALIS, and the forthcoming feature-length film GUMBO. Jones has also served on the editorial teams behind many documentary features including WHERE THE PAVEMENT ENDS (PBS WORLD), BLACK MEMORABILIA (PBS/Independent Lens), LORRAINE HANSBERRY: SIGHTED EYES/FEELING HEART (PBS/American Masters), and HE NAMED ME MALALA (Fox Searchlight). Erin Trahan Erin is an arts journalist and documentary filmmaker. For the last two decades she has reported on independent film for outlets such as 90.9 WBUR and The Boston Globe. Her short documentary, “Dukakis: Recipe for Democracy” (co-directed by Jeff Schmidt), played film festivals throughout the U.S. and earned Best New England short honors from the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. She has been teaching in Emerson College’s Journalism and Film, Television, and Media Arts departments since 2016 and is currently working on several new documentary projects. Geoff Poister Geoff is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and an Associate Professor at Boston University, where he teaches documentary production. After attending Berklee College of Music,he studied filmmaking at NYU and earned an M.S. in film and television and a Ph.D. in SocialScience from Syracuse University. He worked on television productions, including PBS’s NOVAseries, and developed documentaries for U.S. Public Televisionprior to becoming an independent producer/director. His most recent film, Sanctuary of Her, has screened internationally and won seven awards. YES (Young Emerging-Filmmakers Showcase) Judges Tim O'Donnell Tim co-founded Pixela Films and is an Emmy-nominated and award winning documentary filmmaker. His work has appeared on ESPN, NBC, PBS, OutsideTV, the Sundance Film Festival and events around the world. His films have garnered the Audience Award at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Jury Prizes at the Phoenix Film Festival and Woods Hole Film festival, and IndieWire’s Project of the Month. His most recent film Not a War Story opened at #1 for all iTunes Documentaries and premiered at the Academy of Motion Pictures. HBO’s Mary Carillo said of Tim’s work, “The story is so beautiful, so lovingly told and so incredibly moving.” For more visit PixelaFilms.com Ben Fundis Ben is co-owner of The Screening Room in Newburyport, MA. He is also the editor, narrator and composer for the YouTube series Acorn To Arabella. Before moving to the north shore, Ben worked in post-production houses in Nashville and Boston on a wide range of programs on channels such as Discovery, The Food Network, and CMT. His documentary project Border Stories, screened internationally and has been used by hundreds of educators to accompany their classroom discussions. Ben has spent the past 25 years working throughout the industry but adores most the chance to host audiences, show movies, and make the popcorn. Laura Azevedo Laura is the Executive Director of Filmmakers Collaborative and co-founder and current director of the Boston International Kids Film Festival. For more than 25 years, she has worked at the intersection of storytelling, education, and community, creating programs that support filmmakers and inspire young people to find their creative voices. Earlier in her career, Laura worked in production and post-production on nationally broadcast programs for WGBH, including NOVA, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman, American Experience, and Antiques Roadshow. She is especially passionate about bringing people together through film and creating opportunities for the next generation of storytellers. GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit 2024 Festival September Our 20th year! NBPT DOCU FEST Store

Learn about the Newburyport Documentary FIlm Festival NBPT DOCU FEST Newsletter FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news in your in box Join Our Mailing List GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

We participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between the Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, and the Massachusetts Health Connector, by broadening accessibility to cultural programming. EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive a 50% discount on all in-person film screenings presented by the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. FESTIVAL Festival Judges Submit a Film YES Film Submissions Poster Contest Festival Archive Award Winners PROGRAMS Events Watch Club Archive SUPPORT Donate Sponsors Become a Sponsor Volunteer ABOUT About Us Card To Culture Plan Your Visit NBPT DOCU FEST Card To Culture We are proud to participate in Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture program in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health's WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier. EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive a 50% discount on 2 tickets for one film screening presented by the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. Email us to receive the special promo code to order tickets online when tickets go on sale. Email us for the Promo Code GET OUR NEWSLETTER Receive Our Latest News Join our mailing list for announcements, ticket sales, special events, monthly documentary recommendations and year-round programs. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST