MAIFF showcase a diverse array of films from various countries, highlighting emerging talent and unique storytelling styles.The festival not only promotes cultural exchange but also provides filmmakers with opportunities for showcasing their work. Each year, audiences can expect to see a mix of innovative narratives, genre-bending projects, and reflective cinema that push artistic boundaries.

Projects may be submitted to the posted category that best suits each project. "Best Of" Awards will be voted on by the judges amongst the submissions in each category and awarded to the winning films. The MAIFF judges will choose two projects from the pool of submissions throughout all categories to receive The Jury Gold Award and The Jury Silver Award. Selected projects will be screened at the Capital Theater in Arlington MA for the festival event.

The Festival screenings are a chance for creators to display their work in front of a live audience and a networking event for filmmakers alike. A Q & A will be held with filmmakers post screening to discuss their work.

(Feature Over 40min):

Best Narrative Feature
​Best Documentary Feature​​

(Short Under 40min):

Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short


Subcategories (Any Length):

Best Animated
​Best Music Video
​Best Television/Webisode Pilot
Best Student Film
New England Filmmaker Award​
Best Horror Film
Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Best Comedy

​Craft:

Best Director
Best Editing
Best Cinematography

Best Student Director
Best Student Editing
Best Student Cinematography

​Jury Awards:

Jury Gold Award
Jury Silver Award

By submitting to the Massachusetts International Film Festival you agree that if your film is chosen as an "Official Selection" that it can be listed on the MAIFF website as such. Selected films will also be screened at the festival in front of a live audience. If the selected film elects not to be screened at the live festival the submitting party must contact MAIFF prior to the festival. MAIFF may select any unspecified amount of films as "Official Selections" for each category, there is no set number of selections for each category

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • The theater in which the screening took place was lovely, intimate, and unique. I was honored to win the Best New England Filmmaker Award and appreciated the opportunity to receive the physical award, plus answer questions from the audience, after our film screened. And I was blown away by the other films in my screening block!! Excited to see how this festival grows.

    June 2025
  • Klaudio Gjeka

    Interesting festival, thanks you for considering my project

    June 2025
  • Wow! What an honor to be a selection in the Best Comedy category for my short film Granny Gumshoe!! I love Boston and the opportunity to show in your festival is very appreciated! I look forward to submitting future films with MAIFF.

    May 2025
  • Dan Rosenberg

    Congrats on a successful first year! So honored to have our sitcom pilot as an official selection!

    May 2025
  • Dan Jones

    Congratulations on a successful first year of the festival! We are thrilled that our pilot 'Hive' won Best Editing with MAIFF, and we look forward to entering other projects in future years.

    May 2025