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. The winners of those two awards, along with the New England Filmmaker Award and Best Student Film will be showcased at a live screening at the Capital Theatre just outside of Boston, MA. The "Best Of" awarded projects will be screened in our Virtual Screening on the MAIFF website for audiences during the week of the festival.

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. Industry professionals in attendance will give a round table discussion during the event, and 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
Best Animated Short
​Best Music Video
​Best Television/Webisode Pilot


Subcategories (Any Length):

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. Entering films that are chosen as winners in one of the screening categories 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 it will forfeit the awarded prize and the selection will go to the runner up. "Best Of" warded projects agree to be screen on the MAIFF website during the week of the festival for our Virtual Screening for audiences, unless specified by the submitting party that they wish not to have their project available for screening