Each year in late August, we welcome more than one hundred filmmakers and thousands of audience members to the town of Middlebury, Vermont, offering a dynamic showcase of films from emerging voices in independent film. Dedicated solely to the work of first- and second-time directors and producers, MNFF provides a unique and supportive platform for artists taking their first steps into the world of independent cinema.

We are proud to offer visiting artists a supportive setting in which to meet their peers, connect intimately with audiences and special guests, and participate in workshops, panels and events that advance their craft. Our awards, prizes, and filmmaker grants also offer financial and career support to filmmakers at the starting line of their careers.

Over its first eleven years, MNFF has showcased the work of a diverse array of passionate new filmmakers from around the world, working across all genres. Our programming team seeks out compelling and memorable narratives--fiction and nonfiction, features and shorts--that embrace risk-taking and boundary-breaking and that promote and uplift underrepresented communities and stories. 

Please join us for the 12th Annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, taking place August 26-30, 2026 in beautiful Middlebury, Vermont, the beating heart of the Champlain Valley.

Awards & Prizes

Our festival offers the following awards and prizes:

The VTeddy Award, our coveted and iconic custom made tuxedo-clad Teddy, in the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Audience Award-Feature, Audience Award-Short.

The Hernandez/Bayliss Prize for the feature film that best captures the triumph of the human spirit and honors the inspirational power of independent filmmaking. Value: $1000.

The Clio Visualizing History Prize for the Advancement of Women in Film, honoring a woman filmmaker whose feature film boldly portrays the story of a person or events of historical significance. Value: $1000.

The Gaia Prize for Environmental Filmmaking, honoring a feature film with exceptional insights into environmental issues. In recognition of Gaia, Mother Earth in Greek mythology, this award seeks to encourage new filmmakers from around the world to bring widespread attention to global sustainability, environmental justice and climate change concerns. Value: $1000.

The Cadwell Family Prize for Best Vermont-Made Film, In Honor of Steve Cadwell, recognizing a Vermont-based filmmaker whose short or feature length film is of exceptional significance. Value: $1000.

The Kate Hearst Prize, given to a feature or a short film that explores human connectivity in our increasingly interdependent world by revealing vital relationships between individuals, local communities, global collectives and/or species who share our planet. Value: $1000.

The Gamble-Paison Prize for Best International Feature Film, recognizing excellence in feature narrative or documentary filmmaking by a first or second time international director. Value: $1,000.

The Swift House Prize for Best Depiction of the Arts, presented to either a feature or short film that best portrays a story of an artistic creation or endeavor. Value: $1,000.

The Jeanine Basinger Prize for Best Student Film, awarded to a short film created by an enrolled student, undergraduate or graduate, that best demonstrates the art of filmmaking. Films made by an enrolled student, either as part of the academic curriculum or independent of the curriculum, are eligible. Value: $1,000.

The Thaddeus Stevens Prize for Social Engagement, in tribute to the heroic Vermonter, Thaddeus Stevens, who played a decisive role in the abolition of slavery and the establishment of free public schooling in America. Value: $1,000.

The PhotoPlace Gallery Prize for Poetic Cinema, in recognition of the groundbreaking work of pioneering American documentarian and photographer Ralph Steiner. Value: $1,000.

The AICEF Prize for Cross-Cultural Filmmaking, honoring an American filmmaker whose work deftly explores and embraces cross cultural themes, and awarding an all-expenses-paid round trip to screen their film in Indonesia as well as a showcase screening at MNFF. Value: $3,000.

The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival also offers screening fees to a select group of MNFF feature filmmakers for allowing us to present their work as part of MNFF's popular Vermont Tour, which brings the work to venues around the state. Fees to filmmakers are determined prior to the start of the Tour.

Rules & Terms

GENERAL RULES

Our 12th annual Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (MNFF) will be held August 26-30, 2026.

Dedicated solely to the work of first- and second-time directors and producers, our festival provides a unique and supportive platform for artists taking their first steps into the world of independent cinema.

All submitted films must comply with the following Submissions Guidelines including deadlines, exhibition format, entry material, etc:

+ We accept only first or second features OR first or second short films. (If you have already completed three short films, for instance, but you want to submit your first or second feature, we welcome your submission.)

+ You must have completed your submitted film after August 2024, so that it represents current work.

+ We do not accept works-in-progress.

+ All submissions must be digital and uploaded via FilmFreeway.

+ More than one entry may be submitted, however each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry fee.

+ Any films submitted without a paid entry fee will be disqualified.

+ Because of the heavy volume of submissions, we will not email you when we receive your submission.

+ Films submitted must be available in English or in the original language with English subtitles.

+ Entry fees are payable to FilmFreeway and are non-refundable.

+ Entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, royalties, release forms, clearances and permits necessary to present their work. The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits or royalty infringement related to the work. If your work is accepted into the Festival, we must be able to screen it without any encumbrances whatsoever.

+ Accepted films must be available in the designated exhibition formats: .mp4, .mov, .h264, ProRes, or DCP.

+ Accepted films need not be festival premieres but must not already be available via commercial distribution. Vermont and New England premieres are appreciated, though not required. For clarity, the festival considers commercial distribution to include television broadcast (network, PBS or cable); subscription streaming platforms or transactional or ad-supported streaming outlets (e.g. iTunes, Vudu, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+, Max,) or wide theatrical release. Films with wide distribution deals concluded prior to the Festival but not in effect until after the Festival will be considered for acceptance.

+ Notification of acceptance will be emailed through FilmFreeway. All correspondence will be done through FilmFreeway and email and only with the original submitter.

+ If your film is selected, you will be asked to provide a digital press kit which includes: director's headshot and brief bio, color and/or B&W stills from the film, brief description of the film and a downloadable video trailer (cleared for use on the Festival website).

+ The date, time and location of the screenings of films are solely at the discretion of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.

+ As part of its Vermont Tour, the Festival may award additional screenings to a small selection of our top feature films. These screenings will take place in a variety of venues throughout the state of Vermont. The venue booking and marketing costs of this important additional exposure will be borne by the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival and includes the payment of an exhibition fee to selected filmmakers. The Festival requires that, as a condition of acceptance into the Festival, the filmmaker allow these additional screenings of their work, appropriately compensated, unless barred by an existing distribution agreement.

+ The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival will take great care in the handling of your entry but will not pay additional charges for originals, masters or special prints. Please do not send originals or masters.

+ If an accepted filmmaker provides a DCP exhibition copy, the Festival will return that copy via a mailing or courier service upon request.

+ All films selected for exhibition grant the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival the rights to use footage, stills, titles and information from the film for promotional purposes.

+ All filmmakers will be notified by June 21, 2026 via FilmFreeway email regarding their acceptance into the Festival.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

You hereby affirm that you are the authorized representative for the above mentioned film [as noted on the entry form]. You grant the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival all rights necessary to exhibit and promote the above-referenced film, if selected, at the 12th Annual Festival, August 26-30, 2026. You represent that such exhibition will not violate or infringe upon any rights whatsoever (including copyright, trademark, musical or contract right) of any person or entity. You further represent that you are authorized to submit the above-referenced film and, if selected, will deliver the film either digitally or physically to the Festival office no later than July 27, 2026. You also affirm that the film will not be in commercial distribution and will not have aired on broadcast or cable television or on a streaming service in the United States prior to August 26, 2026.

Further, per the specific description in the General Rules, you grant permission to the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival for additional limited and compensated public exhibition of the film for its MNFF Vermont Tour should this film be selected as one of the top features of the Festival. All decisions of the Festival regarding the designation of the films selected for additional exhibition around the state of Vermont will be final and binding on all participants.

You also grant the Festival the right to utilize an excerpt from this film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. Additionally, you will indemnify and hold harmless the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival from any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening material entered. You have read, understood, and hereby agree to the terms written in the General Festival Rules for submissions to the 2026 Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.
151 Reviews
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  • Benjamin Smith

    We are still buzzing after our film was selected to screen at MNFF. Our writer Emer Heatley was lucky enough to attend in person, and she could not recommend the festival highly enough! From the thoughtfully curated lineup of fantastic films, to inclusive and fun events for visiting filmmakers, to all the super friendly and helpful festival staff and volunteers, not to mention the insanely beautiful surroundings of Middlebury itself - this festival is a special one. We hope to be back again soon!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Benjamin! It was wonderful to have Emer with us in person, and we hope to see members of your team in Middlebury again someday.

  • Bryn Silverman

    MNFF was an absolute dream! I was welcomed so warmly by the staff, volunteers and the community in Middlebury. The venues were beautiful and the picture/sound quality at screenings was fantastic. Everything was so well organized and thoughtful. And the town of Middlebury is gorgeous, such a beautiful backdrop to a week of incredible films and filmmakers. I hope to be back!

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    It was our pleasure, Bryn! Thanks so much for your participation in MNFF11. We were delighted to have Expression of Illness in our program this year.

  • Ann Hawker

    I was so delighted to be in Middlebury for the screening of my short film Cliff Edge. It was an honour to be there, and to be selected as part of this really great festival. It's so well organised by an efficient and friendly team, with a great range of talks and events as well as many fantastic films being screened. Middlebury itself is a delightful place to visit and to be part of the festival. Thank you again to the team.

    September 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Ann! We were delighted to have you and to screen Cliff Edge. All the best to you!

  • Shellée Haynesworth

    The Middlebury New Filmmakers Film Festival is an incredible showcase of fresh, dynamic talent. With top-notch panels, well-attended events, and unmatched community support, MNFFF offers an inspiring, well-organized platform where filmmakers, sponsors, and audiences come together to celebrate storytelling and make lasting connections. What makes MNFFF truly special is the overwhelming support from the Middlebury community. From packed screenings to engaged audiences, local businesses, local hosts, and volunteers, the festival thrives on a genuine spirit of hospitality and encouragement for filmmakers. That warmth and enthusiasm make a huge difference for independent artists sharing their work. Simply put: MNFFF is a gem of a festival that celebrates innovation, supports storytellers, and brings the community and film industry together in an incredibly inspiring way. I'm EVER grateful for the opportunity to screen my doc short at MNFFF11 (August 2025), and I look forward to participating in the festival again!

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Shellée, thank you so much for the thoughtful and kind words. It was our pleasure to have you and to show Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps! Hope to see you here again someday!

  • Nick Beaulieu

    I was blown away by MNFF in so many ways. The audience turn out is remarkable, no matter the screening time there will be a crowd with great questions. The town of Middlebury is so inviting and perfect for a festival, walkable with many nice shops and restaurants. And the host community is truly special. I returned home with many new friends. Can't recommend this festival enough for first-time filmmakers!

    August 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much, Nick! We were lucky to host you and to program My Omaha, which really moved our audience. Best of luck to you!