Named as "Up and Coming Film Fest" by New Hampshire Magazine's "Best of New Hampshire" issue, the Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) showcases high-quality, independent cinema every April in the beautiful Monadnock Region, known for its vibrant arts culture and Mt. Monadnock, one of the world's most climbed mountains. 2023 will mark the 11th annual festival. We plan to hold a 3-day in-person event in downtown Keene and neighboring Jaffrey, followed by ten days of virtual screenings online.

MONIFF features award-winning films on the festival circuit, domestic and foreign, along with premieres of regionally produced films by New Hampshire and New England filmmakers. Our mission is to celebrate independent films by offering audiences compelling stories from here at home and around the world, exposing them to diverse cultures, lifestyles, and points of view. We screen narrative and documentary feature-length films and animated, narrative, and documentary shorts. Films are shown in the Colonial Theatre's new SHOWROOM in downtown Keene and additional community theatres in Jaffrey. In 2020, we moved to the virtual platform Eventive in response to the pandemic. We bring guest filmmakers to our festival to engage with audiences in lively Q&A discussions after screenings and participate in film industry panels.

The highlight of our festival is the Jonathan Daniels awards ceremony, honoring Keene's Civil Rights hero and given to a filmmaker whose film combines artistic excellence with awareness around a timely social issue. Our first-year recipient was a renowned filmmaker and local resident, Ken Burns, for his documentary, "Central Park Five." Other recipients include Brian Oakes, director of "Jim: The James Foley Story"; Beth Murphy, director of "What Tomorrow Brings"; and Talya Tibbon, director of "Sky and Ground." We also give Audience Choice awards to Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short, and Best Documentary Feature.

Attendees vote by ballots for three Audience Choice Awards:
(1) Best Documentary Short
(2) Best Narrative Short
(3) Best Documentary Feature, sponsored by Florentine Films
Each winner receives a trophy. The short film winners receive a $500 cash award, the Florentine Films Documentary Feature receives a $1,000 cash award, and the Jonathan Daniels Award filmmaker receives a $1,000 cash award.

SUBMISSIONS:
Entries must be submitted online through FilmFreeway's online screener option.

Films must have been completed no earlier than January 2020.

We accept submissions that have premiered elsewhere, and that may have distribution agreements already in place. However, TV, theatrical, online video, other festivals, or other distribution outlets that run concurrently or in the same month as the Festival may not be eligible for screening. Rough cuts and incomplete projects are not accepted. Multiple entries are allowed. However, a separate entry form must be submitted for each.

Students must include proof of student status (copy of student ID) at the time of production.

Programming decisions will be made by the notification deadline, and selected entrants will be notified.

If your film is selected, we reserve the right to determine the time and date for the screening of your film. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month prior to the Festival.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: If your film is accepted, you'll be asked to provide digital press materials that include a short synopsis, filmmaker credits, digital stills from the film, a trailer, and a digital or printed poster that's 27x40.

FORMATS: Acceptable formats include .mp4, .mov, DCP, and Blu-Ray disc. The festival requests DVD and/or Blu-Ray disc backup copies to accompany all exhibition formats.

All submissions arriving via mail post must be in DVD region 1 or 0 format NTSC

FOREIGN FILMS:
Foreign language films must be made available with English subtitles.

For international submissions outside the U.S., filmmakers must write on the package: "NO commercial value - for cultural purposes only."

MONIFF is not responsible for customs fees and other charges.

SHIPPING:
Submitters of accepted films agree to pay for shipping the exhibition copy of their film to MONIFF to arrive at the Festival by the date requested by the technical team, usually three weeks prior to the Festival. MONIFF covers the return shipping of accepted films' exhibition copies and backup materials only. MONIFF does not return marketing materials such as posters or postcards after the conclusion of the Festival.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
All entry fees paid are non-refundable.

By submitting your film for consideration to the 2023 Monadnock International Film Festival, you acknowledge that you have full authority to do so, that the film is cleared for potential festival exhibition, and that you accept full legal responsibility for the intellectual property therein.

Submitting your film to us constitutes permission to exhibit your work at the 2023 Monadnock International Film Festival. If your film is accepted to be part of the program, you will do your best to work with us to have the filmmakers and/or actors attend the Festival to present the film to our audience.

The Monadnock International Film Festival is also hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.

You shall also indemnify and hold harmless the Monadnock International Film Festival from and against 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 reasons of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening media entered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Honored to present “Disconnected” at the 10th anniversary of this great festival . Thank you for a very welcoming experience . I really enjoyed all the films I was able to see over this weekend in the beautiful city of Keene, where I happen to have been born .

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Meredith! Your presence is a bright light, and we love showing your work. The hometown connection is near and dear to our hearts, and the friends and family who come to support you and the festival are terrific.

  • This incredible fest just keeps getting better every year! After surviving the worst of the pandemic in style, the fear returned in a wonderful hybrid state that allows for the odd pattern life has thrust many of us into. Live venues are spectacular, online platform management is great - and Dee is simply wonderful and everyone running the fest is clearly doing a great job. A joy to screen my film here, always a privilege. Hoping to continue doing so in future days! Thanks for another great fest, MONIFF!

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Seth! We truly love having you as part of the festival. I hope you have another short in the works for us next year.

  • Gordon LePage

    This is a festival gem. Welcoming, well organized, and well attended. Thanks for screening my animation at the Showroom.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Gordon! Such a pleasure to have you join us and screen your short in person. What a treat! We hope to have you back again next year. Cheers!

  • Ajinkya Narkar

    A Big Thank you Monadnock International Film Festival for the Amazing recognition we have received for our feature film, " Sleepless in Bandra "

    Thank you entire Jury, MONIFF team and Special thanks to Deirdre Ma'am for the recognition. we are humbled with your love.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Ajinkya! It was a pleasure to share your work, and we hope to see more from you in the coming year.

  • MONIFF was a wonderful experience!! As a filmmaker I was exceptionally pleased with the communication and assistance that I received. As a film lover, I can't say enough good things about the quality of the films selected, and the presentation of them. The panel discussions were excellent. My compliments to everyone involved.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Daniel! It was an honor to screen your film! We truly appreciate your kind words and support for MONIFF.