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. 2026 will mark the 14th annual festival. We plan to hold a 3-day in-person event in downtown Keene and ten days of online virtual screenings.

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 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 presented to a filmmaker whose film combines artistic excellence with awareness of a timely social issue. Our first-year recipient was renowned filmmaker and area 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.

Awards & Prizes

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.

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSIONS:
Entries must be submitted online via FilmFreeway.

Films must have been completed no earlier than January 2023.

We accept submissions that have premiered elsewhere and may already have distribution agreements in place. 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 (a copy of their 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, and whether it will be screened in person and/or online. Selection for screening will be determined no later than one month before the Festival.

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

FORMATS: Acceptable formats include .mp4, .mov, and DCP. The Festival may request DVD backup copies for 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, with the exhibition copy arriving at the Festival by the date requested by the technical team, usually three weeks before the Festival. MONIFF only covers the return shipping of accepted film exhibition copies and backup materials. MONIFF does not return marketing materials, such as posters or postcards, after the Festival concludes.

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

By submitting your film for consideration to the 2026 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 2026 Monadnock International Film Festival. If your film is accepted into the program, we will do our best to work with you 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.

27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Mark Micheli

    We had a great experience at the Monadnock International Film Festival. Dee was great with communication. And the festival was well organized with friendly, helpful staff. It's a memory we'll always cherish.

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Erik Jasaň

    Thank you for the official selection of our film THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT. The atmosphere at the festival was wonderful and offered many great networking opportunities. The film is currently For Your Consideration in category Best Live Action Short Film, and I believe that participating in this festival has also helped increase its visibility. I’m grateful that my film could be part of your festival. Wishing you all the best!

    October 2025
    Helpful
  • John O'Connor

    Wonderful fest and great community behind it.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, John! We really enjoyed screening your film. Best wishes on future screenings, and we look forward to the opportunity to showcase upcoming work from you and the team.

  • Clare O'Connor

    I really appreciated the fantastic communication from this festival. An honor to have my short, KIND MOTHER, included.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Clare! We hope to see future work from you and wish you all the best.

  • Two Hander

    Festivals like this are what the festival world need! Dee and her team care about great programming, kindness, quality communication and community. Proud to be part of the community and I encourage filmmakers to support this one - it's a gem and it cares.

    October 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, JT! Much appreciated, and it was our pleasure to share your film with the community. Look forward to welcoming you at future festivals.