The Nantucket Film Festival (NFF) was founded in 1996 to spotlight screenwriters and the art of screenwriting in cinema. From its conception, NFF has been dedicated to the notion that the screenwriter's contribution is at the core of filmmaking.
For seven days in June, screenwriting and storytelling are celebrated with over 100 films screened (features and shorts, fiction and nonfiction) and through our Signature Programs, making NFF one of the most unique destination film festivals in the world.
FILM PROGRAMMING:
Our feature film program consists of approximately 50 features and includes both fiction and nonfiction. Recent NFF alums include THE FAREWELL, AMERICAN FACTORY, YESTERDAY, FOR SAMA, OFFICIAL SECRETS, BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON, ONE CHILD NATION, THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON, THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS, THE WIFE, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, and THE BIG SICK.
Our short film program includes approximately 40 films. Nearly all of NFF's programmed short films are submitted through FilmFreeway. Attending short filmmakers have access to NFF's programming, including special Signature Programs, with short fiction filmmakers invited to participate in our annual private Mentors Brunch with a prominent screenwriter.
FESTIVAL SIGNATURE PROGRAMS:
Our world-class Signature Programs begin with the Screenwriters Tribute, honoring the achievements of a prominent screenwriter with past recipients including the women of SNL, Leslie Dixon, Noah Baumbach, Tom McCarthy, Oliver Stone, Robert Towne, Aaron Sorkin, David O. Russell, Nancy Meyers, Barry Levinson, Judd Apatow, Alexander Payne, and Charlie Kaufman.
Other Signature Programs include the always-popular All-Star Comedy Roundtable; Late Night Storytelling, which has featured 5-minute stories from Jim Carrey, Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Mos Def, Sarah Silverman, Michael Ian Black, Mike Birbiglia, Lili Taylor, Rosie Perez, and Alan Cumming; In Their Shoes... conversations hosted by MSNBC's Chris Matthews; Staged Readings of unproduced screenplays; Afternoon Tea Talks with notable guests, and the daily Morning Coffee panel series with attending filmmakers.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS:
Our ongoing program partnerships include Screenwriters Colony, Facing History & Ourselves, and others.
SHOWTIME TONY COX SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS:
Our Showtime Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions award over $7,000 total in cash prizes to winners, and include passes to the Nantucket Film Festival. Categories are Feature Screenplay, Short Screenplay, Episodic Screenplay (30 Min) Competition, Episodic Screenplay (60 Min) Competition.
Feature Screenplay Competition / Screenwriters Colony Residency:
In addition to a $5,000 cash prize, the Feature Screenplay Competition winner is invited to participate in a month-long writer's retreat on Nantucket in October through our sister organization, Screenwriters Colony. Screenwriters Colony is an invite-only retreat for four writers each year, featuring complimentary housing and meals, affording time and space for writers to hone their screenplays under the mentorship of visiting industry professionals. The winner of NFF's Feature Screenplay Competition is the ONLY public means of entry to the Colony.
Notable Feature Screenplay Competition winners to have been produced and distributed theatrically include: Debra Granik's DOWN TO THE BONE, Sophie Barthes' COLD SOULS, Jenny Deller's FUTURE WEATHER, Patrick Tobin's CAKE, and Stella Meghie's JEAN OF THE JONESES.
Episodic Screenplay (30 Min) Competition / Screenwriters Colony Residency:
In 2016, NFF and the Screenwriters Colony inaugurated an Episodic Comedy retreat in June on Nantucket. One of the four invite-only spots goes to the winner of the Episodic Screenplay (30 Min) Competition, again the ONLY public means of entry to the Colony. For two weeks leading up to the festival, four comedy writers enjoy complimentary housing and meals while they workshop their episodic comedy pilots, gain writers' room experience, and learn from visiting industry mentors. Selections from the workshopped pilots are presented as part of NFF, with retreat participants provided access to Festival programming and events.
Audience Awards:
For this much-loved annual distinction, the audience picks its favorite films. All new narrative and documentary feature films are eligible.
Adrienne Shelly Foundation Excellence in Filmmaking Award:
Presented to an outstanding female filmmaker in honor and remembrance of Adrienne Shelly’s film legacy. All feature films (narratives and documentaries) written and/or directed by women are eligible for this prize. Sponsored by the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, with a $5,000 cash prize.
Showtime's Tony Cox Screenplay Competitions:
These four awards total $7,000 in cash, in addition to several other prizes. The winner of the Feature Screenplay Competition is invited to participate in a month-long writer's retreat on Nantucket in October through our sister organization, Screenwriters Colony. The winner of the Episodic Screenplay (30 Min) Competition is invited to participate in the Screenwriters Colony two-week long Episodic Comedy retreat in June on Nantucket.
Feature Screenplay Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging feature screenplay as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The winner is selected by an industry jury from the top three finalists.
WINNER RECEIVES:
* $5,000 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* All-inclusive month-long writer's retreat on Nantucket in October with Screenwriters Colony;
* Round-trip domestic airfare to Nantucket to attend the Festival;
* Complimentary accommodations at the Festival;
* VIP Festival Pass to all events;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom bound copy of the script, courtesy of Showtime;
* Name inclusion in press release and on Festival website as a competition winner and finalist.
Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are selected from a pool of 10 semi-finalists, and determined by the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival, in conjunction with our partner, Screenwriters Colony.
FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist.
Our semi-finalists are recognized as one of the top 10 screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top 10 semi-finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.
SEMI-FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition semi-finalist.
Short Screenplay Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging short screenplay as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury, which reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner, is composed of professional filmmakers and film industry professionals with original and diverse points of view.
WINNER RECEIVES:
* $500 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Name inclusion in press release and on Festival website as a competition winner and finalist.
Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.
FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival;
* Festival Pass;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist.
Showtime's Tony Cox Episodic Screenplay (60 Min) Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging original 60 min episodic pilot as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury, which reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner, is composed of writers, producers, actors, or executives from the TV industry with original and diverse points of view.
WINNER RECEIVES:
* $1,000 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* One-on-one consultation with Showtime executive;
* Festival Pass;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom bound copy of the script, courtesy of Showtime;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist and winner.
Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.
FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Festival Pass;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist.
Showtime's Tony Cox Episodic Comedy Screenplay (30 Min) Competition:
This jury prize recognizes an emerging original 30 min episodic comedy pilot as the best from the pool of submissions each year. The jury reviews the top three finalists to determine a winner, and is composed of writers, producers, actors, and executives from the TV industry with original and diverse points of view.
WINNER RECEIVES:
* $1,000 cash prize from the Nantucket Film Festival;
* All-inclusive two-weeks-long episodic comedy writer's retreat on Nantucket in June with Screenwriters Colony and NFF;
* One-on-one consultation with Showtime executive;
* Festival Pass;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival in the winners’ honor;
* Custom bound copy of the script, courtesy of Showtime;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist and winner.
Our finalists are recognized as one of the top three screenplays from the pool of submissions each year. The top three finalists are narrowed down from all submissions by our reader committee, comprised of industry professionals, alongside the programmers and executive staff of the Nantucket Film Festival.
FINALISTS RECEIVE:
* Festival Pass;
* Participation in Mentor's Brunch during the Festival;
* A Showtime-sponsored reception during the Festival;
* Name inclusion on Festival website as a competition finalist.