Fest Info

The screening rooms won’t be the only place at the festival featuring artists. Be sure to check out the lobby, where you’ll find the artwork of Salem’s Richard Flynn.

Flynn fills black notebooks with scenes in little squares that could be frames from a film. Curious about Salem’s art scene? Take one look at Flynn’s notebooks and you’ll know where he and his friends spend their evenings.

Local writer Lilly Roberts interviewed Richard Flynn last May for an article in the North Shore’s online arts journal, Art Throb. Check it out and then spot Flynn around the festival.

Only two days until the festivities begin. Some of you may not realize that there is so much more happening than just trying to decide which of the 34 documentary films to see.

There will be concerts at the theater prior to films and a whole slew of events going on around the city including concerts, filmmaker talks and an Oscar Party. For a complete list go to the site’s Events page, but here are a few. (more…)

By Dinah Cardin

Marilyn Mulford on a snowy street in Salem.

Visiting filmmakers tell us that the Salem Film Festival is different because it focuses so much on the individual filmmaker. We tracked down filmmaker Marilyn Mulford at her home in San Francisco to recall for us her experiences at last year’s festival, when she attended with her film Archeology of Memory.

What did you find was different about the Salem Film Festival that set it apart from other festivals you’ve attended? How about the hospitality?

For me the Salem Film Festival was different than most I attended because it was geared exclusively towards giving the filmmaker a positive experience. I think it was really important that Joe Cultrera is also a filmmaker and really understands our needs and what gives a positive experience. (more…)

Don Nadeau saw every film at SFF 2009.

Thirty-four documentaries comprise the 2010 Salem Film Fest, making it the largest documentary festival in New England.

Unheard of at most festivals, over one-third of the filmmakers will be attending and dialoging before and after their films, making for a truly unique and powerful cinematic experience.

Add to this, local live music and after-parties and you’ve got yourself a packed week of activities. For this, you’ll need the All Access Pass.

This is $150 for adults and $120 for students, seniors and children. Less expensive three-day passes are available to those who can only commit to the weekend of the festival. And Oscar Party tickets for the big event at CinemaSalem on March 7 are $25.

Get your passes here.

Volunteers Liz Cronin and Elise Mankes at SFF 2009. Photo by Dinah Cardin

Behind the scenes of the largest documentary film festival in New England is the Salem Film Force.

This is a group of volunteers who come from all over the North Shore and Boston area who are also filmmakers, college professors, high school teachers, artists, consultants and film lovers who give hours and hours of their time.

Visiting filmmakers need hotel rooms and rides to and from the airport. There are films to be chosen and underwriters to persuade, press releases to be written, schwag bags to be put together and ballots to be counted. Then there are the audience members who need a screening schedule, directions to local eateries and on and on.    (more…)

Michael (Mik) Augustin with the 2009 festival awards. Photos by Dinah Cardin

Last year, local sculptor Michael Augustin created the awards for the Salem Film Festival.

For the jury selection, inspired by the festival’s logo, he created a metallic green projector, using recycled mixed media and auto paint. (more…)

This story first appeared on Art Throb, an online arts magazine for Boston’s North Shore.

By Elias Andrinopolous

courtesy image

Award-winning director, producer, & cinematographer Les Blank has been making independent films for well over four decades.

He continues to explore the passion, perils and peculiarities of our shared human experience with his own unique vision in films such as “The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins,” “Always For Pleasure,” and “God Respects Us When We Work, But He Loves Us When We Dance,” among a host of many other documentary films. (more…)

We’re going to share with you filmmaker interviews, festival news and updates, the scoop on our volunteers and everything you need to know to enrich your festival experience.

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Welcome to the new Blog for the 2010 Salem Film Festival.  This page will contain valuable information and discussion before, during, and after the festival.  Dialogue with participants, organizers, and filmmakers.