Please note the following rules and guidelines for entry:

1. Submissions are FREE! There is no entry fee.

2. Films must have been completed in 2024 or 2025.

3. All forms of documentary are welcome.

4. No unauthorized use of copyrighted images or music is allowed.

5. Films that have been previously considered will not be reviewed again.

6. Entries will be judged by a panel of filmmakers and industry professionals.

7. Festival tickets and prizes will be provided by Salem Film Fest and our sponsors.

8. Submission deadline is February 26, 2025.

MIMO: SAU CHUN'S STORY

Directed by Lola Ellis
Boston College
10 minutes
Director Lola Ellis peeks into the life of her grandmother Sau Chun Leung, affectionately nicknamed, "Mimo." Through her granddaughter's eyes, brings Mimo's wise mantras, warmth, and the cherished bond between generations.

PHOTO ALBUM

Directed by Olive Rowell
Mount Holyoke College
3 minutes
A grandmother looks through a photo album, created by their mother, which is brought to life through animation and spoken words, through a period of mourning and celebration.

THE WEIGHT OF NUMBERS

Directed by Madalyn Carr
Bridgewater University
7 minutes
Struggling with mental health and disordered eating, a filmmaker documents her search for inner peace and healthy ways to cope with insecurities and emotions.

THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF HARVARD SQUARE

Directed by Ella Fasciano
Tufts University
12 minutes
Ali Chaffai has owned and operated Hidden Treasures, a store located in Harvard Square, for the last 35 years. Now, Harvard Square is changing.

ARSENAL: INSIDE BOSTON’S BUSIEST KITCHEN

Directed by Noah Lapid
Cinematography by Madaleine Kotary
Boston University
15 minutes
Three chefs at an acclaimed fine dining restaurant push to create a seasonal menu while battling an evolving industry and a challenging urban dining scene.

NIÑA

Directed by Tati Chavitage
Emerson College
2 minutes
An experimental nonfiction film that connects the filmmaker’s childhood and present self through collages using 16mm film, stop motion, hand drawn ephemera, and VHS-c film.

THE SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN

Directed by Katherine Fitzgerald and Jiale Li
Emerson College
4 minutes
What is the definition of play? When we think of play, we always think that play belongs to children, but when people grow old, is there anything that they can still play?

IN TERRAM: A LOVE LETTER TO GAZA

Directed by Emma Rose
Emerson College
2 minutes
A 16mm experimental film capturing pro-Palestinian protests, rallies and watermelon – a symbol of Palestinian resistance – in the fall of 2023. 

WARMAN

Directed by Pete Sethanant
Emerson College
13 minutes
Jacob Warman is an Emerson student who strives to achieve his dream in building a business over his clothing brand, while at the same time trying to get his family out of their tough situations. 

FOCUS

Directed by Travis Nunes
Bridgewater State University
7 minutes
A short documentary that captures the filmmaker’s and others’ experiences with ADHD.