The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival returns for its 6th Annual event this coming August 27-30 in beautiful Middlebury, Vermont, the beating heart of the glorious Champlain Valley. At MNFF, we celebrate the dynamic work of talented and passionate first and second time filmmakers. This is our sole focus. This is what we love doing. And the Festival’s ongoing commitment to our filmmakers never changes – to create a level playing field where everyone’s film can be equally appreciated, whether it’s a short or a feature, whether it is documentary, narrative, animation, experimental or a genre bending hybrid. In five short years, we have built a true connection with our filmmakers that has propelled MNFF to being a Top 100 Best Reviewed Festival on FilmFreeway. As one of our treasured alums recently wrote, “Sharing my first feature length documentary at MNFF was an extraordinary experience. Several filmmaker friends of mine had encouraged me to apply, praising the festival as fun and well-run. I went into MNFF with very positive expectations. Still, nothing could have prepared me for the truly warm, familial environment of this festival. That warmth came from both the festival organizers and from my fellow filmmakers. Festival folks worked to promote and uplift my film in every possible way and made me feel genuinely valued and honored. Moreover, they helped forge an introduction to an amazing independent distributor that is now distributing my film. Seriously, what a dream come true!”
As we work to put together our best program yet, MNFF invites you to submit your film for consideration using our FilmFreeway 25% discount code MNFF6100. You may end up taking home one of our iconic VTeddy Awards or one of our several distinctive and generous cash prizes. On the feature side, we honor the film that “best captures the triumph of the human spirit”; another reserved for the woman whose film “boldly explores a person or event of historical significance”; a third to the film that “best illuminates environmental or sustainability issues”; and a fourth to the “best Vermont-made film”. And new this year, we proudly announce the AICEF Prize for Cross-Cultural Filmmaking, which will honor an American filmmaker whose work deftly explores and embraces cross cultural themes with an all-expenses paid trip to the 14th Annual Bali International Film Festival in Indonesia in September 2020. For makers of short films, we offer the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Award, which recognizes the “best integration of music into film” and provides that filmmaker the opportunity to have their film screened with a simultaneous live performance of the score by the VSO in multiple venues during and after the Festival. And for all accepted filmmakers, there exists the possibility of signing a distribution deal with one of the companies that appreciates the quality and distinctiveness of the MNFF program.
And there’s also the MNFF Vermont Tour, providing our top filmmakers with valuable additional exposure. A selection of our award-winning films are showcased at many venues across Vermont in the winter months following the Festival. Selected filmmakers are compensated for these screenings and are encouraged to attend and present their work to knowledgeable Vermont audiences.
Accepted filmmakers at Middlebury will enjoy our exceptional small town hospitality, the complimentary ground transportation to and from Burlington International Airport, complimentary housing in beautiful area homes, Festival passes, really cool swag bags, invitations to the Opening Night Film/After Party, a Filmmakers Only Cocktail Party and a Filmmakers Networking Lounge, lively happy hours, joyful evening parties, filmmaker-focused craft panels and interactions with film industry representatives.
So we say to new filmmakers, if you’ve got a great first or second short OR a fabulous first or second feature, let us have a look. You are the new and emerging voices in indie filmmaking and the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is a place for your work to shine as part of an outstanding program of films and film-related activity. Experience MNFF, a terrific late summer stop on the festival circuit!