Your Experience Begins Here
Build Your Festival Track
Your Ultimate How-To Guide for NHFF
As an attendee of the film festival, you're at the center of the action so we've created a guide on how to get the most of our your experience.
Welcome to the 24th Annual New Hampshire Film Festival
Select a button below to discover how you want to experience the New Hampshire Film Festival
Important Places
The places you need to know! Our eight venues are all within walking distance of each other in historic downtown Portsmouth and provide the best experience for film screenings, panels, workshops, and all of our late night after parties.
Festival HQ @ McKeon Box Office at the Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St.
Your home base for tickets and passes, headquartered in The Music Hall’s box office.
Our Venues
Venue Map
Flatbread Co. Portsmouth
138 Congress St.
Toscana Italian Chophouse & Wine Bar
3 Pleasant St.
Rooftop at The Envio
299 Vaughan St.
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The Thirsty Moose Taphouse
21 Congress St.
Designated Party Venues
Stay Connected —
Plan ahead
NHFF screens more than 100 films over four days across multiple venues. Check the full schedule to prioritize your must-sees. Not sure what to watch? Grab an NHFF Program for inspiration on how to curate your track.
Pick up your Pass
Visit Festival Headquarters (McKeon Ticketing Box Office, 25 Chestnut St) to grab your festival badge — your access to screenings, events, and VIP experiences.
Not interested in the full commitment of a pass? Don't worry, individual tickets for films can be purchased online during the festival or in person at the screening venues.
Our Day Passes are also a great way to dip your toes into the festival experience. Pick a day and get access to all films, panels, events, & parties happening on that day.
Click the button below to learn more about different pass types.
Wait...
What is NHFF?
The New Hampshire Film Festival (NHFF) returns October 15–18th to historic Portsmouth, NH. Now in its 24th year, NHFF is a four-day celebration of independent cinema — presenting curated feature-length and short films from around the world, alongside panels, parties, workshops, and conversations that bring the film community together.
Each year, NHFF draws thousands of attendees, including filmmakers, industry leaders, and passionate film lovers. We are especially proud to be the only festival in the Northeast with Academy Award® qualifying status in all three short film categories (animation, live action, and documentary) – a distinction that we carry proudly.
A film festival isn’t just about watching movies — it’s about experiencing them. It’s your chance to see incredible films before they hit theaters (or sometimes before anyone else in the world does), often with the filmmakers, actors, and creators right there in the room.
At a festival, every screening feels like an event — the audience is full of film lovers, the energy is electric, and the stories are fresh, bold, and unforgettable. You might catch the next Oscar winner, discover a hidden gem, or hear from the filmmakers themselves.
At NHFF, the entertainment isn't limited to just films. We also offer a wide range of dynamic, interactive workshops and panels. These events have been selected and curated by our festival organizers to provide insight into relevant topics currently buzz through the industry.
Why Fest?
Getting Started
We have an app for that!
Created in conjunction with the fine folks at INHOUSE Digital, the mobile app has everything you need to keep you up to speed on the four-day film festival in downtown Portsmouth, NH.
The free mobile app, which you can download on your iPhone or Android device, features the following:
Full Schedule — Easy access to full schedule of all films and events
Venue Maps — Get around with ease throughout downtown Portsmouth
My Schedule — Customize your own schedule of the films and event you want to go to
Sponsors — View all NHFF sponsors and learn how you can support them
NHFF LEAD SPONSORS:
OFFICIAL NFF MEDIA PARTNER:
Film Fanatic
Are you a lifelong film lover? If you dream of filling your days front-to-back with film screenings, this is for you!
Consider This:
By Genre
Our short and feature-length films cover: Documentary, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Horror/Thriller, and Animation. Try doing a full day of one genre, or picking 1-2 films from each!
By Venue
Want to sit back and relax in your favorite seat? Commit to a full or half day in one venue, allowing yourself to observe the different audiences, moods, and messages established by each.
By Topic
Our film selection is specially curated and addresses a variety of social, environmental, and cultural topics such arts/culture, mental health, technology, and much more. Choose one topic that speaks to you and learn about it from many angles through the lens of different films.
Don't Miss!
Stick around after select film screenings for Q&A's with the filmmakers.
Check out our selection of panels throughout the festival covering topics from AI in the industry, film financing, and more.
Event Extraordinaire
Are you delighted by gatherings of people? Do you love the buzz of a crowd? Make the most of your festival experience by attending all the biggest and best events!
Don't Miss!
Red Carpet Gala & Welcome Party • Friday, 10/16 at 6:30pm @ The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St.)
The festival’s most photogenic event, featuring a step-and-repeat, red carpet, local celebrity hosts, and photographers. Don your most beloved evening wear for this star-studded event!
Afterparties
Keep the festivities going all night long with parties around town! Held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, these gatherings boast live music, free food, and energy to last you till the next morning.
SAGIndie Happy Hour • Saturday, 10/17 at 4pm @ The Music Hall Members Club
Join fellow filmmakers and cinema lovers at The Music Hall Members Club for a Happy Hour hosted by SAGIndie. Open to all NHFF passholders, it’s the perfect spot to mingle, talk shop, and relax with drinks in between screenings.
Thursday Night After Party @ Flatbread Pizza Company
Key Auto Group Friday Night After Party @ Toscana Italian Chophouse
Saturday Night After Party @ The Music Hall Historic Theater Stage
Community Builder
Beyond entertainment, film is a storytelling platform that reveals the highs and lows of our human experience. If you are drawn to the human element of film and the ways it brings communities together, this is your opportunity to connect with your “people”.
Consider This:
Behind-the-scenes
Who decides what story to tell, and how to tell it? There's many opportunities to hear from filmmakers themselves throughout the festival and to get insider knowledge from industry experts.
In the Audience
Film brings together wonderfully eclectic audiences, each of whom has a personal reason to be in attendance. Don’t be afraid to chat up your seat neighbors before and after screenings to learn more about the people in your company.
Don't Miss!
Post-Screening Q&A's
After select film screenings, filmmakers in attendance will take part in an interactive Q&A with the audience.
Morning Coffee with NHFF Filmmakers @ The Members Club (Sat., Oct. 17 at 9am)
Join a selection of this year’s filmmakers and special guests for intimate and casual conversations.
Young Filmmaker's Workshop & Screening Ceremony
A four-day long program aimed at educating and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, this immersive workshop culminates in a celebration and screening of the films created by the selected young artists over the course of the festival.
Industry Insider
Are you an inspiring filmmaker or have a keen interest in the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking? The 24th annual NHFF features a full lineup of exclusive, immersive, and informative panels and workshops.
Don't Miss!
Cinema Programming: How Films Are Curated at Indie Theaters • Fri., Oct. 16 at Novocure
The State of the Art: A Discussion on Documentary Filmmaking • Fri., Oct. 16 at Novocure
Join a fascinating discussion with award-winning documentary filmmakers, including one Academy Award®, who boast a wealth of knowledge from both the business and creative storytelling sides of documentaries as they share insights and answer audience questions on a variety of topics. Hear about why documentaries are so popular with filmmakers and viewers, what makes a documentary stand out, how a documentarian finds the story, and where the current distribution landscape may be heading. This conversation offers an opportunity to get to know some of our featured artists and guests, and hear the stories behind their work.
But Wait... There's More!
Join a handful of programmers from exciting independent cinemas in the Northeast as they share insights and answer audience questions on how films are programmed into their venues for theatrical releases. Whether you’re a filmmaker or passionate movie goer, come take a peek behind-the-curtain to hear the ins-and-outs of getting new films out to viewing eyes, what’s involved, where certain companies and partners come into the process, and what you should keep in mind for the future.
Violence on Screen: Tackling Tough Subjects in Film • Sat., Oct. 17 at Novocure
For the first time in festival history, you’re invited to take an up-close and personal look inside the field of aerial drone videography. Join two of the most in-demand, professional drone and camera operators as they lead a demonstration, discussion and Q&A about capturing cinematic shots from the air.
Post-Screening Q&A's
After select film screenings, filmmakers in attendance will take part in an interactive Q&A with the audience.
Morning Coffee with NHFF Filmmakers @ The Members Club (Sat., Oct. 17)
Join a selection of this year’s filmmakers and special guests for intimate and casual conversations.
The Music Hall Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St. – Built in 1878, this 900-seat Vaudeville-era treasure is NHFF’s crown jewel and the backdrop for our gala events and feature film screenings.
The Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St. – The Historic Theater’s sister venue, this 100-seat black box space features a cocktail bar and is home to this year’s Studio Lab interactive installation.
3S Art Space, 319 Vaughan St. – A 200-seat gallery and multi-purpose arts venue dedicated to presenting and supporting bold, emerging art and entertainment, cultivating the spaces for the exchange of ideas and creativity.
Moffatt-Ladd Warehouse, 154 Market St. – Nestled next to the historic Moffat Ladd House, this 18th century warehouse is an intimate space for 70 where you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time.
Novocure, 180 Hanover St. – Novocure’s newly unveiled U.S. flagship building features a state-of-the-art venue that accommodates 75 filmgoers, offering an intimate yet sophisticated experience.
St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel St. – Serving as one of the New Hampshire Film Festival’s most unique venues, blending its historic 1807 Federal-style architecture with modern cinema.
Ticketing Inquiries: Contact Patron Services at McKeon Ticketing Hub: (603) 436-2400 // info@themusichall.org
Festival Inquiries: 603-647-6439 // info@nhfilmfestival.com
Films, panels, parties, & more!
What Else to Know?
We've only just scratched the surface of NHFF, keep reading to find out helpful tips, information, and the best way to get the most of our your festival experience.
