New Hampshire Film Festival can play role in getting films Oscar consideration

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —The road to the Academy Awards can run through places like New Hampshire, where film festivals can help make movies eligible for the Oscars.

The 98th Academy Awards on Sunday will showcase some of the top films of 2025, but getting a film considered is no easy feat.

“It’s the biggest awards show for movies that there is,” said Dan Hannon, co-founder of the New Hampshire Film Festival.

There are several criteria a movie must meet before it’s eligible for the Oscars, including theatrical releases in certain cities and a specific number of showings. That can be tough to do, especially in the “Shorts” category.

“It’s a little different, because there’s also that theatrical exhibition way to get in, but an exciting way to get in is where the New Hampshire Film Festival comes in,” Hannon said.

Jury award winners for best short live action, documentary and animation can submit their film for consideration.

“It’s not very many festivals in the country that have all three, and we are one of them,” said Mark Pruett, director of cinema programming and festivals for The Music Hall.

Pruett said that distinction helps draw films to the festival.

“The word is out amongst the filmmaker community,” he said. “If you want to be a part of this opportunity, the New Hampshire Film Festival is definitely one of them.”

This year, a film from the festival, “Extremist,” was short-listed, meaning it made the Top 10 for Oscar consideration.

“We were so proud of him in that film,” Hannon said.

Even though the film didn’t get nominated in its category, it still showed that films deputing at the New Hampshire Film Festival can make a name for themselves.

“If you win an award with us, it’s a nice nod for your film,” Hannon said.

The 98th Academy Awards airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on WMUR-TV.

From WMUR-TV, read article on their website