New Hampshire Film Festival Named Academy Award Qualifying Festival in All Three Short Film Categories

PORTSMOUTH, NH  – The New Hampshire Film Festival (NHFF) has been named an Academy Award® qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards in all three categories: Live Action Shorts, Animation Shorts, and most recently, Documentary Shorts. This distinction solidifies NHFF’s status as a premier platform for short filmmakers worldwide, providing a direct pathway to Oscar® eligibility.

“Achieving Academy Award qualifying status in a third category is a monumental milestone for the festival,” said Dan Hannon, NHFF co-founder and industry director. “For more than two decades, we’ve been committed to celebrating and elevating the art of short filmmaking. This expansion furthers our mission to support and reward extraordinary work, connecting filmmakers with unparalleled opportunities.”

“Earning this Academy Award qualifying status has been a goal since the festival’s inception, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our hard work recognized in this way,” said Nicole Gregg, NHFF founding director. “Our team’s dedication and passion have been the driving forces behind this achievement, and it’s an honor to provide filmmakers with such a significant opportunity.”

NHFF joins an elite roster of international festivals, such as Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto, that carry Academy Award® qualifying status in multiple categories. With this honor, NHFF continues to amplify the creative voice of northern New England while championing independent filmmakers from across the globe.

“This recognition is a testament to the festival’s dedication and the incredible talent of the filmmakers who choose to share their stories with us,” said Tina Sawtelle, President and CEO of The Music Hall and NHFF. “We’re proud to offer this opportunity to emerging and established filmmakers alike and look forward to another exceptional year in 2025.”

The festival received Academy Award® qualifying status in 2021 for its Live Action Shorts Jury Award and Animation Shorts Jury Award, and now, with the addition of the Documentary Shorts Jury Award, it expands its recognition to three categories. Short films that receive these prestigious festival awards will now qualify to enter the Short Films competition for the concurrent Oscar® season. Recipients will be eligible for Academy Awards® consideration without the standard theatrical run, provided they comply with the Academy’s rules.

The 23rd Annual New Hampshire Film Festival will take place October 16-19, 2025, in the historic seacoast city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Film and screenplay submissions are now open through the festival’s website: www.nhfilmfestival.com.

In related news, two feature-length films featured at the 2024 New Hampshire Film Festival have received Oscar® nominations, further highlighting the festival’s growing influence in the industry. THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE, an International Feature Film nominee, and, PORCELAIN WAR, a Documentary Feature Film nominee and the festival’s Best Documentary Feature, both captivated audiences and critics during last year’s festival. “These nominations underscore the exceptional caliber of films showcased at NHFF,” said Hannon. “We’re incredibly proud to see these works receive this recognition.”