Salem Film Fest To Include 37 Documentaries Starting March 21

SALEM, MA — Thirty-seven films — including 23 feature-length documentaries — will be shown at three locations across the Witch City as part of the state's largest all-documentary film festival beginning on March 21.

Tickets for the Salem Film Fest are now on sale for screenings at the Peabody Essex Museum, Cinema Salem and the National Park Service Visitor Center.

"The live in-person events at the Fest offer a unique opportunity for attendees to directly engage and connect with visiting independent filmmakers," states Salem Film Fest Director Joe Ferrari.

The event runs through March 24 with many of the films being screened in Massachusetts for the first time.

SFF will host the world premiere of Marci Darling's "The Nita & Zita Project," a story of two Jewish immigrant sisters who rose to international burlesque stardom;

The East Coast premieres of "All We Carry," directed by Cady Voge, which follows a couple fleeing Honduras only to find themselves caught in the complexities of the U.S. immigration system;

"Bring Them Home/Aiskotahkapityaaya," directed by Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, and Daniel Glick, and narrated by Lily Gladstone, tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory since the species' near-extinction;

Lois Lipman's "First We Bombed New Mexico" touts itself as being "the story Oppenheimer does not tell" and will be screened on opening night.

"This year's festival program is a testament to the creativity and innovative spirit of independent filmmakers," said Program Director Emily Abi-Kheirs. "We are thrilled to unveil this slate of powerful and diverse films that delve into a spectrum of timely and important narratives."

The festival will include filmmaker Q&As, student film competitions, panel discussions, and changes for audiences to interact with filmmakers.

Seven awards will be presented to filmmakers at SFF 2024, including the Special Jury Award and The Michael Sullivan Award for Documentary Journalism which each include $1,000 cash prizes,

The American Cinematographer Magazine Award judged by Editor-in-Chief Stephen Pizzello, the Cultrera Cuts Edit Award recognized by a jury of documentary editors, and the Audience Award determined by ballots cast by festival attendees.

Individual tickets and ticket packs start at $14 and can be purchased here.