Showcase for independent filmmakers
Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent, The Somerville Film Festival will take place in the bustling Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville (MA). As a celebration of the cinematic and visual arts, the festival will bring diverse international films to our community (The Somerville Theatre) and showcase the best regional and international filmmakers. Somerville Film Festival aims to expand the artistic image of our region, engage new audiences in the world of film, and inspire creativity in all of us.
Highlights from the previous editions were 'MeTube 2' by Austrian filmmaker Daniel Moshel, a slice of campy weirdness that premiered at Sundance, Thomas Vernay's short film wonder Dryad, Keil Troisi’s 'Mono Generation' starring Lena Dunham, Eliane Lima’s controversial documentary ‘Sherry’, Luciana Canton’s multi awarded drama ‘Public Intimacy’ and Tomislav Zaja's award winning documentary ‘Free’. The festival has hosted many noteworthy filmmakers: Riccardo Torresi, Hans Olson, Jannis Lenz, Ishan Shukla, Pol Ponsarnau, Noemi Schneider, Isabella Carbonell, Faiyaz Jafri, Roman Hill, CJ Gardella, Çağıl Harmandar, Vladimir Todorov, Luis Campos, Wojtek Skowron, Maik Schuster, Max Paschke, Maik Schuster, Marie Nicholson, Iván Sáinz-Pardo, Philippe McKie, Guli, Melina Maraki, Susan DeLeo, Erez Mizrahi, Sahar Shavit, Mark Franz, Marinah Janello, Patrick Johnson, Tatyana Bronstein, Sasha Gransjean, Kate Raney, Jeremy Bessoff and Perry Lam.
The Somerville International Film Festival is an IMDB eligible film festival.
All screenings take place at the Somerville Theatre.
Previous editions
Find out more about the award winners of the previous editions of the Somerville International Film Festival here:
Proud partner of The Bigger Screen
Somerville International Film Festival is supported by The Bigger Screen, an organization that aims to make film as an art form more accessible and more inclusive.
Supporting Film Festivals: Film festivals are not only a place to share films, but they are a safe haven for film makers to connect, share, and learn. The Bigger Screens supports and engages with over 25 respected international film festivals from mainstays like the 61st Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Brussels Independent Film Festival to emerging events such as the Venice Film Week and The Producer’s Night Los Angeles. These events bring filmmakers and filmgoers together, providing that place to connect and engage in a comfortable setting, away from Hollywood glitz and glamour.
Connecting Cultures Program: Each year, The Bigger Screen selects ten countries and grants filmmakers from those areas the ability to submit their work free of charge to partner festivals all over the world. This opens the door of film exposure to those who may not otherwise be able to enter. As we support inclusivity and shareable films, this program exemplifies our mission.
Local Filmmakers Program: We understand that the cost of making a film can be taxing, so to encourage rising talent, we waive the festival submission fee to local talent. With numerous worldwide locations for festivals, this provides great opportunity for filmmakers around the world to enter the international film scene. This opportunity opens the world of film. Think global, act local, right?
Inclusive Audience Program: Our screenings are always low or even free of charge to provide opportunity for interested film goers to view up and coming, challenging, and inspiring pieces of art, encouraging students, seniors, and those in underprivileged environments to share the experience of film and cinema. We welcome film goers, regardless of income and financial status.
The Tarkovski Grant: All selected filmmakers will receive The Tarkovski Grant, a film festival submission fee waiver package with an average value of about $250. This not only saves you a lot of money, but it also recognizes your work as something to watch for during the selection procedure, making a selection with another partner film festival more likely - but of course, never guaranteed. The Tarkovski Grant supports hundreds of filmmakers each year in their challenging journeys as independent filmmakers, by promoting existing films, no matter the genre, style or length.